Chapter 17
Christiano
As I walk down the path leading to Remo’s cottage, Adriano comes out of his place, and as he locks his front door, he smiles at me and says, “Augusto tells me you and Sienna are engaged again.”
“News travels fast.” I stop to shake his hand.
“Congratulations.” He begins to walk toward the driveway. “Let me know when the wedding is.”
“Of course.” I continue along the path and let myself into Remo’s place. When I don’t see him, I call out, “Where are you?”
“Upstairs. I’ll be down in a second.”
I walk to the liquor table and pour myself a Bourbon. Just as I take a sip, my phone rings. I dig the device out, and seeing Valentina’s name, I answer, “Hi–”
“He’s going to kill me!” my sister whispers, her voice filled with an ungodly fear. “I’m hiding behind the shed in the backyard. Hurry, Christiano!”
“I’m on my way,” I growl as I drop the tumbler and run toward the front door. “Stay on the line with me.”
“Where are you going?” Remo shouts.
“Valentina!” I reply.
He breaks out into a run, and as we tear down the path, I ask, “Where is the fucker?”
When she doesn’t answer, I roar, “Valentina!”
“The pool,” she whimpers so softly I barely make out the words. “Shhhh….”
As I rush toward the SUV, Nico opens the doors and darts around the front to jump in behind the steering wheel. I dive into the passenger seat while Remo gets into the back.
“Valentina’s place! Fucking fast.”
Nico starts the engine and floors the gas, the wheels screeching as he tears down the driveway.
“Five minutes, Valentina. I’m coming.”
“Where are you?” I hear Will call out in the background. “I promise I won’t hurt you again. Come out so we can talk about this.”
“Stay right where you are,” I order, my voice filled with rage.
My muscles lock in place as Nico takes a turn so fucking sharp the SUV fishtails before it jerks back into place.
Just as he steers the SUV onto the front lawn of Valentina’s mansion, my sister screams, and the kids begin to cry.
“Got you,” I hear Will sneer, and the darkness consumes me completely.
Throwing the door open, I drop my phone and run as fast as I can around the side of the house. When I see the fucker dragging my sister by her hair toward the pool, my vision tunnels on him.
Too late, Will notices me, and as his eyes go round with fear, my body hits his.
I tackle the fucker off his feet, and my fist connects with his face before he even hits the ground.
The sound of his jawbone cracking feeds the monster in me, and I punch him twice more.
The weak bastard loses consciousness, and I let out a frustrated growl as I climb to my feet.
Seeing the kids’ wide and traumatized eyes, I breathe hard as I say, “We’re just playing.” My eyes snap to Remo, who has his arm around Valentina’s shoulders. Then I see the red marks around her throat.
My voice sounds unnatural as I order, “Take them into the house and have them pack a few things, then get them out of here.”
“I’ll call Hugo to come so he can take you home,” Nico tells Remo.
Valentina looks at the man she married as Remo picks up the kids, and when he carries them away, she comes closer.
The fucker begins to regain consciousness, and when his eyes focus on her, she whispers, “Bye, Will. I’ll lie to the kids and tell them you were a good man.”
Valentina knows there’s only one outcome to this scenario. Her eyes touch on mine, and when I lift my hand to brush a thumb over the red blemishes, a tear rolls down her cheek.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” she whispers, her face crumbling under whatever hell Will made her endure.
“We’ll talk later,” I say, while tipping my head toward the house.
She turns away and walks toward the open French doors where Remo is waiting.
Looking at the man I’ve never liked, I order, “Get up.”
“Please don’t kill me,” he begs, his pathetic tone annoying the living fuck out of me.
I reach down, and grabbing hold of his collar, I yank him to his feet. The fabric of his shirt rips, and when I shove him forward, he stumbles a couple of steps before catching his balance.
I notice his entire body shaking with fear as he walks toward the side of the mansion. I glance up, and seeing Asher standing by a window, I growl, “Wave goodbye to your son.”
Will lifts his hand, and when he stops walking, I place my arm around his shoulders, forcing him forward.
As we round the corner of the mansion, I say, “Once Valentina has recovered from the hell of being your wife, I’ll arrange for her to marry Remo.
He will adopt your children, and they will call him Dad.
I’ll make sure everyone forgets you ever existed. ”
“Please,” he begs again, his voice trembling severely.
Reaching the SUV, I shove him into the back seat and join him while Nico gets in behind the steering wheel.
“Hugo will be here in ten minutes.”
“Good,” I reply to Nico before I turn my head to stare at the piece of shit beside me. “Anywhere quiet along the Hudson River will do.”
