by Reilly, Cora
Remo smiled without humor. “Why did Adamo leave bruises on your arm?”
Adamo regarded me with trepidation, fearing what I’d reveal. What would be the consequences? Remo had made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate Adamo taking drugs, but Adamo did, and not just that, he was getting them from our enemies—it couldn’t be any other way.
“That look you’re sharing, I don’t like it one fucking bit,” Remo growled, touching my arm to bring my attention back to him.
“It was an accident.”
Nino made a small sound in the back of his throat, looking at me as if I was betraying him.
“Bullshit,” Remo said. “One of you is going to spill the fucking beans or I’ll seriously lose my shit.”
Steps rang out and Serafina appeared with the twins on her arm. She frowned at the scene in front of her.
“You better leave. We have something to discuss,” Nino said and Remo nodded.
Serafina’s eyes darted from me to Adamo who gave her a small smile, and all I could think about was that he looked at her to remind himself of the torture he’d suffered. She turned with a last questioning look at Remo and left.
“The fucking truth, now,” Remo said to me.
“I told you everything.”
Remo’s mouth thinned and he exchanged a look with Nino who stood completely still.
“Kiara,” Remo said in warning. “I’m still Capo, and I want the truth from you.”
“I won’t say more than I did. If you want to get more information out of me, you’ll have to use your fancy torturing skills.”
“Yeah, right, with those fucking doe-eyes of yours looking at me like a broken puppy. You know as well as I do that Nino and I can’t hurt a single of your unruly hairs.”
I knew Nino couldn’t hurt me, and I’d always suspected that Remo would at least hesitate before hurting me, but hearing him admit he was incapable of inflicting me pain filled me with warmth. To think that I’d been terrified of becoming a Falcone, of my marriage to Nino, when it had given me a man who loved me, and brothers that meant more to me than my blood relatives. And right now, those brothers were on the verge of attacking each other. Savio looked taken aback by everything.
Remo walked up to Adamo. “Then you’ll have to open your fucking mouth instead.”
“I told you. It was an accident. If you don’t believe me, why don’t you finish what Danilo began and burn off the rest of my tattoo?” Adamo shoved his forearm toward Remo. The upper part of the tattoo with the knife handle and part of the eye was gone, replaced by gnarly burn scars. It gave the rest of the eye that remained a sad droopy look.
Remo stiffened. “You made an oath to me. You owe me the truth.”
“Remo saved you twice, Adamo, maybe you should be grateful,” Nino said coldly.
It hurt to see the brothers like this, to see them hurting. I wasn’t sure if the truth would help them. I couldn’t imagine how it could. Adamo’s drug use would put Remo in an impossible position, especially if my suspicions were true.
“Maybe he shouldn’t have saved me,” Adamo said angrily, then shoved past Savio, grabbed car keys from the side board and rushed outside.
“What the fuck?” Savio exclaimed.
Remo and Nino both looked at me and my stomach sank.
“Does it have something to do with the cigarette burns?” Nino asked me.
Remo and Savio stared at him.
“What burns?” Remo snarled.
Savio sank down on the armrest of the sofa.
Nino touched my arms. “Kiara.”
I closed my eyes. “He’s not over what happened with the Outfit. He’s dreaming about it and looking for an outlet.” I didn’t mention Serafina’s eyes, not wanting to make her feel guilty.
“He’s back to drugs,” Remo said in a low voice. Of course, he’d figure it out.
I looked at him and nodded. Nino shook his head, frustrated.
“I want answers,” Remo said. “What cigarette burns, and where does Adamo get the fucking drugs?”
“I caught Adamo putting out a cigarette on his forearm. He claims he doesn’t feel it because of the scar tissue,” Nino explained.
“Shit,” Savio muttered.
Remo’s face was terrifying, full of fury and cold determination. “Who’s selling him the drugs?” The intensity of his gaze caused me to shudder.
“I don’t know. He told me no one in the Camorra would sell him any.”
Nino and Remo exchanged a look.
“Maybe the Bratva.”
