Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
A lejandro
The call was unexpected. Carmella had only left our bedroom a few minutes before.
Our bedroom.
The thought continued to roll heavily through my mind. I’d heard her request and it had kept me awake all night. I’d had my other phone in my hand, ready to destroy it as I planned on doing with every other possible connection to my old life when I had to run.
I glanced at the closed door and frowned.
With the number coming up as unknown, I hesitated, but my gut told me whatever the information was, it was something I’d want to know.
“Yes?”
“Is this… Alejandro Banderas?”
Hearing my alternate identity, my hackles were raised further. The woman’s voice was pleasant and there were several other voices around her.
“Who is this?” I asked in return.
“This is Nurse Angie Bennett from the Presbyterian Hospital. There’s a patient here who’d been asking for you for a couple days. He’s insistent you come see him. He says it’s urgent. I don’t know if this is true, but he mentioned it’s life and death.”
“Why didn’t he call me himself?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but his condition is… guarded. That’s all I can tell you. I thought I’d see if you can come see him, maybe calm him down.”
I gritted my teeth. “Who is it?”
“He said he’s an old friend, a man who once admired your Harley. I know that doesn’t make any sense, but I just wanted to try and help him.”
It made perfectly good sense. Enough so I took a deep breath. “What room is he in?”
* * *
Carmella
“You look extremely handsome,” I told Alejandro when he walked into the kitchen. The kids were squealing, the sugar-based cereal I’d allowed them to consume for breakfast obviously not the best idea.
But I’d caved. I hadn’t been able to help myself. Perhaps it was the high I remained on after the sinful experience the night before.
Not just the incident in the kitchen. Incident? The disciplinary action. Sighing, I placed my coffee mug on the counter and inched closer.
Alejandro gave me a funny look before reaching for his tie. He always wore suits, the tailored fit accentuating his buff body, but today his appearance seemed to have more of a critical eye.
Perhaps because he was sliding into the role of the Don of a huge regime preparing to continue an alliance with another. I stepped in front of him, pushing his hands away. As expected, his expression was devoid of emotion or hints to his thoughts. But I knew him well enough by now to realize how anxious he was. It was entirely possible he could be walking into an ambush. I understood the ruthless nature of the business I’d been born into.
My father was no saint. He grabbed every opportunity to make money or obtain additional power. However, if he fucked with this, I would do more than disown him.
“There you go. Perfect,” I told him. “You look like you’re ready to leave. I thought the meeting wasn’t for a couple hours.”
He gripped my arm, winking to try to ease my own nerves.
It wasn’t working.
There was too much at stake for both of us.
“I have something to do first.”
“Something?” I countered, giving him a look.
He laughed. “Yes, I still have business to handle, you know.”
“All work and no play.”
“Oh, I think you know better.” His nostrils flared and the wave of tickles dancing down my legs was amazing.
“You look okay.” The little voice immediately drew Alejandro’s attention and I bit back a laugh. Gabriel’s face was so serious, his eyebrows pinched together as he studied the tall man standing in front of him.
“I do, huh? You’re sure about that?” Alejandro asked.
Gabriel truly looked him over, his gaze moving up and down. I could barely keep from engaging in a fit of giggles. Oh, that would go over well.
The exaggerated nod was one of affirmation and for Gabriel, meant everything in the world.
“Then I guess I’m good to go. Thanks, little man. I appreciate that.” Alejandro continued to surprise me. He leaned down, scooping my little boy into his arms.
“Careful,” I cautioned. “He does have sticky hands.”
“Well, if the people in my meeting don’t understand then fu?—”
My reaction was swift and I’d thrown up my finger to warn him about language before he’d gotten it out of his mouth.
“Then fudge them,” Alejandro continued.
Gabriel giggled for both of us.
“Go wash your hands, dear child. I don’t want your sticky handprints everywhere,” I instructed and Alejandro reluctantly let him down.
“O-tay, Mommy.”
Jessica walked closer, unsure about the man, standing in front of him with wide open eyes.
“What’s wrong, Jessica?” I asked, trying to prompt her into speaking. She did with Gabriel, but had yet to say much to the adults. The incident at her house had affected her more than I’d thought. She needed to be brought from her shell, but only her father could do that. This time, the wave of emotions contained sadness.
I hoped the two of them would eventually be close.
Alejandro crouched down and to my surprise, she threw her arms around his neck. He peered up at me, obviously just as surprised as I was.
There were no words and in truth, I wasn’t entirely certain either one of them was breathing. Almost as quickly as the sweet moment had ensued, it disappeared. Jessica ran off, following Gabriel into the living room where I’d already turned on a channel full of kid’s cartoons.
Alejandro’s expression was no less stoic than before, but there was a spark in his eyes.
“Being a father looks good on you,” I told him.
“Children are a true blessing.” He walked closer, the electric draw just as powerful, but as with every other emotion and sensation that morning, entirely different.
“Are you certain I shouldn’t come with you?”
I was being coy, but the way he cupped my face indicated he would remain in a serious mood. “Right or wrong depending on who you ask, you are my partner. However, this is something I must do alone.”
“I get the gist. I don’t like the power struggle, but I do understand. Perhaps as Don of one of the most powerful organizations in the world you can make swift changes.”
He laughed as he rubbed his thumb across my skin, creating too many tingles for the fact he was leaving in a few minutes. “I’ll add that to the top of my agenda.”
“Uh-huh. Just keep in mind that without powerful women, no man would be able to forge a path. A flashlight and a map just won’t do it.”
