Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
C armella
Unwanted guests.
People I didn’t know and certainly didn’t give a shit about.
Yet as we walked into the room, I felt a strange sense of duty. I’d never experienced that before. Not once. However, the odd need to continue the facade of happiness had nothing to do with my new husband.
At least not totally.
Another round of passion.
Another indulgence in physical pleasures.
In the world I’d grown up in, while important, at the end of the day they meant nothing. They couldn’t. Or maybe I should have known that most men learned early on caring about any woman was a clear path to destruction. Fortunately, within the Cosa Nostra carried across the Big Lake from Italy, families remained of the utmost importance. Leaving a legacy was as important as gaining wealth.
Heirs.
That’s where my mother had failed first. She’d had a girl as her firstborn and my father had never allowed me to forget I was as unwanted as the plague. Had he softened over the years? Yes. For the most part I’d felt loved, a part of the family. Until he’d entered me into a contract.
It was an unforgiveable sin and as I glared at the man across the room, I felt nothing but animosity. The act of performing a duty was continually colliding with my utter hatred of the man. If he only knew the vile methods I’d imagined in killing him, he’d be shocked.
I was the good girl after all, the caring daughter.
People were drinking, dancing, and acting as if they didn’t have a single care in the world. Meanwhile, my life was crumbling.
“Don’t look so sad, my lovely wife. We have much to look forward to.”
Alejandro had flanked my side, holding a drink in his hand while he studied the crowd. He certainly didn’t seem any happier to be here than I did. Maybe we were on the same page after all. That didn’t mean I had any intention of liking him or allowing my guard to fall around him. In my mind, he was still the enemy.
The fact I’d fucked him meant nothing. Hadn’t it been my father who’d told me the day I turned eighteen that sex could be used as a weapon? His words had been something to the effect that women should use their feminine wiles. If they didn’t, they should consider themselves failures in life.
How profound, Daddy.
I snickered and raised my champagne flute. “Let’s have a toast to the beginning of oblivion.”
“You weren’t saying that a few moments ago.”
I turned toward Alejandro, glaring into his eyes. “We should get something straight. I understand the need and requirement for us to be… together. That doesn’t mean I will like or come to accept this union that was forced on me. But I learned a long time ago when to choose my battles. Just never turn your back on me.”
He was about to respond with one of his marvelous quips when Gabriel came racing from another part of the room. My icy heart melted as it always did around him.
“Mommy!”
“Oh, baby. There you are.” I barely managed to place my glass on the table before he bounded into my arms. Bending down, I scooped him up, cradling his small body as close to me as possible. A tremendous swell of emotion rushed through my system and I was suddenly teary-eyed. He was my little rock, a huge reason I wanted nothing to do with this life.
How was I going to cope with this? How could I manage to provide him with the life he deserved?
“I got to see a boat, Mommy. It was so big. Dis big.” He pulled away slightly, throwing out his arms. His little eyes were open wide.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I know how much you adore boats, little man. Maybe we’ll get to tour one someday. Would you like that?”
“I can make that happen,” Alejandro said from beside me. I wanted to hate and chastise him for eavesdropping, but I held my tongue.
“Would you like that, sweet boy?” I asked. The clip in my voice was evident.
“Yes, Mommy! Pwetty pwease?”
“Of course, baby.” I had no idea what my little boy noticed, but his attention span was exactly as it should be for a little boy. Nonexistent.
He was already struggling to free himself from my tight hold. I laughed when he managed, tousling his hair. “Don’t leave this room, buddy. Okay?”
“I won’t, Mommy.”
“He’s adorable.”
Alejandro’s voice held the tone of sadness I’d heard before. However, I refused to care. I wasn’t his shrink or his confidant.
“He’s completely unaware he’s embroiled in a world of snakes and carnivorous beasts.”
“You make this life sound so miserable.”
“If you don’t recognize that by now, I have serious doubt about your conscience.”
“You have a trust fund that you simply refuse to spend. You could live anywhere you wanted, owning several homes and cars, but you refuse to accept or even recognize your father’s importance or his legacy. I do wonder why you’re so completely jaded. Is it about the money, the power, or the politics played?”
“It’s apparent you tried very hard to learn everything about me you could. I applaud you for skimming the basics. You learned all about my life in White Plains and even took the time to discover my dress and shoe size, yet you know nothing substantial about me. And if I had to guess, I’d say you don’t really want to learn. But I’ll offer you some insight. I hate my father because he believes he’s lord and master over everything and everyone, including his family. He’s already proved my point.”
