Chapter Twelve
Devious
I still don’t want to believe Santo was Cashel’s son. I remember around the time she got pregnant, we weren’t having sex as often as I liked. She would always come up with excuses as to why she wasn’t in the mood. I thought she was depressed because she didn’t know what she wanted to do about us having a baby before marriage. If anyone knows the truth, it would be Zeta, Shelby’s best friend from high school. She’s also Saverio’s little sister. His famiglia lived in New York City, and his father was Draco’s underboss for years. Now his father’s stepped down from being an underboss, Saverio runs the Los Angeles territories for me. I called Zeta a few days ago and flew her out here.
I’m at a café that I own, and I had my manager shut it down. The smell of coffee lingers in the air, and the workers are busy, speaking in Italian and cleaning the tables. One of them sweeps the white tile floors. Zeta strolls in, wearing a cream blouse with a pencil skirt. She dresses as if she’s conducting business. Maybe that’s what she thinks, because after Shelby’s death, I haven’t spoken to her. I never cared about any of Shelby’s friends.
“Devious,” she says, smiling, displaying her two front crooked teeth. She’s gained a few pounds, and her jet-black hair is in a high ponytail. I stand up from the table, pulling out the chair across from me, then sit back in my chair.
“Zeta, sit.”
She does what I say, scooting her chair closer to the table. The waitress comes, and Zeta orders a cup of coffee. Her smile grows even wider, and she rests her elbows on the table. “I was shocked when you called. Are you here to offer me to Villainous?” Her tone is filled with delight.
She’s always had a crush on Aiden ever since we were in high school, but Aiden was never into her. He’s always liked crazy women, the type who threaten to cut his balls off. Zeta is too soft for him. He would break her easily. Zeta was very shy in high school. And I thought for sure she would be married by now. She’s not ugly, but she isn’t pretty either. Just a plain Jane. But out of all of Shelby’s friends, she was one of the ones that I tolerated, and she’ll make a good wife someday.
“No,” I answer.
Disappointment flashes in her eyes, and her shoulders square. “So, why did you call me here?”
“Shelby.” My tone is emotionless.
“I’m so sorry about your loss.” Her gray eyes tear up. “I miss her terribly. I wish they had caught the robber who killed her.”
Guilt enables in my chest, and I ball my fist under the table. No one knows the real truth about what happened to Shelby except for me, Aiden, and Cashel.
“I assumed you knew about her affair with Cashel,” I state.
Her eyes grow wide as the sun, and she fiddles with the end of the tablecloth. “What are you ta—”
“You knew, Zeta. So cut the bullshit.”
The waitress brings her a small cup of coffee, and Zeta nods, blowing on the beverage before taking a sip.
“Don’t worry. You’re not in trouble. You were being a friend. I’m not here to punish you.”
She sighs but doesn’t say anything.
I’m not ready to hear the answer to my question. But I need to know the truth, otherwise it’s going to eat me up inside.
“You need to tell me the truth about something. Again, you won’t be in trouble.” I’m silent for a few seconds. “Was Shelby pregnant with Cashel’s child?”
She swallows loudly. “Y-yes.” She pauses. “She told me the minute she was pregnant. And she didn’t know what to do. She wanted to abort it, but I knew you wouldn’t allow her to do that. So she decided to keep the baby.”
Shock lingers inside of me. So, Cashel was telling the truth. This bastard even took the one thing I wanted. To be a father. He took everything from me. Both of them. Here I am grieving over a woman who hurt me beyond repair. Who shit on my heart. Fuck both of them. I’m sorry for the way her life ended, but I’m sorrier for Santo’s death because he didn’t deserve it. Adrenaline courses through my blood, and my heart beats fast. I dig my nails into the tablecloth.
She folds her arms and rests them on the table. “I’m sorry, Devious. I knew and I tried to stop her from having the affair with Cashel. I really did. She told me you wouldn’t let her go, that she told you multiple times she wasn’t happy.”
Shelby did tell me she wasn’t happy, but I was too selfish to let her go. I was too wrapped up in my own feelings to consider hers. She was the only happiness in my life at the time because everything around me was dark.
“Thank you for coming out here to meet me,” I tell her, then get up from the table. Sorrow colors her face, and when she stands up, she wraps her arms around my shoulders, her tears wetting my dress shirt.
I’m torn. Everything I thought I had with Shelby was a fucking lie.
I hug her back before she pulls away. “Some things you have to let go, Devious. I know it’s not any of my business, but move on with yo—”
“You’re right. It isn’t any of your business, Zeta.” I straighten my tie. “Next time you see Saverio, send him my regards.”
She nods.
Dread anchors in my stomach. Three bodyguards surround me as I head to the car. The streets are busy, and the sun hangs high in the crystal-clear sky.
King opens the door for me, and I slide into the back seat, putting on my seat belt. Then he gets into the driver’s seat and hits the Start button, and the car hums to life.
“Where to, sir?” he asks.
I have enough time to blow off some steam before I head to the coke lab. I have to make sure Lex will have the delivery ready for tonight. And I need to see Enzo. My chest tightens, and I loosen the blood-red tie around my neck. Closing my eyes, I rub the side of my temple, trying to control my breathing.
“King, take me to Enzo’s house.”
“Yes, sir.”