Controlled: A Dark Mafia Romance

Chapter 25

Creed

Beauty.

Who was it that said it was in the eye of the beholder? In my mind, beauty encompassed various angles and emotions and could be found in something cold and hard like a sculpture as much as in a living, breathing human.

With Bella, it was as if I was seeing the world through her eyes for the very first time. After our combined admittance of the darkest secrets of our lives, it was as if a door had been opened, a light turned on that could never be extinguished. Now, she was laughing and happy, not like she’d just been captured by the worst kind of monster.

One with no remorse.

She’d managed to convince me to put on shorts and a polo before I’d grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. I even used plastic glasses instead of fine crystal. Now I sat on a lounge chair positioned in front of the pool, watching as Bella kicked her feet in the water from the other side of the pool. I’d removed my keys from my pocket to sit more comfortably, kicking off my shoes, which was a rarity as well.

My mind was still working, the various pieces of everything going on weighing heavily. I continued to return to the fact my talented captive had more than just a target on her back. She had a price tag over her head. As the only living child of a ruthless man like Armand Marcello, she would be worth millions let alone a boost in a strategic position in the hierarchy of the New York Mafia world. I’d even sent out a subtle yet pointed threat to Nico Romano, more as a way of enticing him to rear his ugly head and show his cards so I knew what the fuck was going on.

With the release of the photographs of my sinful night with Bella in New York, the entire world knew by now I’d laid claim to her. It was only a matter of time before one or more of the parties interested in bringing Armand to his knees would surface.

And I would be ready to cut off his head.

Literally.

It would seem my brutal nature hadn’t been erased by her extreme goodness. I took a sip of my drink, trying to relax.

As she planted her palms behind her, tipping her head toward the waning sun, I was glad to see she was more relaxed. I took a sip of wine, almost ready to switch to something heavier. A scotch was calling my name, especially after the proclamation I’d made almost two hours before.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d allowed myself to relax, enjoying fresh air. Maybe the sweet Bella was a good influence in several areas. I chuckled softly as I took another sip, trying to learn how to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

She’d taken a fascination to the outdoor kitchen, touching every appliance and the stonework that I’d paid big bucks to have a local contractor create.

And never used.

Of course she’d noticed that not a single meal had been prepared on the grill or smoker, although the refrigerator was stocked with cold beverages, a liquor cabinet adding the adult portion of festive fun, as she’d called it. My staff made certain of it. I wondered how long some of the shit had been there.

“How often do you swim?” she asked, although given she’d turned on both the outdoor music system and the oversized television just to be bratty, I was required to strain to try to hear what she was asking.

“Not once.” I wanted to laugh after admitting it. Why hadn’t I?

She tilted her head, swirling her wine as she offered the kind of glare that was both amusing and adorable. Styx had been right that letting go of the anger and anguish that had cemented itself in my gut felt damn freeing. The fact she hadn’t fled in shock and terror had allowed what felt like a noose around my neck to loosen. However, my gut told me that this budding relationship I’d forced to transpire would soon face danger.

That kept me on edge since I was never wrong.

“You have me curious. You have a spectacular home, a gorgeous backyard, boats, and fast cars at your disposal. You have the finest entertainment system I’ve ever known, including an amazing collection of movies. You have everything people could ever want yet you don’t enjoy it. Why?”

I allowed myself to remain thoughtful about her question. “Perhaps because I’ve never had anyone to share it with.” As I moved the plastic stem of my glass back and forth from one hand to the other, she studied me more contemplatively than before.

“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” She was wistful in her words, returning her attention to creating a splash of water with one foot then the other. Maybe she was right and I knew I was.

I hadn’t thought about purchasing a swimsuit for her but that didn’t need to deter her from being in the water.

She squealed from the shock of the temperature but spun her leg in a full circle barely seconds later.

“At some point, perfect dancer. Not now. I have business that needs to be handled later.”

“All work and no play. You do know what that makes you, right?”

I had a feeling part of her jovial mood was her mind’s need to adjust to what I’d told her, but I was grateful for it at this point. Hell, I wasn’t certain how to handle the fact I’d opened up to her. Maybe that would come with time.

If we had time to spare.

“I’ll take my chances. You liked the roses from earlier?”

“Yes. They are exquisite. At least these didn’t have thorns.” She laughed and shook her head.

“What do you mean thorns?” I found myself sitting up, planting my feet on either side of the chair. Was a fucking game being played with her or had someone sent a warning and she hadn’t realized it?

