His to Marry - Chapter Three

Mauro

The night sky was an indigo blue with a tinge of gray. I looked up to see the thick clouds forming, and moments later, thunder roared off in the distance. I braced myself against the porch railing, swirling the whiskey in my glass before taking a sip. It coated the inside of my mouth, trickling down my throat and easing the tension that grew inside me. I thought about the night Bianca and I had two days ago. I pictured that bright smile, the way her hair swooshed in the passenger seat while her glistening legs pressed against the leather stitching.

There was no denying how beautiful she was and how captivating her presence had been even when we were younger. I’d always felt a strange connection to her, but I fought it every day, knowing I could never act on it. She was my sister, and I had to convince myself that whatever I felt was just due to how much I wanted to protect her. I didn’t want to face the idea that she’d soon be an Impellizzeri, that she wouldn’t be around to run into in the middle of the day.

I hated the thought more than I cared to admit, but what was I supposed to do?

I had no reason to stop her from marrying Luciano, none that I could think of that sounded good, at least. And unless I could come up with a compelling enough reason, the wedding was going to go off with or without my blessing.

Taking Bianca away from me for good.

My life would look a lot bleaker without knowing I’d see her when I came home, especially on the nights Father had me doing his dirty work. I still clammed up every time he danced around the idea of me taking down my next target. It’d been a while since I’d had to take a life with my own hands, murder a man without the backing of my brothers, to make it feel okay. Their nonchalance soothed me when it came to the final blow or shot that made the life leave an enemy’s eyes. I knew it was only a matter of time before I once again had to act alone.

The back porch door opened, and a cool bluster of conditioned air hit me as Father stepped out with his own glass in hand. He had a cigar balanced between his fingers, and I wondered what occasion gave him cause for both. He usually favored one over the other unless he had something weighing heavily on his mind.

I felt a strange tension between us that hadn’t been there before. It began to fester the moment I’d killed my first target on his order. He was breaking away from me, putting a wedge between us in a way he hadn’t with my brothers. I told myself I was just being paranoid, that Father loved me just as much as he did them, but I had a gut feeling that simply wasn’t true.

“Mauro.”

“Father.”

He rested his glass on the porch railing, taking a puff of his cigar. The smoke left his lips in a soft cloud, disappearing into the night sky.

“I have your next job. You’ve taken care of every target I’ve thrown your way. You cleared the path for me to score The Vermillion, and you’ve shown me that you’re capable of becoming capo. You’re nearly there, but this job isn’t going to be like the rest,” he said.

“Whatever it entails, I’ll get it done.”

“I have no doubt that you will, but this time, you’re not going after a singular target. These won’t be easy kills. The poodle you’ll be after will put up a fight. This assignment will cripple a family that has been a thorn in my side for years on end. It begins with their remaining allies, and you will finish with the head of the snake himself, Hester Alodorata,” Father explained.

“Who is he?”

“He’s a man who has no business existing in my city anymore. I’ve taken enough from him over the years, and for a while, I truly thought he’d given up, but he’s clinging to power now. I need you to take out his trusted associate. He’s one that usually never leaves Hester’s side. Once he’s gone, Hester will be an open target. Your brothers can assist with the associate, but when it comes time for Hester, you must deliver the final blow.”

I straightened my back and nodded. “Consider it handled.”

Father patted me on the back, taking a long puff of his cigar before he moved on to his over-full glass of whiskey.

“That will be your final mission, Mauro. That will be the last I ask of you before you become capo. Make me proud,” he ordered.

His to Take - Chapter Four 

Mauro

The warm Vegas air trickled in through the open apartment windows. I watched the sheer curtains dance in the blustering wind as the smell of coffee and fresh toast enveloped my senses. The blonde woman still wouldn’t tell me her name. She moved like she’d known me her entire life, but she refused to let me in. There were no photographs set out around her place, no indication that she ever really had a life outside her need for revenge.

But it didn’t bother me as much as it should because I knew the same thing could be said about me. Outside of my need to bring Lorenzo Ragusa, Sr., to his knees, I didn’t exist. My need to free Bianca and avenge my family was all that kept me going.

