Reign (The Vendetta Series Book 2)

by Kris Anne Dean

The back of my head bounces against the vinyl seat and I let out another frustrated growl. “I won’t. I just want to get my girls back but I can’t promise what Angelo will do to her if he finds out the truth before we get there.”

  “You think he’ll hurt her? She’s been through so much, she won’t be able to handle him betraying her.”

  “I don’t want to scare you kid but there’s no telling what Angelo will do. So gun it already and let’s see if we can’t end this before there’s any bloodshed.”

  His foot presses the gas pedal to the floor and the heap of rattling junk we’re riding in lurches forward. The road is desolate this time of night except the headlights tailing us. I thought nothing about them at first until Scotty’s stunt. When he halted, I watched their speed slow. When he floored it, they picked up speed. I urge Scotty to blow through red lights and keep my eyes focused on them through the mirror. Luckily the lights fade in the distance because there’s no time to waste on losing the tail.

  I turn his shit music down for the hundredth time when I hear my phone ring. The caller ID says Nash but muffled voices are all I hear. I press the phone closer to my ear and barely make out Brie’s voice. She’s pleading with someone to let her have the baby and I breathe a small sigh of relief. At least I know Abigail is alive and they’re together. The connection is terrible, but I put the phone on speaker so Scotty can hear what I hear. A text chimes in temporarily silencing the sporadic garble. It’s Nash informing me he’s conferenced me in on a call from Brie and finally unscrambled the signal. I read off the address that confirms we’re in the right place.

  We slow our speed when we drive through the pristine neighborhood lining the beach. This car will draw enough attention without the added noise of the engine grinding from pushing it to hard. Scotty pulls onto a long driveway in front of a modest two-story house with brown shingles and large expanses of glass. He kills the lights and I throw the door open, jumping out of the car before he can even fully press the brakes. I reach the front door but it’s locked. Scotty catches up to me as I creep my way around the exterior checking for an open window or any way in. The closer I get to the rear of the house, the louder the voices get until I reach an open patio door leading to a pool house. When I peer inside I find Brie arguing with Ava and Angelo hovering nearby.

  Ava, Angelo and Brie are so caught up in their standoff, no one notices I’m there. Except for Franco. I’m confused by his lack of action. He just sits there with a pissed off growl on his face, his brows scrunching inward. Drawing my gun I enter the room coming up behind Brie.

  I arrive just in time to hear Ava and Brie both reveal very different results of the paternity tests. Angelo turns to face Brie and notices me over her shoulder. I meet his glare with grave emotion and barely choke out, “I can explain that.”

  We both raise our guns and circle around each other like boxers, the room our ring. Brie and Ava jerk their heads in my direction and Scotty rushes to Ava, pulling her back out of the line of fire. She throws her arms around him, surprised and confused but happy to see him. Brie uses the distraction to dart to the cradle, swooping Abigail up in her arms and moving to the farthest side of the room. She angles herself so her back is to the room, covering Abigail, but still able to see us.

  “Before I explain. I need to know how you pulled all of this off Ava. Who helped you?” I have my suspicions but prefer confirmation before I sentence anyone to pay for their sins against my family.

  “I’d like an answer to that question too. Was it you Franco?” Angelo growls still following my movements. Franco doesn’t respond verbally but his body language is screaming ‘fuck you asshole’.

  Ava’s eyes glaze over and Scotty nods, encouraging her to explain everything. Her voice wavers and her lips tremble. “After the police released me, they stranded me in North Carolina. I went back to your house to ask for help but no one was home. I wandered into the barn. I can’t explain why. I just needed to be where I could feel Angelo, I guess. While I was sitting there, feeling sorry for myself, I noticed the FBI didn’t search all that well. I had hid the gun Lorenzo took from Brie under a broken board and it was still there. I took it. I didn’t have a plan. I wasn’t looking to hurt anyone. I just wanted Brie to stay away. When I saw you come home, I changed my mind about asking for help and bolted. When I made it back to New York. I had nothing. They seized the house, so I broke in. I was just planning to take my things but then I remembered Angelo put the badge in the lockbox. I didn’t want the police to find it.” She pauses, inhaling a deep breath. “It wasn’t until after I lost the baby that I used them to hurt her. I was heartbroken and angry. I had no outlet, and I spiraled out of control. After she gave birth, I had a DNA test ran with strands of Angelo’s hair I gathered from his brush. When it came back that he was a match, I took her to pass her off as mine. That’s when I called Gino for help. I didn’t know Angelo was planning to kidnap her too. It should have been a relief to not have a reminder of Angelo to deal with and Angelo would forget about Brie.”