“Do you really think he’d be that stupid to approach our enemies?” Savio asked.
“Drugs make people do stupid things,” Remo growled. “Maybe he knows people at the races who help him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We’re going to find the people who sell him the drugs and kill them,” Nino said simply.
“And with Adamo?”
“We’ll make sure he stays in his room and goes cold turkey. I won’t have him ruin his life with drugs,” Remo said. “I’d rather lock him up until he’s clean than have him die from the shit.”
“I’ll go looking for him. I know a few places where he likes to hang, but I’ll start with C.J.’s place,” Savio said, getting to his feet and leaving.
Serafina poked her head in again, looking concerned. She carried Greta. “Can I come in?”
Remo nodded, still glaring at the floor.
“Greta’s being fussy. She doesn’t want to sleep. She seems to need closeness tonight.” Serafina scanned Remo’s face. “Why don’t you take her for a bit? Nevio’s just fallen asleep and I’m worried she’ll wake him.”
Remo nodded again slowly, and moved over to his wife. He kissed her then took Greta who immediately clung to him. Serafina whispered something but Remo shook his head. She touched his arm briefly then headed back up.
“Come on,” Nino murmured to me. Before we left, I saw Remo stretch out on the sofa with Greta sprawled out on his chest, beaming at him with her huge eyes. He smiled and stroked her back.
“He’ll be all right,” Nino said quietly as he led me away.
“I know. And you?”
“I will be too. Adamo will be all right. We’ll help him. Once his dealers are dead and he’s clean, we can do something about the memories.”
We settled in our bed, me on my back and Nino leaning over me, his eyes tracing my upper arms. He leaned down and kissed my bruises. “I can’t stand seeing you being hurt.”
“I’m fine, Nino. It hurts me more seeing you and your brothers argue with each other. So please don’t be mad at Adamo.”
“I’m not. Not anymore. My brothers and I will always be there for each other. Nothing will change that. Remo won’t allow it, nor will I.”
CHAPTER 19
NINO
“So, what, you’re going to keep me locked in here forever?” Adamo said. “A captive in my own home?” Since Savio had brought him home two nights ago, we’d kept a close eye on our youngest brother and he was already showing withdrawal symptoms. Erratic movements, perspiration, shaking fingers. He must have been taking the shit longer than anyone expected.
“You’ll stay here until we’re sure you’re clean,” I said calmly.
Adamo glared. “Why can’t I stay in my room at least?”
“Because there aren’t bars in front of your window and we don’t want to have them installed.”
Adamo shook his head, looking around the room in Remo’s wing. It was where Remo used to keep Serafina. “This is ridiculous. You can’t treat me like this.”
Remo staggered toward him and got in his face. “You know what I’d do to any other soldier who takes drugs and doesn’t tell me where he got them, so maybe you should shut the fuck up.”
“If you tell us who gave you the drugs, it would make things easier.”
“For whom?” Adamo crossed his arms with a bitter smile.
Remo released a harsh breath and then his smile turned d
angerous. “All right, then don’t tell us. We’ll just talk to C.J. and ask her. You spent a lot of time with her. I assume she knows quite a bit.”
Adamo turned pale. “No, leave her out of it.”
Remo’s smile widened further. “I can’t do that. Considering I’m her Capo, she should have told me everything but she didn’t. That’s betrayal.”
“No!” Adamo shouted and threw himself at Remo, aiming a punch at him. Remo blocked him, twisted his arm around and threw him face-first to the floor then knelt on his back. “Never raise your fist against me again.”
“Fuck you,” Adamo rasped, his face turning red.
“Adamo,” I said in an imploring tone as I crouched before him. “You need to stop this. The drugs are messing with you. Remo and I only want to help you.”
“Don’t hurt C.J., hurt me.”
“I have a feeling hurting you won’t bring us any closer to the truth, right?” I murmured. “Pain won’t make you talk anymore.”
“You never tried. Just do it.”
Remo released him and got up with a snarl. “Shut up. You know we won’t torture you.”
