Fractured Devotion (Anastasi Family Syndicate)

Chapter 13

“Someone better explainto me how in the fuck this happened?” The words burst from me, a furious storm unleashed. The anger was a hot, fierce thing inside me, burning with the force of betrayal.

When Massimo got the call from the head of security at the casino, none of us were prepared for what he told us. Andrei Sloski had checked out of his room and had been seen leaving with a woman. According to the guard who’d stopped them, it didn’t look like the woman was going willingly, even if she’d told him differently. After watching the security footage and confirming it was Carmela, Massimo started making phone calls. Andrei had pieced together Carmela’s true identity and had likely told Aleski. That fact alone threatened to unravel me.

Across from me, Sofia sat composed, an island of calm in my tempest. “Calm down, Alex,” she said, her voice steady. “We knew this was a possibility. But now that he knows, it makes our plan easier.”

“Plan?” The word erupted from me, a roar of incredulous rage. The dormant fury of years ignited, a volcanic force coming alive with destructive clarity. “I just got her back, Sofia, so you’ll forgive me if I’m struggling to see how her being snatched away again by that monster fits into a plan.” My voice was a whip-crack of raw emotion, the fragile grip on control fraying as I confronted the instability of the situation.

The room was thick with tension, a palpable force pressing in on us from all sides. I paced like a caged animal, my movements sharp and erratic. Massimo leaned against the wall, arms folded, his eyes shadowed with thought. This was just as hard on him as it was for me—he stood to lose if this plan of hers went sideways. Miguel sat, tapping a rhythmic beat on the table, watching Sofia with something akin to desire. Meanwhile, her brother, Lorenzo, kept his gaze fixed on her as she spoke.

Sofia’s revelation hung in the air, a piece of a puzzle that was not yet complete.

“Look,” she said, commanding our attention, “Aleski’s operation is a fortress, but every fortress has a weak spot. Carmela’s presence is not a setback; it’s an opportunity. We are going to use this as our way to end Lipovsky once and for all.

“We’ll be in and out before they even realize they’ve been hit,” Sofia reassured. “I have eyes on the inside, and now, he will create the perfect diversion so we can get inside and end this once and for all.”

Before she could elaborate, the door burst open, and Vincenzo and Antonio, Carmela’s other brothers, strode in. Their faces were thunderous, and the air around them charged with fury.

“What the hell is this about Carmela being taken again?” Vincenzo’s voice was a dangerous calm that belied the anger in his eyes.

Antonio was less restrained, his voice rising. “Why are you just sitting here? She could be?—”

“Cool it, Antonio,” Lorenzo said, cutting through the mounting anger. “We’re not just sitting here… we’re getting our shit together.”

“Remember, Aleski doesn’t think we know Carmela’s true identity, that to us, she’s just Ella, Andrei’s woman.” Sofia’s voice cut through. “We’ll use that. We strike not just with force but with finality.”

“And timing,” Lorenzo interjected, “has to be impeccable.”

“Explain where this contact you claim to have came from. Who is he?” Massimo tapped the top of the table.

“Someone Carmela will know is on her side. Look, I know you want answers, but you’re just going to have to trust me for the time being. Now, let’s get ready. It’s time to go back to Columbia.”

I watched as three families came together to end Aleski Lipovsky’s reign. The Anastasi were not just a family—they were a force to be reckoned with. They were about to unleash the full measure of their bond to bring one of their own back from the lion’s den. With the might of the Bianchis and Sure?os behind us, we just might have a chance at really ending this war with the Russians.

Once the preparations were made, I left the meeting and headed to my apartment. I was going to bring Carmela back regardless of whether or not we stopped Lipovsky—but I wasn’t going alone. The soft click of nails on the floor greeted me as the private elevator to my place opened. Flacon sat waiting patiently as I stepped out of the metal box.

“Hey, boy… you feel like going on an adventure?”

I’d spent months training him for a moment like this. What began as a way to dull the pain of losing Carmela turned into a weapon I would exploit to save her once and for all.

The cell phone in my pocket vibrated. Tugging it free, I smirked when I saw Archer was calling me.

“Archer.”

“I heard you’re about to take a vacation.”

“Yeah…” I smiled despite the heaviness of the situation. “We’ve got to end this so she can be free of the pain and fear of Lipovsky. What the hell are you doing? Are the Winston brothers okay?”

“Yeah. Ryker and Addison have been enjoying Miguel’s villa, and Drake and his fiancé are here taking care of the oldest brother, Gage.”

“Did something happen?”

“He’s still in the hospital.” Archer sighed into the phone. “Apparently, there is something more going on with him beyond the fractured leg from his wreck.”

“I’m sure the stress of this isn’t helping.”

“This is mild compared to the shit storm of meeting three new brothers. That news was like an atomic bomb detonating. Dallas, the one who came out with us to Vegas, is dealing with his own drama as well. I swear trouble seems to follow them just as much as it seems to stick you. Anyway, I wanted to check in and tell you whatever you need from me, it’s yours. Don’t go get yourself killed, Alex. You still have to introduce me to your woman.”

The remark might have called for a chuckle, but my response was dry as desert sand. “If I didn’t already know I was more your type than my future bride, I’d shoot you between the eyes, Archer.”

His comeback was quick and tinged with humor. “Yeah… she’s lacking some major parts for me—besides, I have my eyes on someone else.”

“What?” My voice was thick with surprise, like smoke from a fired gun. “The impermeable Archer has met someone?”