  I scrub my hand over my face, forgetting about my swollen, bruised eye and wince when I touch it. Ava is in tears, trembling in Scotty’s arms and Brie is in shock.

  Angelo has the same blank stare he’s had since I got here and still engaging me in a standoff like you see in every cowboy movie. You know the one where no one wants to shoot first. “I’ve heard enough from her. What I want to know is how you can explain the results. We still don’t know which one of us is the father.”

  “It took me awhile to figure it out. After reading the contract between Carmine and Vincenzo, I realized the original feud was over a child but it wasn’t until I found Vinny’s safe deposit box, I knew who that child was. Inside, I found original birth certificates, photos and letters between the forbidden lovers.” Images of them together play in my head and my skin crawls. I don’t want to believe it’s true, but it is and they betrayed us both. Why wallow in it alone? “Your dear old dad, Matteo Deluca had an affair that resulted in a child. Three actually. His mistress, was my mother, Abigail Carracci. The betrayal humiliated Matteo’s wife, Carmine Bianchi’s daughter, and that’s what set the feud in motion. They called a truce after my mother agreed to leave town and keep the truth of her children’s paternity a secret. When Carmine learned the babies were triplets, he took one to raise as a Bianchi and convinced my mother, one died at birth. The DNA test is a match because we share the same DNA. Brother. Only mine matches more markers because I’m her father.”

  A darkness flashes in his eyes but his face remains expressionless. If I wasn’t watching him, I might have missed the only sign he understands what I’m telling him. He takes the proof from my hand and scans the evidence for himself. “We’re not even the same age.”

  That’s what he’s focused on? “Another lie. Everything they ever told you was a lie. They’ve lied to you about your mother, I guess they lied about your age to keep anyone from figuring it out.”

  He strokes his chin, pondering the new information. “That’s why he was always in Boston. I thought he was keeping tabs on Brie but he was watching you,” he states coldly.

  “Maybe. It also explains why he wanted to invest in my business.” So much for anonymity but I might as well lay all the cards on the table.

  He locks his cold stare on me. Our guns still drawn on each other. The big question now is where do we go from here? It’s not likely we’ll become one big happy family and I don’t trust him. “This ends here. One way or the other. If we lower these guns, we’re calling a truce. Brie and Abigail are off limits to you.”

  He glances over to Brie, surprised by the look in her eye. She’s not the timid woman he thought she was. The momma bear look in her eyes tells him she’ll do anything it takes to protect her cub. He looks back to me and slowly lowers his gun. “Temporarily. At least until I get the answers I need from Matteo. If I find out you’re lying, all bets are off.”

  I match his move cautiously. “Fair enough but make no mistake, wh
atever you learn, they’re mine.” I nod towards Brie and the baby and she moves toward me, sliding into my arms. Angelo watches with a pained look on his face then turns and walks out. Tossing over his shoulder, “Someone has some explaining to do.”

  There’s still Ava to deal with. I made a promise to Scotty that I intend to keep but she can’t go unpunished. If only I knew what to do with her. I scan the room hoping the answer will come to me when I see her, but they are both gone. They must have slipped out when we weren’t watching.

  I lean back against the couch and pull Brie closer. I need to feel her warmth. Resting my head on her shoulder I inhale her scent. “What do we do about Ava?”

  She sways the baby and I stroke my fingers down Abigail’s soft cheek and touch her tiny nose. My heart leaps in my chest and a smile crosses my face. In this moment I have everything I need, both my girls safe in my arms.

  “I don’t think she’ll be back. Grief makes you do all sorts of crazy things. Now that she knows Abigail is yours maybe her broken heart can heal,” Brie says. My voice of reason.