“Why can’t you just let me make my own decisions? If I want to ruin my life with drugs then let me.”
Remo glared. “I won’t give you up, not ever. I’ll torture anyone to get the info on those fuckers who sold you the shit. I want you to return to who you were.”
“I won’t,” Adamo said quietly, rolling onto his back. “There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m not him anymore, maybe I never was.”
Remo swallowed hard, his mouth setting in a hard line. He bent over Adamo, gripping his forearm with the burns. “Then become someone stronger. Those fuckers who tortured you, don’t give them power even after they’re done. Get angry, get brutal, I don’t give a fuck, but get the fucking torture out of your head. Move on. It’s the past.”
Adamo smiled strangely. “If it were that easy, you and Nino wouldn’t still act like our mother wasn’t alive.”
Remo jerked upright. He was on the verge. I gripped his shoulder.
“Adamo, there are two options. You tell us who sold you the drugs or Remo and I will question C.J.”
Adamo glared but worry flickered in his eyes. Maybe Adamo thought he was like us, had become like us, but he was still kinder than Remo and I would ever be.
“Don’t give us that look,” Remo said in a low voice. “I won’t have you deal with potentially dangerous dealers who could use you and your drug addiction to get back to us, to our family.”
Adamo scoffed.
Remo took a step toward him again but stopped himself. “You sure you wouldn’t give them the safety codes if they didn’t sell you the drugs you crave so desperately? Can you look into my fucking eyes and swear you wouldn’t act recklessly for another high? Can you?” Remo laughed darkly when Adamo remained silent. “That’s what I thought. I won’t risk Greta and Nevio’s lives, or Serafina’s or Savio’s or Kiara’s or Nino’s— or yours. Ever. If I have to torture a whore so you give me the info I need, I’ll do it without a fucking flicker of remorse.” Then he nodded toward me. “And believe me, Nino wouldn’t even blink dismembering anyone to guarantee Kiara’s safety.”
Adamo pushed himself into a sitting position. “I would never give away our codes. Not even for drugs.”
“Tell us who sold you the shit.”
Adamo lowered his eyes. “There are these guys at the races. They’re taking stuff themselves. I pay them double so they buy for me as well.”
“They know who you are?” Remo asked.
Adamo nodded. “Everyone knows who I am.”
Remo turned around and stalked out.
“Names, and if you know, where to find them,” I demanded.
“Kay and Josh. They’re always staying with the main race crew in the camp.”
I held out my hand to Adamo and he took it. Back on his feet, he sighed. “I really tried to stay away from drugs, but the weed—it made things better and then one of these guys said the heroine would make it even easier ...”
“Nothing that’s worth anything comes easy, Adamo. You are right, Remo and I we sometimes still struggle with the past, but we still move on because we have people who rely on us, and you have too. We rely on you. We need you as part of our family, so face your fears without drugs.”
Adamo didn’t say anything.
“I’m going to lock you in for now. Later when someone’s here to keep an eye on you, you can move around the house.”
He sank down on the bed and I left. Remo was still in the hallway when I stepped out, leaning against the wall and looking murderous. “We’ll have to set an example. Get it into people’s head that they need to stop selling the shit to him.”
“Let me and Fabiano handle it. You stay here with your kids. Keep an eye on things.”
“You still think Samuel might use the info he gathered while being here for the wedding? For an attack?”
I shook my head. “I think he won’t risk anything with his sister being around, but I think you should stay here. I know you believe you have to protect us all, but Fabiano and I can handle this.”
Remo didn’t like it, but he had his twins to think about and throwing himself into every conflict had to stop. I could see how hard he took Adamo’s drug addiction.
“All right,” he said slowly. “But you’ll make sure everyone gets the message.”
I gave him a look and he bared his teeth in a harsh laugh. “Yeah. You’ll do that.”
“I’ll go in search for Fabiano and tell Kiara that I’m leaving then we’ll head out.”
I crossed the gardens to Fabiano’s house. Leona was stretched out on one of the sunchairs and reading. She sat up when she saw me approach. “Something happen?”
