“Care to explain what just happened back there?” Alé asks softly, but firm.
My eyes don’t leave Vinny’s. My breathing is so heavy that I don’t think I could speak even if I wanted to. Hot, angry tears are rolling down my cheeks. I suck my bottom lip between my teeth to keep it from quivering as I shake my head wildly.
“Jo,” Alé says softly as he steps in front of me, breaking my eye contact with Vinny. “You mumbled Vinny under your breath when you saw him,” he tells me as he points to Vinny. “This is Uncle Marco’s son, Michael. Do you know him?”
I shake my head yes, but make no attempt to speak as my knees grow weak.
“You son of a bitch!” Kellan’s voice rings out as Vinny is thrown across the ground, landing a few feet from me.
I jump to the side, trying to get as far from the monster before me as possible.
“Is this Vinny, Jo? Is this the man who got away?” Kellan yells angrily. I start to cry, a whimper sounding from the back of my throat. “Jo!” Kellan snaps. I shake my head yes, and he charges toward him.
“Wait,” Franks’ voice rings out in an authoritative tone. He steps toward me, places a hand on Alé’s shoulder, and sighs. “We need to stay rational, Alé. He’s family.”
“Family?” Alé snarls. “Family? You know what he did to her and her sister. That’s not what we were taught. That’s against the rules,” Alé growls. His eyes narrow into slits, anger radiating from his body.
Vinny stands from his position on the ground and brushes his clothes with his hands and rolling his shoulders. “Yes, I’m Vinny.” He smiles wickedly. I was approached by someone whom I trusted. She helped Johnny and I set it all up,” he grinds wildly. “Of course, she didn’t know about the score I had to settle with a certain officer for bringing down my best friend and right hand man. She only thought Johnny and I were helping her for the money. And when you survived, she thought it was an accident that you made it,” he smirks.
“Who?” I finally ask my voice thick.
“Hello, Josephine,” my mother sneers from the doorway.
I gasp in disbelief at the woman who’s just reappeared after all this time. My hand clasps over my mouth as I shake my head.
She struts toward me as I continue to step back. Alé and Kellan look dumbfounded. Vinny has a look of excitement plastered on his face as everyone else’s expressions remain unreadable.
“Why?” I cry.
“Aw,” she fake pouts, “the fact that you even have to ask that proves just how foolish you truly are.” She smirks. “Did you know that from the moment we discovered you and Eve were in fact female,” she snarls on the last word, “your father doted over you from that moment on? I no longer was the main woman in his life,” she tells me, as she perches her hands on her hips. “The only way I could think of to rectify the issue was to eliminate you and Eve completely.”
“I’m your daughter!” I yell out at her. “We didn’t cause him to take you off the pedestal, Mom. You did that, you crazy bitch!” I snap as I charge toward her.
Alé snatches me before I reach her, his hand snaking around my waist. “Shh, Jo,” he tries to soothe me. “Patience,” he whispers into my ear. He loosens his grip but doesn’t let me go.
“Of course, I should’ve known better than to trust anyone else to complete the job,” she rolls her eyes in Vinny’s direction.
“You killed Aedan,” I tell her. “You blamed me! You made me think all this time that it was all my fault. It was yours!” I scream at her as a fresh batch of tears appears and my body shakes violently in rage.
“I didn’t realize that they had their own agenda. Of course, they were unpaid due to their failures.” She purses her lips.
“You make me sick,” I hiss between my teeth.
She smiles viciously at me, voice even as she says, “I heard your dad passed away a few years back. That’s too bad,” she juts out her bottom lip. “Good news, though!” she smiles, clapping her hands once together. “I found someone who treats me the way I deserve.”
My eyes dart around the room and settle on the only face that I don’t recognize. He smiles lovingly at her as he slowly makes his way to the front to stand beside her.
I hear Alé suck in a breath and mutter, “Uncle Marco.”
Uncle?
“Did you know that I begged your father for an abortion with you and Eve? Of course,” she gestures to me with her hand, “he told me no. I don’t like anyone telling me no.” She smiles.