Even when every inch of me was tired.

Everything hurt, and everything felt harder than it should be. There were days when it felt like I wanted to curl up into a ball and forget.

I needed to forget about the pain, forget about the hurt, and forget all about Lorenzo and everything he did for me. Still, I knew that even if my family understood, even if Bianca somehow forgave me, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

What kind of man would I be if I turned my back on my family? What kind of man would I be if I left Bianca to rot after everything she’d risked for me?

I grasped the ceramic cup, feeling the hot exterior burn my fingers as I swallowed the scorching instant coffee, feeling it jolt me awake.

“I know you must be used to the good stuff. I’m afraid instant is all I have,” the woman said.

“Trust me, this is more than enough. I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve done. You really don’t have to go to all this trouble,” I told her.

“It’s in my nature, I guess. It’s been a long time since I’ve had company. My father used to tell me to be kind to people because you never know who might help you in a crisis.”

My throat felt tight. “Your father is a good man.”

“Was,” she corrected.

I frowned. “That’s right. Was. I’m sorry.”

She stared down at her own mug, and a thoughtful expression settled on her face. “It’s alright, Mauro. Trust me when I say I’ve spent enough time dwelling on the past. Now, all I can do is look toward the future. I take it you’re still going to see this Emilio after we finish here, right?”

“I am, but you don’t seem too thrilled about it,” I pointed out.

“Are you sure you can even trust him? I mean, any enemy of Lorenzo Ragusa is a friend of mine, but how do you know you’re not walking into a trap here?”

I shrugged and sipped on the last of my now lukewarm coffee. “I don’t. Every time I step outside your front door, I’m in danger. I guess all I want to do now is pick and choose my own battles. If I’m ever going to take down Lorenzo Ragusa, I need to regain control. I need assets. I need the things I can’t get on my own. You understand that, right? It isn’t just about killing him…”

She released her mug and looked directly at me, sending a shiver racing up my spine. “It’s about watching everything he’s ever cared about crumble. I know, Mauro. I know. I just want you to be careful.”

His to Love - Chapter Seven

Luciano

Sabina’s apartment felt barren, empty, and completely unlike her. It was devoid of any true emotion or memories displayed for everyone to see. There were no photographs propped up on the windowsills, journals lying around filled with her thoughts, or stacks of movies waiting to be watched. I hadn’t noticed how lonely it felt when Mauro and I were there with her, plotting and planning like our lives depended on it.

Sitting there, leaning back in her tattered armchair, I realized I didn’t know her as well as I thought I did. I’d seen glimpses of who she truly was when we were together, but I didn’t know the details. I knew what made her smile and what jokes she laughed at, but I had no idea what she’d really been doing for the last few years. She’d shared some of her life story but not really anything of any substance. She’d always shut me out when I asked her to tell me more or about anything else that didn’t involve her plan to take down Lorenzo Ragusa.

I combed through her things, finding lines of tall, platform heels in the closet and drawers filled with sparkly lingerie. When Nico told me she was a dancer, I didn’t believe him. She didn’t seem like the type to enjoy something like that or even need to do it, but that’s when it hit me.

Everything she does is a calculated decision to further her plan. It’s always been that way. She’s looked at her time in captivity as nothing but setbacks. This has to be some kind of way to get to Lorenzo’s men. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was.

I heard a knock on her door, and I rushed over, peering through the peephole to see Nico standing there with a manila envelope in his hand.

“It’s about damn time you showed up.”

“Sorry, Boss. I had to get these developed. I needed to make sure they were crystal clear because, without them, you wouldn’t believe what I’m about to tell you.”

“First, any update on Sabina?”

“Not yet. I’m scoping out all the clubs in the surrounding area. She has to be working at one of them. I’ll get you your girl, but first, you need to open that envelope,” he said.

I did as he asked, pulling out the stack of photographs and turning on the foyer light to get a better look at them. My eyes widened when I realized what I was looking at, and I shut them, groaning as the rage washed over me.

“What the fuck is this? That’s Franco. Who the hell is that man?”