“I need Fabiano for a mission.”
“He’s in the gym, working out.”
I nodded but before I went inside, I said, “Serafina, Savio and the twins are at the pool. Why don’t you join them?”
Surprise crossed her face. “I will, thank you.”
I nodded then headed into the living room. Fabiano’s house was smaller than ours and didn’t have any wings but was still a huge building. The gym was down the corridor and when I stepped in, Fabiano was doing bench presses. “Shouldn’t you be more vigilant?”
“Recognized your steps.” He put the barbell bar into the safety rack above his head then sat up and wiped the sweat from his face and chest. “Adamo?”
I nodded. “He gave us names.”
“When do you want to leave?” Fabiano asked as he stood.
“As soon as possible.”
“Will Remo be coming?”
“No, he should stay here and keep an eye on things.”
“How long will we be gone?”
Always efficient when it was about a mission, that what I appreciated about Fabiano. “Overnight, maybe two. The camp’s currently stationed near Sacramento.”
“All right. Give me fifteen minutes to grab a quick shower and pack a few things.
With a short nod, I went back to our mansion to look for Kiara. I found her at her piano but she wasn’t playing anything, only frowning at her fingers on the keys. I sat down beside her. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” she said slowly, then gave me a small smile.
I caressed her upper arm with the bruises. She wasn’t telling the truth. Given her cycle she was supposed to get her period two days ago. We’d slept together this morning and she definitely hadn’t bled. “I have to leave for Sacramento to handle a few things.”
“Did Adamo tell you who sold him the drugs?”
“He did.” I didn’t say more and Kiara didn’t ask, merely nodded. She knew what needed to happen.
“How is he?”
“We locked him into the secure room. He’ll only be allowed outside if Savio or Remo are around to keep watch.”
“Is that really necessary?”
I brought her wrist to my mouth and kissed
it. “We don’t know how long Adamo’s been taking heroine. Or what else he’s taken. We might find out in Sacramento, but if his addiction is serious, which I fear it is, he might do something stupid trying to get them.”
“I really hope he can get past this.”
“He will.” I searched her eyes for a hint that Kiara needed me. “Will you be okay?”
“Of course. You need to handle this. I’ll be fine. I am.”
I kissed her slowly, trying to decide if I should ask Savio to go in my stead.
“I am fine,” she said firmer. “Go. Handle things.”
KIARA
I watched Nino and Fabiano drive off then returned into the house. Serafina was on the terrace with the twins and Leona, and Remo and Savio were in the gaming room, discussing Adamo. For a moment I considered going outside, distracting myself from the nagging thought that wouldn’t leave me for two days.
Only two days.
My period was overdue for only two days and yet I couldn’t stop thinking about it, even if it had never meant anything in the past. I wanted it to mean something, to mean that I was finally pregnant. At some point, it just had to work. It had to. I touched my belly and shook my head.
Crossing the entrance hall, I locked myself in the guest bathroom with one of my pregnancy tests from my stash. Ten minutes later, I stared down at the small window as disappointment shattered my heart into tiny splinters. Not pregnant, again.
I felt sick and desperate. Trying to hold back tears, I stumbled out of the guest bathroom and toward the gaming room to fix myself a drink at the bar. I hardly ever drank hard liquor, but right then I wanted to numb my sadness. Luckily Savio and Remo were no longer in there. They’d likely joined the rest on the terrace.
Reaching for the first bottle I could get my hand on, I poured myself a generous glass and managed to down half of it before I started to cough. Tears finally burst forth and I wasn’t sure if they were because of the alcohol or because of the hollowness in my chest, this crushing feeling that the one thing I wanted most wouldn’t come easy for me, or at all.
Remo came into view, coming in from the garden. I quickly wiped my eyes and rushed away, wanting to drown in my misery, but his steps sounded behind me and eventually I gave up escaping because it was futile anyway. Remo never gave up and I was tired of running. Sniffling, I leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. His legs came into view, but he didn’t say anything. I could imagine him watching me.