Controlled: A Dark Mafia Romance

Chapter 27

Creed

Whoosh!

The rush of cold water as it slammed into my face was brutal, taking all the breath from my lungs. Debris was everywhere from the boat’s explosion, making it difficult to see anything. Rage like nothing I’d ever felt swept through me as I struggled to make it to the surface. Once I did, I was shocked at the intensity of the flames.

“Bella. Bella.”

The fact my estate had been compromised so goddamn easily and in the middle of the day was difficult to believe. That meant whoever was behind this had planned the scenario for at least a couple of days. Perhaps they’d gotten on the property when I’d been in New York. That would mean the asshole responsible knew she was with me earlier than I believed.

Or at minimum a reporter tipped the person off. Entirely possible. All the asshole would need was one night of clandestine operations to set the scene in place. Besides, the Romanos had connections all throughout the Midwest just like I did in the East.

My mind was in a very dark place, the adrenaline rush coursing through me significant and my rage only increasing. I couldn’t lose her. Not now.

Not ever. My Bella. Mine.

Mine…

I fought the water, spinning around in a full circle, unable to see anything through the smoke. My ears were ringing, my left arm in tremendous pain but it didn’t matter. I had to find her. I would save her.

The moment I’d leapt off the dock, landing on the stern, I’d rolled, catching sight of the bomb. The fuckers who’d planned the attack had made certain I wouldn’t leave by boat. There’d been no time to get Bella to safety. Either the bomb was triggered by the rate of speed she was going or by remote detonator, which meant someone was watching from afar, using binoculars to scan the perimeter.

I’d been too late. Why had she decided to leave now?

“Bella!” I yelled, cognizant there was continuous gunfire going off. When several shots hit the water, I was forced to duck under into the murkiness. The estate had been surrounded, Kane learning about at least fifteen enemy soldiers through Christen and another one of my men just seconds before I’d run out the door to protect the woman I…

Fuck.

Fuck.

I surfaced again, the gunfire still going off. As I shoved aside debris from the boat, I was starting to panic. Then I noticed something floating further out and fought my way through the smoke and fire toward it.

Oh, God, no. It was Bella face down in the water. I pulled my shit together, fighting the anger and self-loathing for leaving her alone. When she suddenly slipped under the water, I didn’t hesitate, diving in myself. The fucking water was too murky to see any further than a foot or so out but I swam in her direction, diving down even deeper when I was certain I was close.

Nothing.

She wasn’t there. Oh, fuck, no. I wasn’t going to lose her.

I spun around, going in one direction then the other before the burn in my lungs became too severe to stay any longer. When I popped to the surface, I gasped for air. I spun around again, refusing to give up. I threw my arms out as I barreled deeper, almost losing hope.

Then I felt something. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around the object, realizing instantly it was sweet Bella. As I struggled with both of us to the surface, I made a promise to the woman I cared for more than I thought possible, and to myself.

If she died, I would go on one last hunt, rounding up everyone involved. And they would face the kind of predatory wrath that every man feared.

As soon as I broke us through the surface, I immediately pushed her onto her back, doing my best to listen for any breathing sounds.

There were none.

Fuck.

She was so cold, her lips almost blue.

I pinched her nose, forcing back her head at a slight angle, fighting the surge of the water from the explosion and the wind. When I placed my mouth over hers, I did what could have me driven straight to hell. I prayed I could save her.

Blow after blow, I tried to remember how to do this from doing nothing more than watching it on television. But I refused to stop, doing everything I could to give her life. My rage had already breached the surface, my need to slaughter someone, to spill the blood of dozens fueled the fire burning deep within.

“Bella,” I managed, returning to the task, feeling her life slipping away from me. But there were those who believed in the miracle of prayers and while I’d never fully believe in some unseen being, as the sun began to fade into the beginning of twilight, my own small miracle happened.

She coughed, spitting up water.

“Come on, baby. You’re going to be okay. Open your eyes for me.”

Another cough turned into wheezing, but she finally opened her eyes, searching mine with the intensity of a lion.

“Go… Away,” she managed, terror filling her eyes.

“That’s not going to happen.” I kept her close as I scanned the shore. We could be sitting ducks out here.

“You knew. You used… me.” She coughed, still fighting to get away from my hold.

“Used you? No,” I hissed and could tell she wasn’t talking about how I’d laid claim to her in the first place. “Why did you run? What happened? I almost lost you. That can’t happen.”

