by Nyx, Angel
Half an hour after Gio left, there was a knock on the bedroom door, quickly followed by Risa’s voice.
“Carly? Are you awake?”
“Come on in, Risa. I could use the company.”
She entered carrying a small tray with plates on it and my stomach chose that moment to remind me I’d thrown up my breakfast earlier.
“Oh, God, that smells so good. What is it?”
“Some pasta dish that I was told to bring up to you. I decided I needed my own plate.”
The grin she gave me made me laugh and I groaned. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”
We dug into our lunch and for the first few minutes, the only sounds in the room were from us eating. “Risa? I need to tell you something but I need you to promise not to be mad at me first.”
I watched as she put her fork down and frowned at me.
“What’s going on, Carly? I won’t be mad, just tell me what has you so troubled. I know you, girl. I can see it in your eyes.”
I set my plate aside, took a drink of the sweet tea she’d brought me, and took a deep breath. “I wasn’t completely honest about how this happened.” I motioned to my face.
“Not completely honest, how?”
I sighed softly. “I was kidnapped, that part was true. But...it wasn’t my stalker. It was someone else. He was, I don’t know, paid to do it? I’m not sure on the particulars there. But...” I reached up and carefully removed one side of the bandage covering the left side of my face. “He did this, all of this, with a knife.”
“Oh. My. God. Carly. Jesus. Why did he do such a sadistic thing? I mean, how can one person do something like that to another?”
“The person who hired him was jealous of me. I’ve been asking myself the same thing. Let me know if you figure it out, because I sure as hell can’t.”
“Are you…how did you…fuck. How did you get away?”
“Am I okay? I’m still alive, so I guess so. But it’s going to leave permanent scars. That was the point. Gio found me. I’m still not sure how, I haven’t really asked. I’m not sure I want to know.”
“Why would you think I’d be mad at you?”
“Because I lied? You want to know the worst part about all of this? I have to lie to Eli. I can’t tell him what really happened. I have to lie to my little boy because some psychobitch was jealous I had Gio and she wanted him.”
I knew the second Risa figured it out. Her eyes widened and she stared at me.
“Chablis did this? I’ma fuck that bitch up when I get my hands on her.”
“You can’t. She’s gone. She won’t be coming back. Ever. Trust me when I say she paid for what she did.”
“Good. What do you say I help you downstairs? Did you know Gio has an entertainment room with this massive television set? I swear it’s almost a mini-theater screen it’s so big. We can watch movies and when Eli comes back, we can let him pick some out, too.”
“That sounds like a great idea to me. I’m already sick of this bedroom. At least the bed is comfortable, but if I have to stare at these same four walls any longer I might snap.”
With Risa’s aid, I was soon making myself comfortable in one of the recliners in the entertainment room. If I had to live the life of an invalid for a while, at least I’d have a big TV to watch.
Chapter Fifty Two
Gio
I hated leaving Carly. I wanted to be there in case she needed something, but since I couldn't, I’d tasked Risa with keeping an eye on her while I was gone. Carly inviting her friend to stay just might turn out to be a good thing.
Striding into the warehouse, I noted who was present. “Luciano, Cesare. How is our guest?”
“Sweating it out and awaiting your arrival. As much as we wanted to flay him alive, his death is yours by right.”
“Let’s go pay him a visit.”
There was a single, soundproofed room on the ground floor. It had a solid concrete floor and was equipped with a drain in the center. It came in quite handy at times.
Stepping into the room, with Luciano and Cesare at my back, my eyes immediately found the pezzo di merda who’d dared to put his hands on my woman. Stalking toward him, I let him see the darkness in my soul.
“I hope whatever that puttana gave you to go after my girl was worth it. I hope you got your enjoyment out of it, because you won’t be leaving this room alive. And death, it’s not going to come for you for a while.”
I watched as the fear set in. I watched his eyes widen, I watched the way his chest rose and fell with each pant of breath, and I watched as his body began to quake.
“You’re a big, brave man when you have a woman bound and defenseless. What you really are, is a coward. Only a coward puts his hands on a woman. She didn’t tell you who you were fucking with, did she?”
I removed the gag that was keeping him from responding. I wanted to hear him beg. I wanted to hear him plead. I wanted to hear him scream.
"I didn't know she was your girl. I never would have taken the job if I'd known."
"Do you really think that matters? You took a job that had you carving up a woman's body. It doesn't matter that you didn't know she was mine. It wouldn't matter if I didn't even know her. YOU HARMED A WOMAN. You do not lay hands on a woman. EVER. You deserve every ounce of pain you are about to receive."
He tried to be stoic. He tried to be strong. But even the strongest people have a breaking point.
Every bone in his hands was broken. Skin hung in strips from his body, and blood covered both the floor and my clothes. By the time he finally died, he'd screamed so much he was hoarse.
"Get rid of the body and burn these clothes," I said after I'd changed my clothes and washed all traces of blood from my body.
"You got it, Boss. The gators will be eating good tonight."
I had two more stops to make before I could go home. Carlos was being released from the hospital today and I wanted to check on him before he left.
His parents and girlfriend were in the room when I arrived. I greeted them first before I approached the bed.
