Blame It On The Shame Part 2

by Ashley Jade

  But not for the reasons she should.

  She'd stay with me out of habit...because she doesn't know what it's like outside the prison walls that both her father and DeLuca have trapped her in.

  She'd stay with me...because she thinks it's what she wants.

  But the reality is...she has no idea what she wants.

  Because she's never had the choice before.

  She's never had the freedom to choose.

  She's never taken a single breath without a monster breathing down her back.

  She's never spread her wings...because she's never been let out of her cage.

  I pull a key out of my pocket and hand it to her. "There's a locker at JFK. Inside you'll find a brand new passport and documents with a whole new identity. You'll also find cash, a burner phone, and keys to a car in case you decide that's what you want instead. The choice is yours. You can go anywhere you want."

  She's still shaking her head when I pull two guns out and hand them to her. One of them is my beloved Beretta 92' ...and both of them are registered to me. "Keep these on you at all times. Don't ever go anywhere without them. If you think you're in danger...shoot first and ask questions later. Then call me on that burner phone and I'll take care of everything."

  I pull a card out of my wallet. "There's a good amount of cash in that locker for you, but when you need more...use this. It's linked to my offshore account and it can't be traced by anyone except for me. You can use it for anything you want and it will always be available to you."

  "Ricardo—" she starts to say but I put a finger to her lips and silence her.

  "You are everything good in this world. And it kills me that you never had the life you deserved."

  She opens her mouth but I silence her...this time with my lips.

  Our last kiss is like coming up for air and drowning at the same time.

  She's coursing through my bloodstream, branding me as hers forever...and letting me go.

  Just like I want her to.

  I push her away. "You have to leave, Lou-Lou...or I'll never let you."

  Tears fall down her face like rain and she gives me one last look...before turning around and walking away.

  When I hear the wooden door shut—I check my watch, pull out my cell phone and dial Emilio. "Did you tell DeLuca what I told you to?"

  I hear silence in the background before he says, "Yeah. He wants it confirmed by a doctor but I planted the seed in his head just like you wanted."

  "Good."

  "Not exactly," he says.

  "How so?"

  "Because there's no doubt in my mind that DeLuca told the council...and they're obviously going to figure out it's a lie—"

  "I'll deal with the council."

  I watch as the blip on the gps in my car stops moving. "Do me a favor and find out where Jackson is. I'm pretty sure I already know...but I need to be positive before I make my next move," I say before I hang up.

  I walk over to the votive candles and pick up the same candle that Lou-Lou lit earlier. Then I pull out one of DeLuca's cigars from my pocket and light it.

  I look around the church and smile. "Forgive me, father, for I have sinned."

  And so have you...and today's the day you're going to burn in hell for it.

  Chapter 44 (Ricardo)

  Just as I suspected.

  "Ford-motherfucking-Baker," I mutter into the phone as I walk into the lobby of the apartment and head up the stairs.

  Goddammit, Jackson...don't you know what a snake he is?

  I knew Jackson was up to something...I just don't understand why he would trust Ford out of all people. Especially considering the connection between him and Alyssa.

  Then again...it's obvious that Jackson has no idea that Ford's the one who set Alyssa up to work at DeLuca's club in the first place.

  Because if he did...there's no doubt in my mind that Ford's body would be at the bottom of a lake somewhere.

  But now that I know for sure Ford's involved. It makes things so much easier for me and it gives me the perfect plan.

  "You sure about this, Ricardo?" Emilio questions. "Ford's bad news."

  "I'm positive," I reply. "And yeah, he is. Which is exactly what makes him the perfect fall-guy."

  I look up to the ceiling. You hear that, Graham?...karma will be making that fucker its bitch today too.

  Emilio sighs. "Okay. Just make sure it's him that goes down for it and not you or Lou-Lou."

  "It will be Ford...because I have the perfect leverage."

  "How so? What's your game plan?"