I could tell she was fading. I needed to get her medical attention. While she opened her mouth to speak, no words came out. I pulled her upright against me, cradling her as close to my body as possible. As I scanned the shore, Kane and two other soldiers were running toward us.

Whether or not the situation had been contained couldn’t matter. I had to get her to shore.

Bella clung to me, taking shallow breaths. And in the next few seconds, her hoarse whisper pulled me back to reality.

“Armand… Marcello. My… father. Jonas killed because of… connection.”

She knew.

She’d overheard.

Now she would do everything in her power to get away from me.

But I would not allow that to happen.

I stared at the bodies of the enemies who’d been killed, as the last one was dumped into the back of a truck. Kane stood with me, both of us remaining quiet. I’d lost five men in the attack, all of them with families. I’d never really thought about it before. Family. Hardship.

“Send the families of our lost soldiers money for their loss.” I could tell he was looking at me.

“Okay, boss. It won’t make up for it.”

“No, maybe a few heads on a silver platter will. Find the fuck out who did this, Kane. I want to know by nightfall.” I’d had the doctor we used when Styx wasn’t in town come and check on her condition.

The extra soldiers had arrived, some helping to clean up the fucking mess. As I’d expected, there were no identifying markers on the dead assholes. Gone were the good old days when they announced themselves and who they worked for.

“I’ll do my best,” he answered, his tone indicating he was as rattled as I’d been while in the water.

“Find Gregor. He is the fucking key to all of this. I need to know every goddamn thing. I won’t rest until I do.”

As I started to walk away, he stopped me. “Do you want me to bury the bodies on the hunting grounds?”

I thought about his question and sighed. Maybe Styx was right about everything. It was time to turn a new leaf. If I didn’t the bloody wars would continue. With my need for Bella, that would only place her life continuously in danger. “No. Take them off the property. This won’t be a place of death anymore.”

“You really like this girl.”

“What’s not to like?”

“She’s changed you.”

As all women could do to a man. “Maybe it’s what I need in my life. I’m bored.”

He laughed. “Woe is you.”

Only he could get away with saying something so trite. “I’m going to spend some quality time with Bella. I do not want another breach and have the men scour the streets of Chicago. I want anyone involved rounded up.”

“What about Frederico?”

“He’s not involved.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Yeah, so did I. I headed to the house, furious that I had to cross over a bloody sidewalk to get to my own front door. I’d had many an attack over the years, none of which had been at any one of my residences. Not that it was rare. A man’s home was his castle, and the place most easily allowing an enemy to secure a kill. More so than out in public. That was a little-known fact.

I walked inside, hating the deathly quiet more than I ever thought I would. The doctor was just coming down the stairs. I waited until he was in the foyer. “How is she?”

“Lucky. Other than a few bumps and bruises, you got to her in time. She’ll need rest but she’ll be fine.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate you coming so quickly.”

“You gave me no choice, Creed. Try and remember you can’t own people.”

“And try and remember who pays your salary and sent your kids off to college.”

Hissing, he took long strides toward the door. I stood shaking my head until he’d left. As soon as I headed toward the stairs, a sense of her presence caught my attention. She was standing on the second-floor landing, staring down at me with hatred in her eyes.

“You really do believe you own the world. Don’t you, Creed?”

Even though I’d saved her life, something had happened to make her believe all I’d been doing was using her. “We need to talk, Bella.”

“Never. Just stay away from me.” She flew back up the stairs, not wasting any time.

I had to admit right now my patience was running low but being controlling would only push her away.

When I reached the door, I was surprised not to find it locked. As I walked in, I noticed she’d headed out to the balcony. After what she’d been through, that she felt safe doing so was a surprise.

As always, she sensed my presence, tensing the moment I moved into the fresh air. We both stood in silence, staring out at the water that had almost pulled us to our deaths. There was no easy way of talking to her about details.

“Your father is dead.”

“My father.” Bella didn’t react right away other than to repeat what I’d said, but her body stiffened. “You killed him.”

“No, Bella. I did not. I wasn’t certain the man was your father until I had Kane run a DNA test. He found out the results just before the attack.”

She closed her eyes, her body swaying. She was forced to grip the railing. “Who attacked us? Who killed him?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out. Your father had enemies in New York, his power feared but given his release from prison, it would seem he had full intentions of taking up where he left off.”

