Deserving Love
Page 5
“What the fuck are you doing?” Scott stood before me with a perplexed look on his face.
I turned, ready to beat his ass to the ground for failing Bethany, for being incompetent and allowing Frankie to get equipment in here, but the bedroom window shattered from a bullet.
“Duck!” I screamed, and we both dropped to the floor.
Patrick and a tall, lanky man I’d never seen flew through the shattered window, landing on the floor in front of me. They tumbled around, fists flying. I was about to get up and assist, but Patrick rolled over, pinning the guy below him, and continued to pummel him.
My eyes drifted to Scott. “Frankie, I assume?”
Scott nodded his head in acknowledgement. We both stood, guns drawn, ready to shoot if necessary, but Patrick picked Frankie up off the floor and put an end to the struggle with a headbutt, knocking Frankie out cold.
“What do you want to do with him?” Patrick asks.
“We’ll take him to my place.” Both men looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “Don’t look at me like that. I own a building out here. I purchased it five years ago when I was here protecting Lillian at Mr. Vicci’s request.”
Patrick picked Frankie up and tossed him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I inwardly laughed as I thought, More like a sack of shit. “Let’s go, Patrick. You follow Scott and me.”
* * *
It didn’t take us long to get to my place. The old building was somewhat dilapidated and located in an industrial area. It had served its purpose in the day, somewhere to torture anyone who’d come after Lillian with the intent of doing her harm. It hadn’t been meant to be a cozy place to sleep. No, I’d had other means for when I needed to rest.
Once inside, the stench of mold and stagnant air filled the empty room. Scott helped Patrick tie Frankie to a chair, securing him tightly in case he woke up before I returned.
“Watch this fucker. I’m headed back to Bethany’s to make sure her home is clear of the fucking cameras and listening devices that fuck planted. If he wakes up before I return, call me immediately.”
Scott scowled at me, “The place is clean Angelo you don’t need to go back.”
“Forgive me if I’m not confident in your abilities. Afterall, we’re here because you two idiots fucked up and let that douche get the drop on you.”
Scott flipped me the bird. “Whatever, you prick. Just get back here before this son-of-a-bitch wakes up.”
When I returned to the warehouse an hour later, I was confident I had removed all the pieces of equipment Frankie had hidden. Now, I was going to make him pay—with his life.
“Wake his ass up,” I instruct Patrick. He reaches for the bucket of water by his feet and tosses it at Frankie. Nothing happens. Scott brushes past me, snapping a small white pellet in half and waving it beneath Frankie’s nose. It doesn’t take long for him to come around.
Frankie struggles a second before speaking. “Why the fuck am I all wet?”
I reach out and punch the fucker in the face, knocking his head back. When he straightens, I get in his face. “I’ll ask the questions here. Give me the answers I want, and I’ll put an end to your life quickly. Cause me any grief, and I’ll torture you and instruct the boys to end your wife’s life without losing a minute of sleep over it.”
“I’m not telling you shit,” Frankie snaps.
I put a bullet in his leg, and he cries out. “Are you sure that’s how you want to play this? You’re on your own here, Frankie. No one is coming to save you. My father has seen to it that anyone who remains loyal to Matteo or Vincent is dead.” And just so he knows I mean business, I put a bullet in his other leg. “How long have you been watching Bethany?”
“Long enough to know her tits are real and she enjoys getting herself off in the shower.”
I crack my neck to one side and then the other. “You son of a bitch!” I scream as punch him in the face hard enough to knock him and the chair over. Scott and Patrick reach down, lifting the chair and placing it back where it once was. Frankie spits blood and a few teeth at my feet.
“I want to know why you’re here watching the woman and the boy?”
Frankie laughs an evil laugh, blood still pouring from his mouth. “I’m not here to watch them. I’m here to end their lives. The cunt deserves it. Vincent was my best friend. I’ll avenge his death and make you pay. You stole his rightful place as head of the family. The only way to make you pay is if that little bitch dies.”
I place another bullet in his body. This time in his right arm, and he screams in pain once more. “You’ve just signed your wife’s death warrant and your own.”
“I’m not afraid.” He laughs. “God will make you pay for your sins.”
I place the barrel against his forehead. “You’ve got that all wrong, Frankie. I made peace with the devil years ago. God has nothing to do with it.” My finger pulls the trigger. Frankie’s brains explode from the back of his head. “It’s over,” I say with a sigh of relief.