  "I'm taking Alyssa hostage. This way, Ford won't kill Jackson. First, I'll have her call Jackson and convince him to get away from Ford. Then I'll bring her to the warehouse. And finally, I'll kill DeLuca...and pin the whole thing on him. "

  He mutters a curse under his breath and I hear him light a cigarette. "What if Ford tries to go after you?"

  "He won't. Like I said, I have the perfect leverage...Alyssa. I would never kill her...but Ford doesn't know that. Given he's obsessed with her...he won't kill me once he see's that I've taken her hostage. And given Alyssa hates DeLuca...I'm hoping she'll cooperate and do everything I tell her to."

  "Jesus," he says and my stomach sinks.

  I really don't like my plan...for obvious reasons.

  The first one being that I have to put a gun to the head of the little girl who still haunts my nightmares, all while convincing her that even though I'm DeLuca's son—I'm not going to kill her...because the only blood on my hands that I want is his.

  And second...it involves bringing her right to the Devil himself.

  I would call Jackson myself and tell him to get away from Ford...but then he'd know something was up and stop trusting me altogether. We're already on shaky ground after what happened to Tyrone.

  That's why it has to be Alyssa who calls him. The only person who can stop him from going through with Ford's plan and convince him to help me is her.

  "I'll be around if you need me," he says.

  I start to hang up the phone but pause. "Thank you, Emilio. I—you've been—" my words drift off and I swallow down the lump forming in my throat.

  "You don't have to thank me, Ricardo. I told you that I'd always look out for you and I meant it. I'll let you know when DeLuca lands," he says before he hangs up.

  I check my watch and breathe easy. I still have another 2 hours before DeLuca's plane lands.

  And if I have Alyssa pegged the way I think I do...she'll end up confronting me once she figures out that Jackson's in danger.

  And that's when I'll strike. I just need to plant a few seeds first.

  Alyssa hasn't acknowledged it yet...but I'm almost positive she's figured out who I am.

  I see the way she looks at me now. At first, she only suspected...but deep down inside...she knows.

  She's just too scared to admit it. She needs more time to process it.

  However, time is a luxury that I don't have right now. Which means she needs a little push.

  "Hey," I say as I watch her turn the key to Jackson's apartment.

  Her hand flies up to her chest and she spins around.

  That's when I start in, "Look, you've been acting a little strange around me ever since that fight. I hope you know that I really didn't mean to punch you. You don't have to be scared of me, Alyssa."

  "Yeah," she squeaks.

  Yeah, she most definitely knows who I am and she's petrified.

  Question is...will she fold or take the bait I'm about to dish out?

  She looks me up and down. "Where did you just come from?"

  "The gym. Why?"

  "Are you sure?" she questions.

  I lean in and stare her down. "Am I sure I got back from the gym?" I give her a smirk. "Yeah, I'm positive. So, I'll ask you again. Why?"

  "No r-reason." She turns around and I hear her key drop as she attempts to get in the door.

  "Hey, Ricardo?" She calls out. "I was wondering if you would mind givi
ng me a ride."

  Jackpot. "I would, but I don't have my car," I say. "But you should already know that Jackson's borrowing my car until tomorrow morning because he's going to Boston." I shrug. "Kind of surprised you didn't go with him actually."

  "Going to Boston?" she whispers and I fight to hide my smile.

  Cue the panicking.

  She covers her mouth to try and cover her fumble but it's too late.

  "He's going to Boston to visit Lilly's grave. Today's her birthday," I inform her.

  I take a step forward and look down at her. "Did he not tell you?"

  "Of course, he did." She laughs nervously. "I just forgot is all."

  She gives me a big smile that doesn't reach her eyes."I am naturally a blonde...we do have our moments."

  I cock an eyebrow. "Yeah. Okay, then. I'm gonna take a shower. Talk to you later."

  You never expect people who just got out of the shower to be armed.

  She gives me a wave and I look at my watch. I have about 20 minutes before she pounds on my door to confront me and I hold her hostage.

  Chapter 45 (Lou-Lou)

  "The deal's off," I say into the phone before hanging up.

  I know I'm supposed to leave but I can't. I also can't go through with Ford's plan.