Alejandro crowded my space, daring me with his eyes to fight him as he used a single finger to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. “Did you ever stop and think that your father might know what’s best for you?”
I snorted with laughter. “Not a chance.”
“Boss? Can I have a couple minutes?” Gio always seemed to know the perfect time to interrupt.
Alejandro wasn’t happy.
Too bad.
Shit. I was crankier than before. It was likely due to being shoved in a smaller room with so many unwanted people.
“Excuse me, my bride. I’ll be right back.” Alejandro’s jaw was clenched. As anticipated, he was handling business tonight.
As soon as he walked away, I turned a complete one hundred and eighty degrees, taking several deep breaths. Why had I enjoyed our heated bodies pressed together? A distraction was needed. I noticed the bright and shiny gifts mounded on a table and headed toward them. A huge part of me wanted to rip them open to see what we’d received.
Since not one of them had any clue about me, I would find it fascinating to see what they’d come up with. Or maybe Sasha had been instructed by my father to create a wedding registry. I wouldn’t put it past him.
I fingered a few of the presents, marveling in the beautiful wrapping. Not one of the women attending the reception had wrapped a single package.
“Admiring your loot?”
Hearing Amber’s voice at least brought a smile. “I don’t know. I guess wondering how many blenders were gifted.”
“Well, don’t you like frozen drinks?”
We both laughed and I turned to hug her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Alejandro was nice enough to get me my own room.”
“No boys.”
“Do you see any cute boys here?” She made a funny face and I squeezed her arm. She was wearing the dolphin necklace I’d gotten for her.
“That’s good or I’d need to have a long discussion with them.”
Amber giggled just like a seventeen-year-old should. “You would, too.”
“You know it.” An envelope caught my attention. I recognized the block printing on the front and bristled.
“What’s wrong?” Amber followed my line of sight.
“I don’t know. A blast from the past maybe.” I had no reason to be apprehensive about the sender, yet as I grabbed the card, I half expected it to blow up in my face. Amber stood peering around my arm while I opened the flap. As soon as I briefly read the words, I hid the card from her prying eyes.
“Oh, come on. Who’s it from? Did you get a big, fat check?”
“No.” A send-off from my ex. When I read the words more slowly, the apprehension turned into my tenth wave of anger for the day.
Congrats, cunt. I always knew you’d eventually make something of yourself.
Derek
The fucker hadn’t felt bad about signing his name. He also hadn’t forgotten a wedding present.
“Who the hell gifts anyone a cheap Starbucks card?” Amber was incensed for me.
Starbucks. It had been the location of my first date with Derek. “Someone who doesn’t understand protocol.”
A sharp clanging on a glass briefly jerked my attention away. My father was trying to get everyone’s attention. Before I looked back at the card, I caught Alejandro’s gaze. He’d been keeping his eyes on me.
I could instantly tell something was wrong by the look on his face. The man emanated a dangerous vibe noticeable from across the room. There was no reason to panic or to feel as if I needed to be close to him.
Yet I did.
A strange warmth crashed over me. With the multitude of windows on three sides and the blinds yet to be pulled down to cover them, I felt more exposed than ever. I couldn’t explain the suffocating feeling, but fear was hovering just beneath the surface.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asked.
“Do me a favor. Don’t venture too close to the windows. Stay close to Gabriel.”
“Of course. Are you okay?”
“Fine.” But I was anything but fine. I ventured toward Alejandro, pushing my way through the crowd. Before I reached him, he was already headed in my direction. His expression was full of fury and concern.
“I have one more announcement and I promise you can enjoy the party without hearing from me again.” My father had taken center stage again, garnering everyone’s attention.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered.
“We’ll talk about it in a few minutes.” He kept his fingers wrapped around my arm as he weaved us through several guests until we were standing only a few feet away from both my father and Don Santorelli. Sasha flanked my father’s side, all smiles as required to be.
A few members of the crowd cheered as if thrilled there’d be no other announcements. My father had always been very good at holding court. He finally hushed the crowd and cleared his throat.
“I’m pleased to say Don Santorelli and I have decided on what we believe is the perfect gift for our happy couple.”
Oh, Jesus.
I remained tense, telling myself I needed to pretend I cared.