Patrick flicks a chunk of Frankie off his leg. “Thanks a lot, fuck face.”
Scott laughs. “You should know better than to stand so close.”
“Clean this mess up, and then I want his wife dead before the sun rises. Do you understand me?”
Both men nod in understanding. “Make sure the message is delivered to anyone who’ll listen. The Eastwick family is under Rizzuto protection. Mess with any of them and feel the full wrath of the Rizzuto family. Got it?”
Chapter 13
ANGELO
It’s morning when I show up at Lincoln’s home. Lillian answers the front door. “Is it over?”
“Yes. They’ll be safe. Scott and Patrick will deliver the message that they are under the Rizzuto family protection.”
Lillian smiles, knowing full well what that means. “You want to let me past you?”
Before she steps aside, she places her hand on my chest. “What are your intentions when it comes to them, Angelo? And don’t tell me it’s none of my business, because it is.”
“Oh, so fierce, Principessa.” I grab her hand in mine and remove it from my chest. “You have nothing to worry about. I promise you nothing will ever happen to them. My life for theirs. You need not ever question that.”
“That’s not what I’m asking, Ang, and you know it. So, cut the shit.”
I lean forward and place a kiss on her cheek, then whisper in her ear. “I love them, Principessa. I’m sticking around.”
Lillian steps back giving me a questioning look. “How is that possible? Your father will—”
“My father has blessed it. I’m done killing, Principessa. That is, if she’ll let me stick around.”
Lillian smiles at me and steps aside. I walk past her and let my feet carry me toward the sound of Peanut and Bethany laughing. I find them in the kitchen with Lincoln. Peanut yells my name and runs toward me when he sees me. Bethany immediately turns to watch her son. I kneel down and open my arms, letting Peanut run into them.
“Angelo,” Lincoln calls. His eyes narrow, and I know without him asking what it is that he needs to hear from me.
“Everything will be fine.” It’s the four words he’s been waiting to hear in order to relieve his concerns
Lillian slides up to Lincoln, wrapping her arms around his waist. He looks down at her, and she nods her head up and down. She then lifts on her toes and kisses him.
“Join us for breakfast,” Bethany calls out.
Peanut sits to my right and Bethany to my left. I’m surrounded by my past, my present, and my future. Life couldn’t get any better than this.
* * *
It’s dark out when we leave Lincoln and Lillian’s. Peanut falls asleep in the car on the way back to Bethany’s. I was at her home until the wee hours of the morning ensuring the window was replaced and all cameras have been removed. The only thing I couldn’t fix was Rascal. I’m not sure how to explain to Peanut what happened to his dog. My father would have just told me the truth,
but that’s the difference between my world and this world. Some things are meant to be kept a secret.
Bethany quietly tucks Peanut into his bed. I stand in the doorway and watch the exchange of love between the two of them and can’t help but feel the excitement that this could be what the rest of my life will look like… if she’ll let it.
BETHANY
I’m lying on the bed watching Angelo through the steamed glass of the shower. The way he moves causes my heart to palpitate. Those broad inked shoulders flex as he washes himself. I watch his arms lower, and his hand wraps around his shaft.
“You like what you see, Tesoro?” Angelo smiles at me through the steamed glass. “Come join me, and I’ll show you how good it really feels.”
My face turns several shades of red at being caught ogling him. I shake my head and look the other way. The spray of the shower stops, and the sound of the door opening and closing tells me it won’t be long before he comes to me. I glance back in the direction of the bathroom and watch as he towels off.
Slowly, almost predatorily, he comes to me. I roll to my side, and he lays his towel-clad body beside mine. His hand reaches up to cup my chin.
“I love you. You’re seriously the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on, and I plan to for the rest of my life if you’ll let me.”
Is he serious? “Of course, I’ll let you, Ang. There isn’t anyone else I’d want to spend my life with, and I know Peanut feels the same.”
Angelo reaches his arm out and pulls me into his body. His lips press against mine, and a low moan escapes me, causing him to growl in return.
“Thank you for letting me love you, Tesoro. I promise I’ll never let anything happen to you or Peanut.”
Epilogue
ANGELO
It’s been three years since I lay in Bethany’s bed and proclaimed my love to her. Then followed it up by making love to her for hours on end.