“What’s your point?” Alé growls.
“My point is Aedan Sr., Joey’s father, forced me to walk away. I would’ve been alone if it weren’t for Marco here loving me the way I need. So, I taught Aedan a lesson,” she smiles vindictively, “and ultimately, he died. Alone.” She smiles evilly.
My breath leaves my body as sobs try to break free from my chest. I shake my head back and forth trying to process everything she just told me. “Why kill everyone else,” my voice breaks, “but leave me?” I cry.
“I saved the best revenge for last,” an evil gleam shines from her eyes. “You always thought you were so gifted. Everyone falling over you,” she snarls. “But,” she holds a single finger in the air turning it in my direction, “Johnny, AKA Tony, was the son of a mafia member. And you killed him.” She grins. “Do you know what happens to people who murder a member of the Italian mob? Or in this case, the son of a Capo?” she raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow at me. “No? Well, I’m sure you’re about to find out,” she tells me coolly.
Mafia? Members of the Italian mob? I shake my head, trying to get my thoughts straight.
“You didn’t know?” her voice rings out in shock. “My, I did produce a foolish one! Josephine, your precious Aléssandro is a Capo, who one day will act as Boss.
My chest grows heavy, palms damp. My eyes dart in every direction. I feel Alé’s arm tighten around me. I’m unsure if he thinks I’m about to run from him or kill her. Either way, he’s not ready to release his hold on me. Suddenly, one thought starts to pound through my mind. I’m in love with a mobster. Possibly, a monster.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Aléssandro
I can’t believe what’s just unfolded before me. I can’t believe that this person who was supposed to love Jo and Eve unconditionally was the one who broke them in the first place. And the fact that my family was involved. It’s a swift kick to the gut. My body begins to shake from the anger coursing through my veins. My arm tightens around Jo as I need to feel her to keep me grounded.
Now Jo knows who we really are. This wasn’t the way I wanted to tell her, but if I were to be honest—I’m glad the truth is finally free. I just hope that when all of this is over, she’ll accept me for who I am.
“While, you normally are correct…” Dad trails off waiting for Joey’s mom to volunteer her name.
“Alannah,” she says curtly.
“Yes, Alannah.” He smiles quickly. “There’s one bit of information you have overlooked,” he informs her.
Watching her face as Dad gives her a moment to process what he’s just said and her eyes flash, and fear starts to seep to the forefront of her eyes.
“Your husband, my brother Marco, has hired an associate of mine to embezzle close to a million dollars from me. He was already labeled as a disgrace for his infidelity. But,” he pauses, holding a finger in the air, “stealing and lying in this family is punishable. By death,” he tells her coolly.
Her eyes grow wide at his words, shaking her head.
“Of course, the actions that Michael has admitted to doing are also punishable by death, being Jo has been a member of my family for a while now, and being a family member of one of my soldiers,” he informs her as he gestures toward Kellan, “and being that you snitched to a non-member of Cosa Nostra of who we are, is also punishable by death,” he tells her, a twinkle of revenge in his eyes.
“Joey,” my dad says firmly, getting her attention. Her head snaps in his direction, but she doesn’t s
ay a word. “I think it’s time you left the room,” he orders gently.
I can feel her body start to shake against mine. I can feel the quick breaths she’s forcing in and out of her lungs.
“F-Frank,” she whispers. “What are you going to do?” Her voice is soft and fearful.
“I’m going to ensure that they are punished for their wrongdoings,” he promises.
She doesn’t move for a moment, but then steps out of my embrace. She turns her head to look at me, hurt evident in the irises of her cerulean blues before she turns to Dad and nods once on her way out the door.
“Josephine! Sweetie!” her Mom calls for her. “Please, I’m all you have left. Please! Tell them that,” she cries panicked.