  An engine revs to life and tires squeal in the distance. Yup everything I need right here, except a ride home. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll call for a car but it may take a while.”

  “Nonsense,” Franco breaks his silence. I forgot he was even there. “Take Angelo’s Limo. Sounds like he’s driving himself wherever he’s heading. I’ll gather the baby’s things.”

  “Just a car seat, if there’s one. Nothing here is hers,” Brie says.

  Ten minutes later Brie and I climb inside the limo. I want nothing from Angelo Deluca but there’s no other way home that won’t take hours. Brie crinkles her nose. “Speaking of taking things from a Deluca.” Did I say that out loud or is she so damn perfect she can read my mind? “I have a confession to make. I borrowed the ransom money from Matteo.”

  “I know. Nash told me when he texted your location and proof it was Ava in the hotel. But since you still have it, we can give every dime back.”

  “Are you sure it’s one hundred thousand dollars?”

  “Yup. We don’t need it. There was more in that safe deposit box. Vinny invested the money the Carracci’s got for their territory. It’s done very well over the years. Even after splitting it with Carra, we’re still millionaires.”

  A smile spreads across Brie’s face like I have lifted a weight. She nestles against my shoulder unable to keep her eyes open any longer. The past twenty-four hours has been one long push of adrenaline and now were plummeting from the high. We’re both physically exhausted from lack of sleep and the whole ordeal but I’m not ready to let my guard down yet. Not until we’re home.

  I comb my fingers through her hair and brush my thumb down the side of her face, she’s so beautiful I can’t take my eyes off of her. Her breathing slows as she drifts off to sleep. I take a deep breath and slowly exhale. The rise and fall of her chest is keeping time with the beat of my heart. Like everything about us, we fit perfectly, always in sync. I glance at Abigail asleep in her carrier and tuck her blanket around her. My girls, my princesses, my world.

  I’m lost in silent contemplation, staring out the window of the limo as the city lights and tall buildings come into view. A few more blocks and we’ll be home.

  The driver pulls to the curb and steps out of the car to open the door. “I got them. Thank you for the lift.” I unstrap Abigail’s carrier, hooking my arm through the handle and nudge Brie with the other. Half asleep she stumbles inside wrapped in the safety of my arm. I’d carry them both if I could. I nod to the doorman when he opens the door for us to enter and we cross the foyer to the elevator. I fumble with the key card but the elevator opens and carries us home.

  I’ve always been a one woman man, it’ll take some time to learn how to juggle two.

  Chapter 25- Brie

  Whatever Angelo put in my drink is still coursing through my system on the ride home. I may even be hallucinating. Nash ran the company financials before I reached out to Matteo for help with the ransom. If one hundred thousand dollars would sink us, surely I didn’t just hear Cal say we were millionaires. They stocked the back of the limo with enough alcohol to subdue three NFL Lineman, maybe Cal tipped back a few when I wasn’t looking. I don’t know, but with or without wealth, I’m in this for the long haul. Cal never ceases to amaze me. This whole mess started because he was in danger yet somehow he comes out on top and saves me. Again.

  All at once, my eyelids are too heavy to hold open and I lean into Cal for support. His strong arms snake around my back. His warmth blanketing me as I drift off to sleep. I can rest knowing he’s here with me. Watching over us. He takes the weight of the world off my shoulders and carries the load.

  I’m in the middle of a dream when Cal nudges me to wake up. I’m groggy and unsteady on my feet but he helps me out of the limo and up to our apartment. Abigail is asleep in her carrier hooked on Cal’s arm. I hope he doesn’t blame himself for what happened. I don’t. He’s strong and resourceful but a woman scorned is nothing to a woman grieving over the loss of a child. I should hate Ava. I should want her to pay but I just feel sorry for her. You’re bound to lose your way when time stops for you and the rest of the world keeps spinning. Maybe she’s paid enough. Wherever she ends up, I hope she finds a way to cope. One that doesn’t involve us, that is.

  I stumble into the bedroom, still half asleep when Cal’s arms slide around me again. I can never get enough of his touch.