“This is from our hearts in hopes that the two of you will be happy and thrive together. And provide us with many grandchildren.”
I wasn’t certain if anyone in the crowd had noticed it was as if Don Santorelli had indicated Alejandro was like a son to him. The man’s only flesh and blood did, trying to stand and leave. Enzo was firmly pushed down by one of Santorelli’s men.
My father held out a plain manila envelope, smiling as if he’d just offered the crown jewels.
Alejandro exhaled before leaving my side, grasping the gift and offering a nod of respect. Meanwhile, I stood stoically, finding it more and more difficult to keep a smile on my face.
This was such an atrocity, but it appeared I was almost the only one unhappy with the arrangement. At least Enzo was as upset as I was.
After Alejandro returned to my side, it became painfully clear the entire room was waiting for us to open our gift. Alejandro lifted a single eyebrow as he looked at me. It was a strangely private moment shared between us. I didn’t bother trying to help as he pulled out a group of papers, including a single photograph.
As I peered down at the gift, my blood boiled. It was a fucking house with all the particulars, including a deed of ownership. What the fuck? The man had stripped away another choice by purchasing us a house.
That was all I could take, the blasphemy making my stomach turn. I swept the room with my eyes, finding my sister had her hands on Gabriel’s shoulders. At this point, I needed air. Lots of air.
I stormed from the room, pushing and shoving my way until I made it to the corridor. My mind and vision were foggy as I tried to make my way to an outside exit. I meandered down the hall, finally finding a door that led to a massive deck.
Gasping for air, I made it out onto the wooden platform, immediately rushing toward the railing. I was certain I was going to be sick, my stomach full of knots and churning.
Within seconds, I knew I wasn’t alone. The electricity was strong, but I couldn’t give a shit. I gripped the railing, debating jumping onto the platform below.
A strong pair of hands prevented me from doing so.
“Don’t, Carmella. You don’t understand,” Alejandro said under his breath.
“What’s there not to understand? Now my father and your… master is determined to tell us where to live.”
“Listen to me.”
I pulled away from his hold, but he was irritated with me, yanking me around to face him.
“You’re hurting me,” I hissed.
“I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m attempting to keep you safe. The house they purchased isn’t for us to live in every day.”
“Oh, really? Then what the hell is it?”
“It’s a safehouse. It’s in a remote location where no one else but the two of them knows the location.”
“A safehouse? For a wedding gift? That’s bizarre even for my father.”
He shook his head and I could tell instantly how much on edge he’d become. He scanned the area before dragging me closer to the building.
“Let go of me.”
“You need to listen to me.”
“Why should I? You’re one of them. You’ll follow all their rules like some lap dog. I can’t stand that and won’t agree to being a part of it. Hell, even Derek knows I’m just a pawn. He sent me a parting gift so I’d know exactly what he thought of me.”
“What are you talking about?”
I laughed and was ready to rip out my hair. “He sent a congratulatory card with a special note calling me a cunt who got what I deserved. Maybe he’s right.”
There was a significant shift in the man, his entire expression turning dark. In the limited light, I could still see the rage easily enough, his pulse ticking hard on the side of his neck. “Fucking son of a bitch.”
“Don’t worry about it, Alejandro. I’m used to asshole men. Now, just let me alone. I can’t listen to anything else tonight, especially bullshit. This is all a crock of shit.”
“You don’t have any choice but to hear me and heed what needs to happen. The safehouse could be our only protection, the only way we survive. If shit goes down, we’ll have a refuge.”
I was flabbergasted. “Why? What the hell happened?”
“It’s called instinct and years spent doing this shit. The reason? Because we don’t know yet what or who we’re dealing with. Your father and the man I work for understand the complexity of our world. I know you don’t and certainly have no desire to, but I will keep you safe no matter what I need to do. If that includes keeping you locked in a house, I’ll do it.”
“Fuck you.” I was aware we were no longer alone. Four soldiers had appeared on the deck. What in the hell were they so worried about?
“Firesong, just try and trust me.”
“Then why the sudden urgency? And don’t call me that!”
“Because the man and woman who took our places, the couple that pretended to be us? They were killed less than an hour ago. They’re dead, Carmella, all because they were mistaken as Carmella and Alejandro Banderas. And baby girl, I assure you once they learn we weren’t killed in the fiery hell they acted on, they will be back and make no mistake, they won’t stop until our bodies are cold and buried six feet under.”