Jo turns back to her mom, pushing her shoulders back, lifting her chin, she tells her evenly, “I’ve never had you, Mother. You made me alone when you murdered my family.” Her eyes narrow. “You know the old saying, don’t you? ‘Eye for an eye’ and all that?” She smirks before turning her back on Alannah and disappears from sight.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Joey
After seeing Mom again, and learning exactly what happened and why, I couldn’t bring myself to go back to the wedding reception. Today should’ve been all smiles and moments of joy for the newlyweds. My past stole that from Kellan, I refuse to allow it to ruin today for Maria, too. I hailed a cab and had the driver take me to my apartment.
Alé’s been trying to call me nonstop, so eventually, I just turned my phone off. I just needed a minute to process everything that happened. Everything that was said. Everything that I learned.
I decide to pack a bag and check into a motel in hopes that it buys me some time to think and just breathe. I know if I stay here, Alé will show up and break down the damn door if he has to. I quickly throw some clothes and toiletries into a bag and nearly run out my door and down to my car. Once I’m on the road, I drive to the other end of town and pull into the lot of the Best Western. I decide to pay with cash so Alé can’t find me if he tries.
After checking in and entering my room, I toss my bag on one of the beds and fall down next to it and officially allow the tears to fall.
I just don’t understand. Cameryn was right. They are thugs. They lied to me. But at the same time, they’ve never treated me with anything but respect. They weren’t even my family and they treated me better than my own mother ever has. Mom. I can’t believe that fucking bitch purposely killed us all. Well, not so much Aedan but that was a chain reaction because of her jealousy and greed.
I curl into a fetal position and wrap my arms around my knees. Since the moment I lost Eve, I can’t say there was a time that I was truly happy. There were times that I was content, and I was good at always putting a smile on my face over the years. But Alé… Alé made me happy. Alé’s family made me happy. And now it’s all gone. All of it.
How can I look at them knowing that I killed one of their family members? I know that they aren’t going to kill me for it because they let me leave, and Frank allowed me to choose the outcome for Mom. I hold so much anger and resentment toward Vinny and Tony, or whoever the hell they really are, for what they did to Eve. And yet… I killed one of them, and now I allowed the Italian Mafia to kill my Mom. I’m no better than they are.
My heart feels as if it’s breaking all over again. I know that Alé and I can’t go back to how things were. There’s just… too much. Too much has happened. The lies, the betrayal, me murdering his cousin. I just don’t think we can come back from this.
I don’t know how long my crying lasts, but my eyes grow heavy as I succumb to the sleep I can no longer fight.
Chapter Forty
Aléssandro
“Joey!” I yell as I burst through the door to the pool house. I walk through quickly in hopes that maybe she’s in the bedroom. “Jo!” I yell again. Nothing. What the fuck? Where would she go? I start to panic, my hands shaking as I rake my fingers through my hair, anger rushing through me.
I run back into the main house where everyone is gathered. “She’s gone.” I shake my head defeated as I sink into the couch in the living room.
“Aléssandro,” Ma says softly as she sits down next to me wrapping her arm around me. “You’ll find her Alé, and when you do, talk to her. Tell her everything. She’ll understand,” she tells me softly, her accent thick in her words.
“Why would she just leave? Why wouldn’t she wait for me?” I ask aloud to no one in particular. My leg starts to bounce as I become more agitated with the fact that she left me. I love her. I love her and she just walked away as if I were nothing. She treated me like everyone treats us once they learn who we really are. That’s not who I am. That’s only what I do.
“We’ll find her, Alé. I promise,” Kellan says from across the room sitting in a chair with Maria sitting in his lap, still fully dressed in wedding attire.
I feel like shit that we ruined their wedding, but at the same time, I can’t seem to care enough to do anything about it. I just want my girl back beside me.
I rake my hands through my hair again as I growl loudly, and then I stand up and head to the bar cart to pour a glass of whisky. I shoot it back in one gulp before pouring another three fingers.
“What if she doesn’t? Our family killed hers!” I yell to them all angrily. “It was unjustifiable and it was wrong. God,” I say looking down at the glass in my hand shaking my head, “the things they did to her and her sister.” I pause to try to calm myself down. My blood boils, my body shaking.