"Mr. Marchetti, you didn't need to come by."
"Si, I did. I wanted to be sure you have everything you need before you go home. Is there anything you require?"
"No, Mr. Marchetti, you've done so much all ready."
"Nonsense. You've been a loyal employee, it's the least I can do. You take however long you need to recover. Your job will be waiting for you."
With that I left and headed to my final stop; Dangerous Curves. Tony had information on who was taking some of our stock home. Yes, I wanted to get home to Carly, but business needed to be taken care of first.
"Tony. Let's do this quickly. I want to get back to Carly."
"Sure thing, Boss. How is she doing?"
"She got her first look at what was done to her. Her reaction wasn't as bad as I feared, but it was bad enough."
"I hope the pezzo di merda who did it suffered."
"He did."
"Bene. Okay, so I know who's been taking the stock. I thought it was that one waitress, but I was wrong."
I watched as Tony cued up the surveillance video. On it, we watched as Leo, one of the bouncers, stepped behind the bar at closing. Everyone was focused on cleaning the club so no one paid him any attention.
"I wanted to be sure it wasn't an isolated incident before I brought it to you. Every night, since we put the camera in, he's been taking something."
"We'll make this simple for him. He can repay what he's taken and leave, quietly, or he goes to jail. Let’s get him in here.”
I sat at Carly’s desk while Tony went to get Leo. He’d been a problem for a while now. He was one of the bouncers that kept calling in. The other, Issac, was fired the previous week because it was discovered he was letting under-age girls in with the promise of a blowjob.
“You wanted to see me?”
Leo stood there like he didn’t have a care in the world. I was about to rain all over his parade.
“I did. I want to show you something.” I turned the computer around where it was frozen on him stealing a bottle of liquor.
“Fuck. I didn’t know there was a camera behind the bar.”
“That was the point. You see, we realized stock was going missing. At first we thought it was this waitress, what was her name Tony?”
“Pauline.”
“That’s right. Pauline. She’s been nipping a drink here and there, and she’ll be given a warning that if it continues she’s out of a job, but that didn’t add up to the amount of stock missing from the inventory. Since the cameras were put in, the only person who has been caught taking bottles is you.”
“Yeah, so? I took some bottles. So what? You come in here, make a bunch of changes, mostly benefiting the dancers, and then expect us to just suck it up? Issac was a good bouncer and you fired him. I figured, you deserved to pay for it by losing money.”
“You’re not very bright, are you, Leo? I fired him because he was letting minors in the club. That shit would get the club shut down, immediately. I don’t allow a liability to remain employed in one of my businesses. I was going to let you off easy. I was going to let you repay the full value of every bottle you stole, and walk away. You just blew that.”
I pulled out my phone and made a call. “Guido. I’ve got some trash for you to pick up here at the club. You know what to do.”
“What the fuck was that about?”
I smirked and I knew it was dark. “You stole from the wrong people, Leo. I’d tell you to enjoy your last night on earth, but it won’t be a fun time for you.”
Before he could say anything else, Tony knocked him out with the butt of his gun.
“Keep everyone out of this area until Guido comes to collect him. I need to get back home."
"You got it, Boss. Tell Carly hello for me."
“I will.” I was anxious to get back to the house. I needed to take Carly into my arms and know she really is safe.
Chapter Fifty Three
Carly
I knew. When Gio walked in the door, I knew the fucker who’d attacked me was dead. There weren’t any obvious signs. He didn’t have blood on him or anything, but the tension that had kept his shoulders tight was no longer present. He moved as though he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Did he suffer?” I don’t know who was more surprised by my question; me or Gio.
“He did, Amore. He begged and pleaded for death before the end.”
“Good. It’s what he deserved.” Who was this cold-hearted woman dwelling inside me? I’d never thought of myself as cold or callous, but two people – in as many days – were dead, one by my own hand, and all I felt was relief.
“Don’t berate yourself for not being upset over his death, Carly. I can see it on your face. You’re relieved and that troubles you.”
“How do you already know me so well, Gio?”
“I am a quick study, Bella, when it suits me to be.”
I started to laugh and gripped my side. “Oh, God, don’t make me laugh. It hurts too fucking much.”
“My apologies. Now, what are you doing out of bed and how did you get downstairs?”
“I was going stir crazy in the bedroom. Risa helped me get down here so we could watch movies in the entertainment room. I promise, I didn’t over do anything. I took it easy. If I had to stare at those four walls any longer I was going to lose it. I needed a change of scenery, Gio.”
“Bella. As long as you had help, I don’t mind you being down here. I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“Gio, I was cut up. I’m not an invalid. I can walk up and down stairs without the world crashing down around us.” My voice came out in a frustrated growl.
“Oh, the kitten has claws. Careful, Tesoro. I might have to test this side of you out.”
“Stop. I know I’m not exactly attractive anymore, Gio. You don’t have to pretend to find me desirable.”
“What did I tell you, Bella? You are beautiful to me. Nothing is going to change that.”
