Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Elisa
“ A re you sure this is a good idea?” Shea asks me for the umpteenth time as I wait outside the NYU bookstore for my Uber to show up.
“No, but I’m still doing it.” I level a resolute look at my best friend. “I need him to look me in the eye and tell me why he broke his promise. It’s the only thing I have ever asked of him, and I need to know why. And why her ? I don’t get it.”
“Maybe you’ll get full closure if you have all the answers,” she muses. “You sure you don’t want me to come with for moral support?”
“I’m sure.” I can’t bring Shea with me to the Caltimore Holdings building where Caleb and Joshua live. It’s one of the designated mafioso apartment buildings and chock-full of dangerous made men. Shea is going nowhere near that place. “I need to do this alone.”
“Give him hell, Elisa,” she says when my car pulls up to the curb. “And call me later,” she hollers as she backs away.
“Here you go, Miss Salerno.” The hot security guard holds the private elevator doors open for me, smiling politely as he tries to pretend like he’s not checking me out. Not gonna lie. It does wonders for my ego which I sorely need in this moment.
Nerves fire at me from all angles as the doors close and the elevator starts ascending.
I have only been to this building a handful of times, and every time, it’s been to visit Gigi. I have never actually stepped foot in Caleb’s place. Gia says it’s a pigsty and she avoids going over there.
Smoothing my sweaty palms down the front of my tight jeans, I watch the numbers climb on the wall panel with trepidation. Perhaps this is a mistake. And maybe I should have gone to my apartment and gotten changed first. I’m only wearing jeans, an off-the-shoulder sweater over a tank top, and my trusty ballet flats. I have minimal makeup on because I can’t be bothered applying it most days when I’m stuck indoors attending lectures. If I was wearing something that projected more confidence, maybe I’d be feeling it instead of this jittery sensation that is twisting my stomach into knots.
Oh god. This is a bad idea. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to hear his truth. It’s going to hurt again, and I’ve only just started healing. I could pretend I’m here to visit Gia, but I know she and Joshua are out tonight at dinner with her folks.
Air whooshes from my slightly parted lips as I hold my head up high and give myself a silent pep talk. I’m here now. I’ll just suck it up and stick to my guns. I came here to have the conversation I should’ve had months ago, and I’m not backing down until I have answers. Caleb owes me an explanation, and I’m not leaving until I get one.
Maybe then I can finally cut him from my life.
The thought of it sends slivers of pain shooting through the flawed organ in my chest. I wish I wasn’t still so invested in him. I hate how pathetic I am. How much I still love him even after he has decimated my heart and shattered my self-esteem. If I could sign up for a heart transplant, to replace my malfunctioning one, I’d do it without hesitation. Anything to be free of years of anguish, pain, heartbreak and the unrequited feelings that were never returned.
The elevator pings, and the doors open. Drawing a brave breath, I step out into the dark, decadent private lobby and walk toward Caleb’s door. Before I can talk myself out of it, I lift my hand and press the bell.
The door swings open a few seconds later, and all the blood drains from my face in a split second.
“If it isn’t the little virgin princess.” Anais scoffs as her gaze rakes over me from head to toe.
It’s nothing new. It’s how she always looks at me. It doesn’t matter that we are cousins by marriage, she has never liked me, and she is always a complete bitch. Dad doesn’t know the half of it, and he’d be mad if he ever found out. I stopped telling him and Mom the bitchy things she says to me years ago after Dad continued to tackle her on it each and every time. It didn’t stop Anais. It just made her more determined, so I ceased giving her extra ammunition. Even Caleb isn’t aware of how she treats me. I didn’t want to go running to him like a little kid every time she made me cry.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, leaning against the doorway and smirking. The side of her almost transparent knee-length robe falls off one shoulder, exposing the top of her naked breast. Those ridiculous melons on her chest are obvious in the extreme. She really should fire her cosmetic surgeon. First, he messed up her boobs. Then her swollen lips. She’s more than a little fond of Botox too, judging by her perpetual frozen forehead and unnaturally arched eyebrows.