“The ones you had delivered to my apartment, I was nicked by a thorn.” She darted her eyes back and forth. “They were a different color.” I could tell she was suddenly concerned.

I wasn’t prone to cold chills, only bouts of rage. But as soon as she’d told me someone had delivered flowers other than me, I had a feeling I knew who that was. “Bella. Look at me. What did the card say?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t remember?”

“Just tell me, Bella.”

“You’re scaring me.”

I tried to smile but it was obvious she wasn’t buying it. “Please tell me.”

“Something about you being proud of me and that it was obvious picking me for the roles had been a good idea. Both statements I thought were a little odd, but when I was certain you were watching my every move, that’s why I asked Jonas to pretend to be my boyfriend. We even kissed in front of my apartment and I could feel eyes on me. It was so weird. But it was like you chose me for the roles. Not possible. Right?”

I was doing nothing more than staring at her. “I have nothing to do with the ballet, Bella.” Shit. What the fuck was going on?

“Oh, God. You didn’t send the flowers. Did you?” She walked across the pool, placing her drink on the edge.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Then who did?”

“That’s what we need to find out. I have a feeling whoever did was responsible for Jonas’ death.”

“You swear you didn’t kill him.” Another anxious moment drifted into her system.

“I admitted I’m the creature nightmares are made of but I assure you that I did not kill Jonas, no matter how jealous I might have been.”

“Then maybe it’s true what I overheard from the policeman. That he killed himself.”

“Do you believe that?”

“No. Jonas was happy. Granted, his father was only a few degrees up from yours but in a different way. He hated that his son was gay and a ballet dancer. He was insistent Jonas quit and become an attorney but as unhappy as Jonas was about that, he’d never kill himself.”

“Is there anyone who’d be unhappy if they believed the two of you were together?” An attorney. The fucking district attorney.

She laughed, squinting from the sun. “Only Gregor, our main teacher and choreographer. He came onto me more than once. I also couldn’t figure out why he’d selected me for the solo roles since he made certain he thought I was inferior to all the other dancers.”

“Gregor.” I couldn’t remember the asshole, not that I’d cared who was on the payroll of the ballet company.

“Yes, Gregor Santiago. You must have seen him. He’s some hotshot from South America, reported to be connected to a cartel down there. He likes to threaten people. I never liked him.”

Now my hackles were raised more than I’d believed possible. There was no chance in hell that Carlos didn’t know the man or at least had heard if the information she’d learned was true. The man owed me. If he wanted any concessions on his contract or in truth, if the bastard wanted to live, then he would find out everything he could on the man. Why in the fuck would anyone attached to a powerful cartel suddenly switch gears, working in a ballet company?

A bunch of things didn’t add up.

However, scaring her anymore with aspects of the darkest part of my life that now included her wasn’t something I wanted to do. I took a sip of my wine, taking my time to place the glass on the table. When I stood, she scowled at me. “Tell me everything, Bella. Do not leave anything out. I want to know what this Gregor has said to you, what you’ve seen and overheard. Anything that might prove useful.”

“Don’t send someone to kill Gregor, Creed. Other than the weird clandestine meetings he’s had and the threat he issued to our ballet director, I don’t have anything that leads me to believe he hunted down Jonas. Besides, Jonas had a blind date the night he died, some guy who messaged him out of the blue. I don’t know why he chose me for the roles unless he wanted to humiliate me. Although that would have been counterproductive.”

While she was actively trying to put some pieces together herself, another phone call was required.

“Do you remember anything else?”

“No. My life is fairly normal. Jonas’ had been as well. But I do know Marcia was not only angry but terrified of Gregor. Does he have something to do with our attack?”

“That’s what I’m going to find out. How long has Gregor been with the company?”

She scrunched up her face. “Less than a year. Just… Just remember you’re not a bad man.”

Was she trying to convince herself of that? “Don’t worry, perfect dancer. I told you I had business to take care of. This isn’t about ordering a hit on anyone. I’ll be right back. However, do not go anywhere.”

“I’m not planning on it. Maybe I’ll even teach you how to grill something on the barbeque.”

Maybe it was her playful tone or the fact everything about her was as unexpected as it was refreshing, but I stopped short, ripping off my sunglasses to offer a smile. Even that seemed natural around her.

Christ.

I was acting like I was my brother, falling for a girl who should by all rights hate me. Before I had a chance to walk away, she splashed me with water, backing away before I could consider crouching down and returning the favor. I admired her ability to shift from darkness to light in the blink of an eye. She had more resilience than almost anyone I knew.