  Because the more I think about it...the more it occurs to me that the only person Ford could be trying to pin DeLuca's murder on is Ricardo.

  He did say the fall guy was a murderer—and most importantly...someone who would have more motive to kill him than I

  do.

  I can only think of one person who fits that description to a T—Ricardo.

  But if I'm out...Ford can't go through with his plan today after all.

  Which means Ricardo won't be able to kill DeLuca today, either.

  But I'll still be able to.

  I have every intention of telling Ricardo about Ford. But first, I want to tell Emilio...since he's the one who set this whole thing up in the first place in order to protect the both of us.

  At least, I hope he did.

  I pick up my phone but the sound of a knock on my door halts me.

  My heart stutters in my chest. Maybe it's Ricardo. Hopefully, he'll take back this nonsense about wanting me to leave.

  When I answer the door...it's definitely not who I expect to see right now.

  Alyssa Tanner.

  I have no idea what she wants, but I suppose there's no harm in letting her in and talking to her for a few minutes.

  "Come on in."

  She walks inside and I close the door behind her.

  That's when I feel a metal object digging into my head. You've got to be kidding me.

  "You crazy bitch!" I scream. "I thought we were friends now? What the fuck are you doing?"

  "We are," she says. "This is nothing personal, Lou-Lou. I just need a hostage."

  I barely have time to process what she's saying because she pulls my hair and positions me in front of her. "However, feel free to think of this as payback for being such a bitch to me."

  "You fucking—" The gun digging into my head silences me before she says, "Scream and I'll kill you. Trust me, you don't want to fuck with me right now."

  I take a deep breath and try to calm down. After all, it's not smart to argue with the mentally unstable. "Can you at least tell me why you're doing this?"

  "Jackson's in trouble with a certain mob boss."

  No fucking way. "Bruno," I say, hoping like hell that I'm right.

  Because if I am...that means his murder can be pinned on her and not me or Ricardo.

  I wouldn't even feel bad about it, either...given the bitch is currently holding a fucking gun to my head.

  "Ah, I see you're on a first-name basis with the asshole. Good to know, that might come in handy." She shoves me in front of her. "Now open the door and start walking down the hall to Ricardo's. If you run...I swear I'll kill him."

  Yeah, definitely not feeling bad about pinning the murder on her at all.

  I almost want to laugh because she really has no idea who Ricardo is...or who I am. Oddly enough, I can't think of two better hostages to use against DeLuca than the two of us.

  I knock on Ricardo's door but he doesn't answer. Behind me, Alyssa says, "Shit, he's in the shower."

  "I have a key," I offer. "It's in my back pocket."

  "I'm not falling for that."

  "Then you can get it," I insist.

  She digs the gun into my temple and fishes my keys out of my back pocket before handing them to me. "You attack me with those and I'll shoot."

  "I know," I say. Please, bitch. I don't need keys to hurt you. I have two guns hidden in the waistband of my jeans.

  We walk into Ricardo's apartment and head down the hallway until we reach the bathroom.

  Which is pretty fucking convenient if you ask me. Because I'm pretty sure Ricardo's going to shit himself when he see's that Jackson's girlfriend is holding me hostage.

  She nudges me to open the door and the look on Ricardo's face when he see's my current predicament is exactly what I expected it to be.

  On the bright side, if this psychopath does end up killing me right now...at least I had one last look at his gorgeous naked body.

  He reaches for a towel and quickly wraps it around his waist before stepping out of the shower.

  I don't miss the subtle look he gives me as he does it...the look that says, 'You're armed, why the hell didn't you shoot her.'

  "How did you find out?" he says in Alyssa's direction and I'm truly baffled.

  "I didn't tell this bitch shit, Ricky," I yell. I told Tyrone the truth, but it was only so he wouldn't hate Ricardo. I have no idea how Alyssa found out who he is...because it sure as fuck wasn't me who told her.

  "No talking, " Alyssa says before she whacks my head with the gun and looks at Ricardo. "You have his eyes. I'll never forget his eyes. They haunt me in my dreams."