“I don’t know his name, but I do know who he works for. I overheard their conversation. They’re planning an attack on you, Luciano. They want to clear you out before they move on to finding Maurizio and taking him out, too. You pose the biggest threat because you still have power. You have men under you that are loyal, but Franco is deliberately trying to ruin that.”

“I knew something was odd about his advice. I’ve made it crystal clear that I care about nothing more than taking down that motherfucker, and Franco decides to align himself with him?”

“He’s been telling your men to jump ship because he believes you’ll be sinking soon. I know you’ll get ahead of this and deal with Franco, but I’m afraid you’ll lose the one thing you care about most if you’re not careful.”

“And what is that?”

“The girl. They’re looking for her. Franco told that man that she walked out on you and was fair game. I’m heading back out to look for her, but you need to get your men under control. If you don’t, you’ll wake up tomorrow with very little to your name,” Nico said.

“Thank you, Nico. Your loyalty and hard work mean more to me than you know. Find Sabina, and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.”

“I will, sir. You have my word, remember?”

He took off, leaving me alone in Sabina’s apartment. I stewed for a while, letting my anger fester until I couldn’t take it anymore. My mind reeled with thoughts of what to do, knowing I couldn’t exactly call Mauro since he was off securing his family. I had to play my cards right to find out who Franco had been talking to and spill as much blood as necessary to regain my authority.

You son of a bitch. How long? How long have you been handling business for me? I trusted you. You piece of shit. I’ll play your little game long enough for you to lead me to your informant. Oh, Franco, we’re gonna have a little fun.

Broken Angel: Chapter Three

“How do you know he’s coming back?” Emily inquires.

“He said he’d come back.”

Emily rolls her eyes and licks her lips. She doesn’t say a thing yet, and I know she’s trying to be as tender with me as she can. I’ve been through some intense shit throughout my life, and every now and again, I notice Emily metaphorically puts white gloves on before she speaks to me. I’m not as fragile and broken as she thinks I am.

“What if he only said that to keep you off his case, Amelia?” I know she’s concerned, but she doesn’t have all the information that I do.

“He didn’t. Ruslan works in security and is very well known and respected. He left one of his colleagues here to keep an eye on me while he was away, and he’s literally outside in the blacked-out SUV right now. I’m sure you can see it from the living room window if you want to look.”

Emily’s eyes widen, and she looks at me like I have a couple screws loose. “You’re joking.”

She rushes over to the living room window and pulls back the blinds, proceeding to look out through the window. The coffee maker beeps in the background, signaling it’s done. I grab two mugs from the cupboard and make the coffee just as we both like it, creamy and sweet.

“I really thought you were fucking with me. No lie,” Emily says, shaking her head in disbelief as she comes back into the kitchen.

“Yeah, I’m not. I called the guy out in the SUV the other day. I asked him point blank if he knew where Ruslan was, and he told me he didn’t. I ended up getting enough information to figure out Ruslan told Danill, the dude in the SUV, to keep an eye on me. That’s why Danill isn’t out there trying to find Ruslan… because Ruslan gave him a job, and he knows better than to disobey him.”

“Holy shit. You said well respected. I think you mean feared too. Employees who are terrified of their bosses act like that.”

“Yeah, but Ruslan hasn’t contacted him either, so I know he’s in some sort of trouble.”

“Okay, so what are you going to do about it?” Emily asks as I hand her one of the mugs of coffee.

I blow on the hot liquid before taking a sip. “I don’t know, but I think I’ll find out soon. Come on.” I place the mug on the counter and head straight for the door. My hair’s up in a messy bun, I have an oversized Metallica T-shirt on, and I’m in a pair of shorts. Basically, I look like a bum, but I want answers.

I’m out the door before Emily’s even made an attempt to follow me. I walk straight up to where Danill’s parked, and he slowly rolls down his window.

He cocks both of his brows up and pushes his thick sunglasses down the bridge of his nose. “How can I be of service, Miss Amelia?”

“What updates do you have for me?”

Danill laughs, but he isn’t amused in the least bit. “I’ve been in communication with Ruslan’s brother, Lom, who’s handling the situation.”