His laughter crackled through the connection, a rare sound from a man more known for his steely demeanor than bouts of mirth. “It’s complicated,” he admitted, the word ‘complicated’ carrying a weight that suggested a story worth hearing. “But I gotta run,” he continued, the sound of his movement a rustle over the line, “Don’t hesitate to call. Drake Winston wants Lipovsky gone as much as you do, so whatever you need, consider it done.”

His words bolstered my resolve, reminding me that our network and connections were weapons just as sharp as any blade we carried. Lipovsky had made enemies, and those enemies were now our silent, powerful allies. With such backing, the scales tipped slightly more in our favor, a needed edge in the battle ahead.

“God speed, brother.”

With a frustrated motion, I ended the call, the phone making a solid sound as it hit the granite counter. My hands found their way to my face, pressing against my skin as I let out a raw, muffled scream into the cage of my fingers. The world was spinning out of my control, a maelstrom of uncertainty. Was Carmela safe? Did she know that I was out here, that my every thought and action was hellbent on bringing her back? I sent up a silent prayer, hoping it would find her somehow, that she would feel the fierce determination that pulsed through me, a silent vow that I wouldn’t rest until she was by my side once more.

The sound of the elevators whirling to life told me my solace was about to be interrupted. Glancing over at the private entrance, I was not expecting to see the person walking through.

“You mother fucking asshole.” Celestina’s voice echoed off the interior as she advanced toward me. “How long?” Beckett was close behind her.

“Should you be out and about? You just had twins, Celestina.”

“Fuck you, Alex. Fuck you and my family for keeping this from me.”

“Calm down, Butterfly.” Beckett wrapped his arms around his wife. She shot him a look over her shoulder that froze hell. Beckett simply smiled and kissed her forehead. “Give him a chance to explain. You’re not the only one they kept this from.”

His words struck like a bullet to my chest—he was right. We’d kept it from him, Catarina, their parents, and most of all, her. It wasn’t done in malice, we just felt telling them would create a much bigger issue. And based on the anger pouring off Celestina in waves, we might have been wrong about keeping her out of the loop. But she was here, which meant someone fucked up and let it slip.

“How did you find out?” I waved her toward the living room, “Come sit down, and we’ll talk.”

“I overheard Antonio telling Michael about Columbia.” Her body dropped to the couch, and I watched as Beckett folded her into his arms. His touch was like a trigger to her tears, which only cut me deeper as they fell.

She’d suffered just as much as I did when we’d lost Carmela—maybe more. I’d been so focused on myself, I’d forgotten that she was hurting, too. I sat down on the table opposite her and pulled her hands into my own.

“I’m sorry, Celestina, we should have told you. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own feelings I didn’t stop to think about how you deserved to be included in what we knew. I could sit here and say it’s because you just had the twins, but that would be a lie. I think we didn’t want to get your hopes up. You’d just started to find happiness, and I couldn’t bear to look you in the face and tell you we’d been wrong. But that’s no excuse. And for that, I’m sorry, Celestina.”

She pulled in a shaky breath, swiping at the tracks of tears like she was trying to erase more than just wetness. “How is she?” Her low, fragile voice was full of a need to know.

“Different.” I dropped her hands. “She’s changed,” I admitted, my hands falling away from hers, my eyes flicking to Beckett for just a split second. He caught my look, and without a word, we both knew—the change in Celestina’s twin would cause his wife pain. “She’s convinced she’s done stuff, crossed lines that have marked her, made her think she’s past being loved, beyond forgiveness..”

“There’s nothing she can do that will make me stop loving her.” Celestina’s voice carried a tone of absolution, similar to the edge I had in my own voice when I’d spoken the same words to Carmela. “Thank you, Alex, for never giving up on her. All of you kept the hope that she was still alive. There have been so many times that I was ready to accept she was gone, but the connection I have with my twin has never stopped pulsing. Where is she now?”

I swallowed; this was going to be hard, and part of me wanted to lie to her, but I wouldn’t do that anymore.

“She’s been playing a part, one that caught up to her, and unfortunately, Lipovsky has her again.” She sucked in a shocked gulp of air at my words. “But… we know where she is this time, and we have a plan. We’re getting her back… for good. I promise you, Celestina. Carmela is coming home. I’ll stake my life on that because I won’t live in a world without her again.”

Once she seemed satisfied with what I knew, Beckett led her toward the elevator with the assuredness of a man well-accustomed to navigating complex situations.

“Please, keep me in the loop. I might be a picture of exhaustion, sporting the dark circles of sleep deprivation and nursing the sorest of nipples,”—she blew out a tired sigh that brooked no argument—“but I need to be told of every development regarding my sister.”

Beckett’s reaction was immediate; his hand rose to cover his face as if to shield himself from the blunt oversharing.

“Butterfly, I sincerely doubt that Alex had any desire to be privy to your particular… dilemmas,” he remarked, his voice a mix of amusement and reprimand. He cast me a glance that carried the weight of a thousand apologies. “The boys are insatiable little creatures, incessantly feeding and rarely succumbing to sleep, which is exactly why we should be making our departure. If I were to wager, I’d say that Madison and Rachel are teetering on the edge of packing their bags and fleeing.”

A chuckle escaped me as I pictured Antonio and Massimo’s spirited wives trying to navigate the chaos of a nursery gone wild.

“I’ll be sure to keep you informed of any developments, Celestina. But promise me… when you finally see her again—because you will see her again—she’s changed, and you’ll have to accept the new her.”

“New her, old her. I don’t care. I’ll take my sister anyway I can.”