“So he knew I was his daughter?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say yes.”

“I overheard you and Kane. I’m nothing but a pawn. You used me. To get to my father? To gain more power, including in New York. I knew what you were doing, preening for the cameras. You were taunting him into showing his face.”

The woman wasn’t completely out of touch with the way crime syndicates handled their business. Finding the best way to answer her was tough.

She spun around, launching herself in my direction. I was forced to grab her arms, keeping her from hurting me or herself.

“You were using me.”

“I wasn’t using you, Bella. However, I have my share of enemies who would stop at nothing to take down my family. That includes you. You were almost taken from me. Do you know what that did to me? Do you have any idea how I felt when you slipped beneath the water? As if I couldn’t breathe. As if life meant nothing any longer. I will hunt the person responsible down.”

“And what? You’re going to kill them?” she hissed. “That’s the only way you can handle business by killing people? Tearing them apart? Blood? Violence? Hunting? Is that all you’re made of?”

I allowed her to jerk away, storming toward the opposite side of the balcony. The tension was something I hated.

“I never wanted to hurt you, or have you hurt,” I admitted.

“Well, you have a terrible way of showing it. You’re not warm and fuzzy, Creed. You’re a goddamn monster. I said it before and you’ve proven it. Do you think creating a place for artists makes up for what you’ve done, all the terrible things in your life? Do you think you’ll earn your place in heaven? I want so many things in my life and you’re not going to allow me to do any of them. Why not just toss me in a cage where I’ll spend the rest of my life?”

“I don’t plan on doing that. You will have a life.” Her challenge no longer made me angry. Her words made me think.

“Yeah, as what? Your submissive?” She was so exasperated, her entire body shaking from a combination of anger and fear.

What was I supposed to say to ease her pain? I had no clue.

Two minutes ticked by. Another two. I had no intention of leaving her alone.

“My father didn’t love my mother enough to stay with her.” Her words had no emotion.

“He was sent to prison.”

“I know. I saw the broadcast. He probably killed Jonas because his father was trying to bring him down again. It’s crazy.” She laughed, the sound as if she was slipping into disbelief about everything. How could I blame her?

“That remains to be seen. However, I think he loved your mother very much, which is why he kept tabs on you his entire life.”

“Mmm… What does it matter now? He certainly could have sent me a note. You should know if they allow that in prison. I’m sure you’ve spent time there.”

Her disdain was harsh, but at this point maybe deserved. “I understand your anger, perfect dancer, but you almost died today for a second time. Whether you want to believe this or not, you are a valuable commodity to at least a half dozen crime syndicates, all of which would vie to have you in their stable.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that your hand in marriage to the son of one of the other families would ensure the kind of extreme power in New York and up and down the East Coast that would command full control. It’s my belief your father refused to allow that to happen, perhaps even hiring Gregor to keep an eye on you while allowing you to engage in the career you’d worked so hard to achieve. I think in his own way, your father was doing his best to protect you.”

“Well, he did a shitty job. I wonder if I have any siblings. Oh, joy if I do. They’ll just want me dead.”

“No one is going to hurt you. They’ll need to go through me if they want to try.”

“So you’re going to force me to marry you. That’s it. Isn’t it? Then you’ll be the most powerful man from here into fucking Canada. Right? Was everything you told me a lie?”

The bitter sound of her laughter did something to me I never thought would truly happen. It brought a kind of pain I wasn’t used to, a need that had nothing to do with owning her. I simply wanted the beautiful woman in my life. When I walked closer, she bristled.

“Nothing I told you was a lie, Bella. I think you know that somewhere inside of you. My initial intentions were not ones held by a decent man, but it wasn’t about gaining additional power. It was about allowing myself to feel something, anything other than anger and hatred. You brought that to my life. You brought the light to a darkened world that I was certain would soon spiral out of control. Marriage is a holy union, and I’m well aware I don’t deserve something so special. But I can tell you that if I ever wanted to enter into the lifelong contract, it would be with you.”

She snorted. “Why?”

“Because you’re the one.”

“The one what?”

Sighing, I knew she needed space and something she’d said had sparked a red flag within me. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

When she didn’t respond, I turned around to leave.

Wasn’t it ironic that my heart ached as if I’d fallen in love with her.

And no matter if I locked her in the cage she so believed I would do one day, she’d never feel the same.

Maybe that was the grave I’d dug for myself.