“Alé,” Kellan says firmly. I look over to him and I see the pain and anger in his eyes. “I know. I was there. I know what you’re feeling. But she knows this isn’t your fault. You didn’t do this to her or her family. They did. Her mother did,” he spits angrily. “We will find her,” he promises.
“What if she doesn’t want to be found?” I ask him before I pour the rest of my drink down my throat.
“Too bad,” he says defiantly. “I fucked up once and let too much time pass between us. She’s like my sister, and I refuse to allow anything to tear us apart again. I promise you man, I will find her.”
I nod my head once before heading to the office. There has to be a way to find her. Last time I tried calling it went right to voicemail, meaning her phone is most likely turned off. But she’s not home, she’s not here, she must have gone somewhere else. A hotel or something. Maybe she used a credit card. I have to find her.
Chapter Forty-One
Joey
I wake up with a splitting headache and my eyes feel puffy. I make my way to the bathroom and rinse my face with cold water. I pop some aspirin and then reluctantly, turn my cell phone back on. I should probably check my messages but instead I cancel out of the notifications and call the first person that pops in my mind. Kellan.
He picks up on the first ring. “Jo.”
“Hi,” I nearly croak, my voice thick and scratchy.
“Where are you, Jo? Are you okay?” he asks concerned.
I nod, and then stupidly realize that he can’t see that. “Kellan, I need to talk to you. Can I trust you?” I ask hesitantly.
“Of course, you can, Jo. Do you really need to question that?” he asks, and I can hear the hurt in his voice.
“Do you blame me? You married into their family and… now you’re one of them,” I say softly.
“Where do you want to meet?”
“Promise me that Alé won’t be with you.”
“Jo—”
“Promise me, Kellan,” I order firmly.
He sighs heavily into the phone and reluctantly promises. I tell him I’ll text him where I’m at and my room number and to meet me here in an hour. I need time for this damn headache to go away and to shower and get dressed.
As soon as I walk out of the bathroom, there’s a knock on the door. I peek through the peephole and see Kellan on the other side. I open the door and am greeted with him slamming his body to mine and wrapping his arms tightly around me.<
br />
“I’m so sorry, Jo,” he says softly against my ear. “I had no idea. No one did.”
“I don’t blame you, Kellan, I just,” I shake my head, “I don’t even know.” I step back from Kellan and see Rosetta and Maria behind him. My eyes grow wide, and I’m unsure of what to do or say. I didn’t think he would bring anyone with him.
Kellan holds his hands up with his palms facing me. “Before you say anything, please don’t be mad. Hear us out, Jo,” he pleads with me.
“Is he here, too?” I ask, panic filling me. I’m not sure I’m ready to face him yet.
“No,” Rosetta says sweetly as she moves around Kellan and embraces me in a hug. I close my eyes and allow her to hug me, her hand rubbing softly up and down my back. “My sweet, Joey,” she says in my ear, “I’m so sorry.” When she pulls back, I see tears in her eyes. “Please, I think it’s important for us all to talk.
I look over at Maria and Kellan before averting my eyes back to Rosetta. I nod once and move to one of the chairs in the corner that sits next to a round light wooden table.
“I know you’re probably shocked to find out about what else are family does for a living,” Rosetta tells me as she sits in the chair resting on the other side of the table.
“How do you do it?” I ask quietly. “Doesn’t it scare you? You married a monster. You had children with him,” I start to accuse aggressively.
“Now, Joey,” she says firmly, “you know just as much as I do that they are not monsters. Yes, at first my reaction to Franks ‘job’ was the same as yours is now. In fact, it nearly broke us. I honestly didn’t think I could do it, but then I realized something,” she pauses and reaches over and grabs a hold of my hand, gently squeezing, “I love him. His job is not who he is. It’s what he does. And they don’t believe in unjustifiable killing. The movies and books that cover the so-called mafia is just that. Fiction. This, what Frank and I have, what Kellan and Maria have, what Alé and you have. That’s real.”
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