What does Caleb see in her? And why is she here? I’m aware of what went down with her husband, and Dad said two of the new don hires to The Commission had gone to Vegas to question her and their men.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I say. “You’re supposed to be in Vegas.”
“I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.” Her bee-stung lips curl at the corners. “You don’t belong here, Elisa. Run away home and play with your dolls.”
“You really need some new lines, Anais.”
“And you need to know when you’re not wanted. Caleb is with me. I’m living permanently here now, and I satisfy all of his needs.” She lets the robe fall farther down her arm, exposing more of her breast and a nipple. She truly has no shame. My cheeks heat, and bile swims up my throat. “He doesn’t need you or want you, so fuck off and leave us alone.” Her eyes darken in a familiar way, and I brace myself for whatever hateful words are about to spew from her hideous mouth. “In case your innocent mind hasn’t figured it out, you interrupted our fuckfest, and my man is waiting for me. We’ve been screwing nonstop since I arrived, but my Caleb is insatiable. He just can’t get enough of me.”
I can’t hide the hurt from my face, and she laughs. “You’re not his type, and you never will be. Now fuck off, and don’t come here again.” She fakes a sweet smile as she slams the door in my face.
I stand outside seething, clenching and unclenching my hands, seriously contemplating murder, before anger is replaced with deep-seated pain.
Fuck him and fuck her.
They deserve one another.
I am officially done with Caleb Accardi.
“Hi, sweetheart. This is a pleasant surprise.” Dad’s smile is tinged with concern as he exits his office and walks toward me. “Is everything okay?”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod because I’m afraid I’ll burst into tears if I attempt to speak.
“Come here.” Dropping his briefcase, he envelops me in his arms, and I sink into his embrace, inhaling the comforting scent of his favorite cologne. I close my eyes and hug him tighter. “Are you sure everything is all right?” he inquires again, rubbing a soothing hand up and down my back.
“Yes,” I croak. “I just decided to come home a day early.” I spend one weekend a month at home in Greenwich so I can hang out with my parents and my brothers and little sister. I wasn’t planning on traveling until tomorrow, but I’ve been upset since my encounter with Anais earlier, and I want to go home. I only have two classes tomorrow, so skipping one day won’t make much of a difference. I am well prepared for my finals in May anyway.
Dad tips my chin up, studying my eyes. “You know you can always talk to me, right?”
“I know, Dad.” My features soften as I stare at Alesso’s handsome face. Mom definitely won the husband lottery. One of the happiest days of my life was the day Mom married my stepdad. I already loved him so much by then, and I count my blessings every day that he came into our lives. He is my father in every way that counts, and I rarely give my bio dad a second thought. He was a monster, and I’m glad he died. He deserved it for the things he did to Mom. “I love you,” I add as a sudden rush of emotion swirls in my veins. “I’m so happy you’re my dad.”
His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat. “Thank you for bringing so much joy to my life, Elisa.” He kisses my brow. “I love you more than I can say.” He presses a second soft kiss to my brow before letting me go. “We better hurry, or the chopper will take off without us.” He grabs his briefcase in one hand and me in the other, and then we make our way to the roof to meet Uncle Ben and Uncle Leo for the helicopter trip home.
Once on board, I close my eyes and rest my head against the window, letting the three men talk business through the intercommunication headsets. I turn music on and try to empty my mind of all thoughts of Caleb, but it’s futile. I wish I could find a way to scrub my brain with bleach and erase every memory and thought of him because I am sick of feeling like this.
“Elisa!” Mom rushes out the door toward me with the biggest smile on her face, and I lose control over my tenuous emotions. My lip starts wobbling, and my vision blurs as moisture gathers in my eyes. Her face dissolves with concern as she notices my expression, and by the time she’s reached me, I’ve dumped my weekend bag on the ground and silent tears are streaming down my face that I’m powerless to stop.