I wait for him to say something else, but that’s all he tells me. “Seriously? That’s all you have to tell me?”

“His brother is handling it. I have a job to do, which is making sure you stay safe and don’t get yourself into too much trouble.”

I lick my lips slowly and debate what I’m about to say, but I’ve decided to go full-on apeshit. I’ll look crazy, but I really don’t give a damn.

“If you don’t figure out when we’re on the next flight out of here, I’m going to hurt myself and tell Ruslan you didn’t protect me. I’ll tell him it’s all your fault, and he’ll believe me because he’s fucking obsessed with me. He’s like a kid, and I’m his favorite toy to play with. I’m tired of the lack of progress you’re telling me, Danill, so get with the program or get your ass fired.”

Delicate Angel: Chapter Five

I go up to the door and rap my knuckles against the glass before entering. He waves with his hand for me to come in, so I push on the handle of his glass door and allow the door to shut behind me. I head over to his desk and take a seat in one of the chairs sitting on the other side. “Is everything all right?” I nervously ask Michael.

He inhales slowly through his nose and looks me up and down. “I don’t think you should be the one to ask the questions here, Emily. I must admit, I’m a bit taken aback by your sudden changes. I expected more from you, honestly.”

Every bit of air in my lungs is suddenly gone, and I’m struggling to understand what Michael’s trying to say. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Am I doing something wrong?”

“I’m simply wondering why your work ethic has changed since I hired you. Before, you were here when I came in every morning and were still here when I left to go home. Now I don’t see you here before me or after me. So I’m wondering what’s going on.”

“Um, I was interning here at that time. I was desperately trying to prove to the company that I was a valuable asset, so I often worked sixty or seventy-hour weeks to do that. Since I have my job now, I’m on a more consistent schedule. I personally prefer working three really long days. That way, I can get a lot more work done at one time. The clients seem to like me working in this way as well. So, I pull three twelve-hour days and then come in another day for four hours. I don’t take lunch breaks on my long days, either.”

“I find it interesting you were working long hours when you were interning.”

I nod. “Yes, because, again, I was trying to prove that I’m a valuable asset to the company. I’m done with that because I was hired.”

“I liked your work ethic better when you were an intern.” His comment blows my mind, but I guess I should’ve expected some sort of reaction to my schedule change. “What sort of things will you do to make me believe in you again, Emily?” Michael raises his brows and then scans his eyes over my entire body, stopping right on my breasts.

I know exactly what he’s insinuating, and it sickens me. Nausea slowly begins to roll through my stomach, and my skin begins to feel clammy. It’s fucking disgusting. I debate folding to his idea for a split second, but I know I’m worth more than my ass or boobs. I’m an intelligent woman with brains. I have intellect, and I’ve made this firm a lot of money in the time I’ve been working here.

I stand up from my seat and look right at Michael. “I was hired to be a commercial real estate agent, which means I’ve passed all the state’s licensure exams and certifications. If there’s something within my job description that I’m not doing correctly, you can let me know. But I’m walking out of your office. You can’t hold me in here otherwise.” I don’t wait for any sort of reply from Michael because I know he doesn’t have shit on me. So I walk out of his office and head over to where my desk.

“Everything okay?” Kim questions, and I’m sure my stress and frustration are written all over my face.

“I’m actually leaving for the day. I have this migraine that just came on when I was in Michael’s office. It’s probably best if I go home and lay down in a dark room.” What I’m telling Kim is total and utter bullshit, but he smirks at me.

“Michael is the migraine, no doubt.” He gives me a knowing look, and I try not to smirk back at him.

I grab my purse from the cubby in my desk, sling it over my shoulder, and head for the elevators at a determined pace. Within five minutes, I’m walking into the parking garage and heading over to my car. My phone begins ringing, so I fish it out of my purse and answer it even though the caller ID reads “Unknown”.

“Hello?” I say right as I answer it.

“This is a collect call from a Fulton County correctional institution. To accept this call, please press one and then the pound button,” a computerized voice tells me over the phone.

Who in the world could be calling me from jail? Then it hits me. There’s only one person that I know of that is in jail right now.