He kept saying it, but I couldn’t believe it. I saw what my face looked like. I knew, once the stitches came out, there would be these ugly scars marring my once smooth cheeks. No one could find something like that desirable. That didn’t even take the chest, stomach, and side into account. I looked like a science experiment gone wrong.
“Don’t make me turn you over my knee, Amore.”
I stared at him. Did he just say what I think he said? “Yeah, right. I’m a grown woman; you wouldn’t dare.”
Before I knew what was happening, I found myself propped on a pillow across his lap.
“You were saying?”
“This isn’t funny. Let me up, damn it.”
“Non, Bella. I think you need to be taught a lesson. You are beautiful, and I will not have you belittling yourself because of our attack. Maybe this will help you to remember that.”
I tried to squirm but he held me in place. I didn’t think he would really do it until he actually did. His hand came down on my right ass cheek and I squeaked. “Ow! What the hell?” Before I could say anything else, he he hit the left cheek. Several more blows later, he finally stopped. By then, there were tears on my cheeks and I was mortified to realize I was turned on.
“I never want to hear you belittling yourself again.”
After pulling me onto his lap, he wiped my tears away.
“That wasn’t nice, Gio. I’m an injured woman, after all.”
“Your injuries were well protected, Amore. Did you learn your lesson?”
“Yeah, yeah. No putting myself down.” I looked down at my lap a moment before I returned my attention to him. “I admit, that kind of…turned me on a bit. Weird, right?”
“Hardly. Many couples spice things up in the bedroom with such things. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
A groan escaped him that had me aching a brow. “What?”
“As much as I would love to continue this discussion, Mama and Pop will be here soon with Eli. Mama is bringing dinner.”
He helped me up from his lap and got me settled on the sofa. When my son came running into the house, he stopped just short of throwing himself at me and the look on his face hurt my heart. “Come, Mia Vita. I told you, you won’t hurt me.”
“Are you really okay, Mama?”
“I really am. It’s going to take time for all the cuts to heal, but I’m okay.” I looked up at Gio’s parents. “Carmella, thank you for letting Eli stay the night last night with you.”
“He is welcome in my home any time. He s a good boy, Carly. You should be very proud of him.”
“Grazie. I am. He’s my pride and joy.” I kissed the top of my son’s head. “I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? How come? It’s not my birthday.”
“No, it’s not. It’s not that kind of surprise, Amato. Risa has come to stay here at the house with us while I recover from my accident.”
“Really? Where is she?”
I smiled at his excitement. “She’s upstairs. She’ll be down in a few minutes. Oh, here she is now.”
I watched as Eli hopped off my lap and dashed over to Risa. He adored her.
“Risa!!”
“Hello to you, too, squirt. Didja miss me? You didn’t give Gio’s mama a hard time, did you?”
“Of course I missed you,” he said, as if it was a given. “No ma’am. I like Nonna Carmella. She’s really nice.”
“Nonna?”
Risa and I shared a look. I really needed to tell my son who they were to him.
“Yeah. All the kids call her Nonna Carmella and she said I could too. It’s okay, isn’t it, Mama?”
“Of course it is. Come here and tell me all about your sleepover at Nonna Carmella’s.”
I found ways to keep my son from thinking about my accident until dinner was ready. Thankfully, I didn’t have to carry the conversation during the meal.
That night, when I was curled next to Gio, I decided to
broach the subject of telling Eli the truth about his father. “Gio? I think it’s time Eli know the truth about Rico. Who he was, and who your family is.”
“If that is what you wish, Bella. He is your son.”
“He deserves to know that he’s not alone in this world. He deserves to know that his father’s family is right here, and they love him just like I do.”
“I know Mama will be happy. She won’t have to watch what she says around him.”
“Will you help me tell him, tomorrow? Maybe after breakfast?”
“Si. Get some sleep now, Tesoro.”
I felt him press a kiss to my temple and smiled even as my body slowly relaxed. My last thought, before I drifted off, was that I could really get used to falling asleep in his arms.
I was nervous about telling my son the truth about his father, and who his family was. It came as a shock to me to learn that, not only was he related to Gio, he was part of the Italian Mafia. Maybe the Mafia part would wait. That might be a bit too much information for him to try and process.
Breakfast was done and we were sitting on the sofa. "Eli, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it, Mama? Is something wrong?"
"No, Vita Mia. Nothing is wrong. You see, my sweet boy, I recently found out something about your Papa I didn't previously know." I shared a look with Gio, who nodded in encouragement.
"What, Mama?"
"Your Papa and Gio were cousins." I watched my son's face. I knew the moment he out it together.
"So Nonna Carmela is kinda my grandma?"
"Sort of, yes. It means you have a lot of cousins now, including Matteo."
"Yes! This is so awesome! Wait 'til I tell him!"
I couldn't help but laugh at his exuberance, even if it hurt.
"Can I call him now, Mama?"
"Why don't we wait and make sure he's awake first? He might still be in bed. It is a little early, still." It was barely 8 am on a Saturday. Some people liked to sleep in on the weekends.
"Fine," he grumbled.
His pout made Gio chuckle and me smile.
"Why don't you invite Matteo over for the day? You two can watch movies, play video games, maybe even go for a swim in the pool."