“How utterly profound.” The heat of his body as he inched closer was palpable. “I don’t think I need to remind you that things are still dangerous, but I will anyway. Several soldiers will remain surrounding the house. If you need anything, you must tell them, but don’t try and leave.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“I honestly can’t answer that other than to say as long as it takes. There’s already enough chatter on the streets to indicate a possible coup.”
“A coup. You sound like an ex-military man.”
“I sound like a man prepared to defend what belongs to him,” Alejandro corrected. “Do me a favor and just stay inside.”
I hated shivering, but felt his apprehension feeding every blood cell. “As I told you before. Don’t die on me.”
He laughed and pressed his forehead against mine. “I won’t if for no other reason than needing to keep you in line.” He shoved his hands into the back pockets of my jeans, pulling me even closer to his body. The warmth was incredible, so much so I was ready to beg him not to go. But it was something he had to do, something that would change whatever life he’d had.
After brushing his lips across mine, he pulled away.
I folded my arms and watched him walk out of the room. A crushing feeling furrowed inside of me.
Changes would occur. Alliances would be challenged. Men would die. Monsters would be formed. Sides chosen. And families threatened.
I moved toward the hallway, hovering against the wall as he headed toward the front entrance.
As soon as I heard the door close, I jerked my phone from the pocket of my jeans. Call it a woman’s instinct, but I’d sensed something was off. Shadows were lurking in the bright sunlight. I knew in my bones that loyalties would be challenged.
Including within myself.
I dialed the number, honestly anticipating a voicemail.
“Carmella.” My father’s voice held no hint of strain.
“Good to catch you, Father.” He knew when I was irritated, I called him Father instead of Dad or Daddy. On this beautiful morning, I remained agitated with the world.
“Is something wrong? Is my grandson alright?”
“Gabriel is fine. I’m not calling about my son.”
“I heard he has a new friend to play with.”
Was there amusement in his voice? While I was caught off guard he’d heard about Jessica, I should have guessed. There was no such thing as long-term secrets in my father’s world. “He does and I intend to keep it that way.”
“What does that mean?” My father laughed as if there was nothing at stake within our family’s regime.
“That means that nothing will happen to either one of them. At least as long as I’m alive.”
“Did something happen, Carmella? You don’t sound like yourself.”
“Yes, something happened. That something occurred when two men who thought themselves gods put two unsuspecting people together in a tainted marriage. The two of you truly believed you could own the world if not the universe if you simply manipulated the events. As you’ve seen, the best laid plans are often misguided and thwarted by unforeseen dangers.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“I’m making perfectly good sense, Daddy dearest, and you know it. You wanted this unholy marriage. Did you hope that it would backfire, which would provide you with a perfect excuse to initiate a war for your own financial gain? Well, here’s a news bulletin for you. Your scheme backfired.”
I could almost hear my father gritting his teeth.
“Yep. That’s right. You see, I love Alejandro and oh, another shock. He loves me. All the posturing you did was pushing me to hate him and I admit your plan almost worked. But at the end of the day, there is such a thing as true love. You also didn’t anticipate Don Santorelli believing in Alejandro enough to fork over his entire empire should anything happen to him. It would seem the other great Italian Don was much wiser than my own father.”
“How dare you talk to me that way!”
I hoped he was huffing and puffing at the mouth. “How dare I? I dared when you signed my life away. Now, I honored your twisted wishes and plan on continuing, but I have some demands.”
“You’re trying to bargain with me, your father?”
“I’m not trying to bargain. I’m telling you what’s going to happen. You will accept Alejandro as the new Don of the Santorelli Empire. You will adhere to your alliance and you will leave me and my family the fuck alone.”
There was tension as well as silence between us.
“What happened to you, Carmella? You used to be an obedient daughter.”
I laughed. “What happened was simple. I grew up and discovered the truth, but not just about you, Dad, but about me as well. I’m much stronger than anyone believed. Including myself. I assure you that if you don’t heed my words, you will face Alejandro’s wrath. Even worse, you’ll face mine. I have a family now, Daddy. Just like you wanted. Respect me for a change and allow me to enjoy my life.”
I expected him to blow up, issuing a barrage of hateful comments about being an ungrateful daughter, but he was quiet once again.
“All I ever wanted for you was for you to be happy, Carmella. You were my baby girl, your mother’s pride and joy. She begged me to take care of you, to keep you from harm’s way. Believe it or not, that’s all I tried to do. Was I a good father? Obviously since you hate me so much, I realize I failed, but I do love you. I’m sorry you hate me, but I do understand.”
Guilt smashed into my system. I’d been so full of fire, but now? Now I regretted almost every word I’d said. Almost. “I don’t hate you, Dad. I just need you to understand and accept I’m a grown woman who can make choices all on her own.”
“You really care about Alejandro?”
I laughed and I wasn’t certain if I was doing so based on nerves or an outward admittance. “I do. He’s… loving and thoughtful, funny yet bold and powerful when necessary. He allows me to be myself and most important, he cares about Gabriel. He’s my prince when I didn’t know I was looking for one.”
He chuckled as he’d done so many times in my life. “Then by all means you have my blessing. And my respect. I have every intention of honoring Luis Santorelli’s directive. The alliance will continue. We have an enemy to capture together.”
“Yes, I guess you do.”
Conversations with my father were always awkward, but more so today. For once, it seemed as if he’d listened and he’d heard me.
Good.
God help him if he went against my wishes.