  “Let’s get you out of these clothes,” his voice is low in my ear. His breath warm against the crease of my neck. I tilt my head allowing his lips access to my skin. His hands slide up my body, grazing the side of my breast as he removes my shirt and unhooks my bra. Just one touch and an insatiable need pools between my legs. The warmth of his mouth covers my breast as his tongue teases my nipple until they’re both hard. A deep moan vibrates up my throat and past my lips. He palms my other breast, squeezing and teasing my nipple with his thumb while his tongue continues to assault the other one. I shudder, an orgasm already building at my core. A deep growl erupts from him detonating my already explosive body. To hell with the doctor's orders. I need him, now.

  His fingers ghost down my skin leaving a trail of flames in their wake and tugs at the button on my jeans. Slowly he lowers the zipper and works then over my hips until they fall to the floor. I step out of them and his hand is between my legs. Gently massaging my folds through my wet panties.

  I wince at the contact and his hooded eyes raise to mine as he stands up. “Should I stop?”

  I don’t care how sore I am. I need him inside of me every bit as he wants to be there. All I can muster is a breathy, “No,” and bite at my lower lip. His hands are on me again, ripping away the thin material that was my panties. Good thing they weren’t my favorite pair. As I stand there, exposed to him there’s a flicker in his blue eyes and I drown in their depth. There are too many clothes separating us. I untuck his shirt and splay the palms of my hands up his stomach and across his broad chest. The way his muscles ripple under my fingers makes me even hotter. If he doesn’t fuck me soon, my desire might burn the whole city to the ground. I continue on my path to his shoulders and he raises his arms so I can slide his shirt off. His pecs are tight and twitch ever so lightly when I trail my tongue down the same path until I reach the top of his pants. With a flick of my wrist his button is open and I lower his zipper inch by inch. His cock is hard and begging to break free. My mouth waters in anticipation. I reach in with both hands and wrap them around to his tight ass. I squat before him, sliding his boxers down with his jeans. I’m rewarded with his massive cock standing at attention. I pull him into my mouth and look up at him. He’s watching me take him in. His eyes roll back and his head tips back slightly, a smile curving along the edges of his lips. He twists his hands in my hair and tugs lightly while thrusting forward until his cock hits the back of my throat.

  “Fuck. That feels amazing,” his voice is so high it cracks. He guides my head
up and down coating the back of my throat with his warmth. He tastes so sweet, I swallow it all. He trembles as I tease at the tender head while sliding him out of my mouth and past my lips.

  As soon as I stand, he scoops me up and places me on the bed. His eyes watch me as he spreads my legs, opening me for him and lowers his head between my legs. His warm breath sends shivers through my body as his tongue trails up my folds and teases my clit. It only takes a few laps of his tongue and I erupt like a volcano, melting everything in the wake of my orgasm. I’m still shuddering under him when he slides inside, inch by inch, allowing me to adjust to the sudden intrusion. He holds his weight on his arms to keep from hurting me and gently slides in and out. I’m sore and tight but he fills me like only he can and I move under him, matching his pace. The ebb and flow of our bodies are in perfect unison. Fanning the flames of our desire, burning hot and slow. My nails dig into his flesh as another orgasm builds in my center and I scratch them down his back. He growls his own pleasure into the side of my throat and nips at my ear. The sting of pain only adds to the ecstasy. It’s a slow steady build. Our breaths are labored when our warm, wet mouths collide. Our tongues twist with one another, hot and hungry. I struggle to control myself; I don’t want the feeling to end, but I can’t, I’m too far gone. His eyes burn into me as he watches me come undone.

  “That’s my girl. Let go.” I cover his face with my hand as I near the edge of sanity. His penetrating stare is too intense. A quick burst of air rushes from my lungs and my body shudders. He raises my arms above my head and pins them to the mattress with one hand and a devilish grin crosses his face. “Don’t deny me the pleasure of watching you come.” That’s all it takes to push me over the edge. My body shudders again and I clamp down around his thick shaft. Coming for him as he holds my gaze. He pushes deeper and explodes. Filling me with his warmth. He lowers onto his side pulling me over with him and ghosts his fingers down my body and up again, gently tapping on my heart. “Mine.”