For one of the first times in as long as I could remember, my heart ached. I’d thought it was dead as my soul. I headed toward the closest set of doors, surprised when Kane wasn’t standing guard. I found him in the communications room I’d set up years before, the location the soul of the security and weapons systems.

I could likely start a war from here, blowing up every other house in the secure and quiet neighborhood.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, seeing the furrowed look on his face.

“Just had a tip that trouble might be headed our way. I’m having the guards check the perimeter and trying making calls to the men in charge of the warehouses.”

“From where and by whom?”

“The where I’m trying to find out. The whom was two of our most trusted informants. However, neither man was certain if it was new blood in town or existing.”

“I supposed it’s possible Frederico didn’t understand my warning was serious.” And that his son had retaliated without thinking his decision through carefully.

“I thought of that but both Frederico and Antonio left town together almost immediately after your meeting with the Don.”

“Interesting.”

I noticed he was shifting his gaze from one camera screen to the other. He was truly worried we were about to be attacked. However, with it being the middle of the day with enough neighbors being retired, it would take huge balls for someone to attack me here. I’d taken some effort in hiding my various homes from typical radar, but as with any other scrap of information, I wasn’t the only one who could find out whatever they wanted.

“Let Easton know he needs to watch his back.”

“Will do, boss. Do you want me to have additional soldiers brought into the estate?”

Sighing, I glanced out the window, still able to see Bella lounging in the pool. I had to wonder what she was thinking. “Yeah, do that. Head out toward the pool area. You also need to watch Bella while I make a couple phone calls.”

Kane immediately pushed away from the console, standing and turning to me. “Did you find something?”

“I don’t know for certain. However, it would seem the choreographer from the ballet company has criminal ties to South America. He likely sent her flowers, as if mimicking my gesture.”

He grinned. “Connection to Carlos?”

“I wouldn’t put it past Carlos, although why go to that extreme? If that’s the case, our business relationship will be severed. As will his neck.” I certainly hadn’t promised Bella I was turning a corner, becoming a good man. Once a killer, always a killer. Just like my brothers, whether they wanted to believe it or not. “Besides, Gregor has been there less than a year. Armand was released a few months ago.”

He nodded. “You’re thinking Armand hired Gregor to hunt down and watch over his baby girl.”

“Possibly, which begs the question. What does Armand have in mind?”

“Just so you know, no one seems to know where Armand is. I put out feelers to all our connections.”

I thought about the entire situation. “You and I both know if he doesn’t want to be found, it will take weeks or months before anyone talks. That’s time we don’t have. I feel it in my gut. Find out who handled his finances and business while he was in prison. Maybe we need to have a nice long chat with the responsible party.”

“What about the Romanos? Do you think they had anything to do with the violence inside Armand’s home?”

“Entirely possible given what Antonio did to alienate our empire. I read up on Armand. He has many loyal soldiers who are still alive, their sons indoctrinated into believing Armand is the next king.”

Now, Kane laughed. “Given Armand has a daughter in Chicago, and roots in New York, he could be attempting to lay claim to both cities. No wonder both Italian regimes are under duress.”

“Exactly. Maybe the two organizations are working together, not only forming an unholy alliance but bridging the distance to try and thwart Armand before he has a chance to fully reclaim his power. They’d want to eliminate every possible obstacle. There’s far too much at stake.”

“Including shoving Carlos out of commission within the two cities if possible.”

I hadn’t thought about that possibility. “I keep you around for a reason. Also make a quick call to find out how Carlos is doing. Including his other shipments. The breadcrumbs are starting to expand.”

“I gotcha. When you’re finished, I’ll expand the feelers to every country,” Kane offered. “This is a puzzle that needs to be solved.”

“Yeah, a bloody one.” Was my beautiful dancer mafia royalty? If so, marriage to one of the princes of the empire swimming in the middle of the riddle would be considered a coup. “Just keep a close eye on her. I have a bad feeling you’re right about an attack, but I think it will occur when we least expect.”

“None of your men like it when that happens. You tend to go off on a rampage.” He backed away, throwing up his hands.

I shook my head, feeling more jovial than the last couple of days. Even if my instinct was working overtime. “Just protect her. I don’t like some things she told me.”

“Will do, boss.”

I waited until he’d left before pulling out my phone, heading into my office to grab a real drink, the wine not cutting it at this point. As I dialed Carlos, my gut was also telling me the man was a part of this.

And this time, the bastard had better answer his goddamn phone or the man would reach his expiration date.