I never thought I deserved to be loved. After all, I’d committed the worst sin there was when I fell in love with Lillian, took her virginity, and then walked away when she needed me most. I’d gladly accepted my punishment, to secretly watch over her as she moved on with her life without me and fell in love with Lincoln Eastwick. It was an honor to stand beside him on the day he married Lillian, and an even bigger honor when they named their firstborn after me.
Lillian’s pregnancy wasn’t an easy one, and for months it was touch and go as to whether she would be able to carry her son full term. She said from the minute he kicked her while in the womb, that he was going to be a strong warrior, so the name was fitting.
Every day, I remind Bethany that she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Peanut has grown into the most amazing boy and constantly asks me when I’m going to marry his mom and become his dad. It’s not that I haven’t thought about it; it’s just the opposite. It’s the only thing that’s on my mind. I know I can provide for her and Peanut. After all, Lincoln pays me very well as head of his security. Gerard retired just after the events unfolded with Frankie. Call it good timing or just plain amazing luck, but I wasn’t going to say no when Lincoln offered it to me. No, the only reason I haven’t asked is that I’m afraid to push my luck. Things have been going so well, I question if I deserve to have it all.
I stand in the middle of Lincoln’s office. My hands are sweating, and no matter how many times I wipe them on my pants, they just sweat again.
“Just spit it out, Angelo. I know you want something, or you wouldn’t be here.”
“You’re right.” I take a couple of breaths, trying to calm my nerves. Christ, I was a hired killer most of my life, and never once was I this nervous. “I want to ask Bethany to marry me.” There. I’ve said it. That wasn’t so hard.
“I was wondering when you were going to man up enough to ask her. If you’re asking me how I feel about it, you should already know. Christ, Angelo, you took a bullet for her, killed for her. There isn’t anyone she’d be safer with. Of course, you have my approval, if that is what you’re asking.”
I grin and reach my hand out to shake his. “That was the easy part. Now, I’ve got to convince her to marry me.”
Lincoln pats me on the back as he walks me toward the door. “I hardly think you’ll have any issues there, my friend. Trust me.”
I run the words over and over through my head, just exactly what I’m going to say to Bethany. When I walk through the door, I call out her name. “Bethany, where are you?”
Bethany comes running down the hall and jumps into my arms. I gladly wrap them around her because nothing feels better than having her in them.
“Yes, yes, the answer is yes.”
I set her down on her feet and look at her questioningly. “Yes to what, Tesoro?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“But I haven’t asked you to marry me,” I roar.
“But you will. Lincoln told Lillian, and Lillian called me and told me you asked Lincoln if it was okay to ask me.”
I shake my head. “Don’t get too excited because I’m sure your brother won’t be too happy with me when I kill his wife.”
Bethany giggles and then cuddles up next to me again. “You know, when I’m in your arms, I know I’m loved and that I’m safe, so if you do decide to ask me, the answer is always going to be yes.”
I pull out of her grasp and turn to walk away, smacking her on the ass. “Is there even a reason to ask? You’ve already said yes, so why do I need to ask the question?”
“Angelo Rizzuto, if you don’t ask the question, I swear I’m going to kill you.”
I keep walking away from her. She huffs a few times, which tells me she’s frustrated that I haven’t actually said the words. I reach into my pocket, pull out the little velvet box and turn, dropping onto one knee.
Bethany sprints toward me, calling out, “Yes.”
“Again, I haven’t asked the question, Tesoro. You have to wait for me to ask the question.”
“Then ask it already.”
“Marry me, Tesoro? Make me the happiest man ever. Because with you, I know I’m home.”
A Note From The Author
I hope you have enjoyed the Love at Last Series. When I wrote A Chance At L.O.V.E., it was meant to be a standalone as part of the Bid On Love Novella Series. But I fell in love with L.O.V.E and knew his and L.O.V.’s story couldn’t end there. As each of their stories developed, Angelo became a huge part of their lives, and it wasn’t long before I knew he had to have his own story. His chance at happiness.
So, if you’ve loved this series as much as I have, please take a moment to leave a review. Your review will hopefully help others fall in love with these amazing characters.
Other Books By K.L. Myers
The Second Chance Series
Reawaken His Heart (Book 1)
Reclaiming His Future (Book 2)
Rediscovering His Life (Book 3)
Redefining His Present (Book 4) Coming Winter of 2019
Razor’s Edge Series
Rocking Between The Sheets (Prequel)
Sheet Music (Book 1)
Heart Beats (Book 2)
COMING IN 2019
Loving Ivory (Book 3)
Standalone’s
Captured
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