  Why would Ricardo's eyes haunt Alyssa? I thought she wanted to go after DeLuca because Jackson's in some kind of trouble with him.

  He closes his eyes. "I'm not like my father, Alyssa."

  "Doesn't matter. Your father took the most important person in my life from me and he's about to do it again. I want him to feel what it's like to lose the most important thing to him."

  What the hell is going on?

  He sucks in a breath and glances at me. I can feel his stare permeating every part of me. "Yeah. I get that, Alyssa."

  His expression quickly changes to nervousness, although I don't buy it for a second. Ricardo keeps tabs on Jackson and Tyrone. He has to know where Jackson is. For some reason I don't understand...he's playing Alyssa. "Wait, what do you mean he's about to do it again? Where the fuck is Jackson right now?"

  "He's working with an FBI agent," Alyssa answers. "An FBI agent that's going to set him up for the murder of your father. I have to get to him before that happens."

  Oh, God. Turns out I was wrong. Ford wasn't setting Ricardo up after all...he was setting Jackson up to take the fall. But why?

  "Shit. Can't you just call him and warn him?" I interject.

  "He's not picking up his phone."

  "Fuck. No. Oh, my god. Shit," I sputter, my breathing becoming erratic now.

  We have to find a way to warn him. Jackson has no idea what he's dealing with. Not only is Ford planning for him to be the fall-guy...the council will murder him in cold blood and Ricardo will seek revenge and get himself killed.

  She yanks my hair. "As touched as I am about your sentiments regarding my boyfriend's current circumstance, can you kindly shut up so we can get on with the program."

  I shake my head and look at Ricardo. "I swear, I didn't mean to. I didn't know it was Jackson. Oh, my god."

  I feel a second metal object against my head before Alyssa grits out, "You better start making sense, Lou-Lou...or your brains are gonna be all over the carpet. What the fuck did you do?"

  I look at the ground and grimace. I had every intention of tellin
g Ricardo about Ford...I just didn't expect to do it while two guns were being pointed at my head by Alyssa Tanner of all people. "There was this guy. This FBI agent. He started talking to me, you know flirting, all that."

  "You talked to the fucking Feds?" Ricardo screams at the same time Alyssa screams, "Was his name Ford?"

  "H-how did you know?" This makes absolutely no sense. Not only does she have some kind of personal problem with DeLuca...but she knows Ford?

  Who the hell is this girl? I thought she was just some ditz, who despite the horrible misfortune of some guy tricking her into starring in a sex tape...had a relatively easy life.

  The life I always wanted.

  "Cut to the chase, Lou-Lou. I know how Ford pulls the females in. Tell me what he wanted you to do. And how Jackson is involved."

  "That's the thing," I start. "This Ford guy. He seemed to know everything about me. Things that no one knows."

  I assume Emilio told him most of it in order to get me to go along with his plan...but now that I think about it—there's really no way he could have known some of the personal things that he did.

  Not unless he was close to DeLuca. Fuck.

  Holy shit. What if it was DeLuca himself behind this whole thing?

  What if it was another trap? On one hand, I'm happy I decided not to go through with it at the last minute. But on the other...Jackson's definitely screwed.

  DeLuca will kill him.

  Bile works its way up my throat as Ricardo lets out a curse and Alyssa makes a face. "And you didn't find that a little suspicious? You can't be that dumb."

  "I'm not dumb," I say. "Of course, I did. But then he offered me a deal."

  A way out of this hell hole. Or so I thought.

  "Goddammit, Lucianna! He's a fucking double agent. He's not legit, he works for us!" Ricardo screams at the same time Alyssa screams, "What kind of deal!"

  Two things happen at that moment.

  One— I realize this whole thing was definitely a setup. The ultimate setup.

  And two—Alyssa points one of the guns at Ricardo and I stop breathing entirely.

  I swear, it better just be a threat, because if she makes one wrong move, I will kill her.

  "What? What the actual fuck did you just say?" she bellows, and my confusion comes to a peak.