Noticing his shoe is beside Sienna’s towel, I lean down and grab it. Will startles at my sudden movement and lets out a shriek.
“Christ,” I grumble while placing the towel on the front passenger seat, “I seriously don’t know what my sister saw in you.”
“Valentina will never forgive you.”
Bringing my arm up, I elbow him in the mouth, and it silences him for a minute or so as he spits out a tooth and blood.
“Can you pass me the towel?” the fucker dares to ask.
Taking hold of his collar, I yank hard and rip part of his shirt and sleeve off. Shoving it into his hand, I growl, “If you get a single drop of blood on my seats, I’ll skin you alive.”
He makes a panicked sound in the back of his throat, and while he covers his bleeding mouth with the fabric, he glances at the leather seat to make sure he didn’t mess on it.
Nico brings the SUV to a stop in a dark area, the SUV’s headlights sending beams across the shore and water.
“Get out,” I order as I shove my door open.
When Nico joins me outside the SUV, and Will doesn’t move, I tip my head at the fucker. Nico stalks toward the back of the vehicle, and opening the door, he grabs hold of the bastard’s arm and hauls him out of my Bentley.
“Please! I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” he cries.
“After you came over a few months ago and beat me up, I was angry. You have to understand how humiliating that was, and Valentina didn’t look at me the same afterward.
She wouldn’t even let me touch her,” he rambles, oblivious to the fact he’s making me angrier with every pathetic word that leaves his mouth.
Pulling my gun from behind my back, I take off the safety. Nico gives Will a hard push that makes him stumble across the gravel.
His movements turn jittery as terror sinks its claws into him. He looks at the water, then meets my eyes.
“You are the stupidest piece of shit I’ve ever met, Will.” My tone is dark and unforgiving, carrying the promise of certain death.
“I can do better,” he whispers.
“You’ve only made it this far because of Valentina.” I aim at his foot and pull the trigger. As the blast disappears into the night, Will lets out a howl and drops to his ass on the gravel along the shoreline. He grabs his ankle and stares in horror at the hole in his loafer.
“For years, I had to watch you treat a Falco queen like a maid.” The words rumble deep from my chest, and lifting my arm, I shoot again.
The bullet burns tears through Will’s flesh, slamming into his shin.
“Please!” he screams, his face torn with pain.
Crouching beside Will, I press the barrel against his thigh, and when I lock eyes with him, the acidic stench of piss hits my nostrils.
I glance down and see the wet spot stretching all the way to the barrel. “Did you just piss on my gun?” I ask, my tone a little incredulous.
“P-please.” His breaths turn ragged, and shivers rush through his body. With one of his bloody hands, he grabs hold of my arm and gives me a pleading look.
I savor every second as I stare into his eyes again, and I don’t have to wait long before the realization that he's about to die registers in his brown irises.
Another car pulls up, and I don’t bother looking to see who it is.
“Nathan and Santa are here to clean up once you’re done,” Nico informs me.
Will begins to shake his head as I move the barrel, and when I press it into his gut, his entire body jerks. His fingers curl into my shirt, and I savor his terror for a few more seconds before I pull the trigger.
His fingers lose their hold on me, and as he drops back onto the gravel, he presses his hand to his stomach while he begins to cry. “I don’t want to die.”
I lean over him, and when I press the barrel of my Glock to his temple, the fucker squeezes his eyes shut. I wait for close to twenty seconds before he opens them again. We stare at each other, then I grow tired of his sniffling and pull the trigger.
I watch as the life is snuffed from his eyes, and knowing I never have to deal with this piece of shit again fills me with great joy.
Climbing to my feet, I walk to the SUV and give Nathan and Santa a chin lift before I get into the backseat.
Nico joins me in the Bentley, and as he starts the engine, he says, “They’re all at Remo’s place.”
“Let’s go.”
“Your parents and Enzo are there as well,” he warns me, so I know what to expect.
“Good. My father will take Valentina and the kids home,” I murmur as I turn my head. Spotting the towel that’s still wrapped around the vibrator, I lean forward and grab it off the front passenger seat.
“What’s in the towel?” Nico asks.
“None of your business,” I grumble.
Christ, all I want to do is go back to Sienna’s place and sleep.
I think about how nice it was to wake up to the aroma of bacon and eggs. Some of the tension drains away, and the darkness retreats a little as I remember how incredible it was finally getting to be inside my woman.
The way she loved me in those intimate moments reassures me that I’ve made the right decision. Once we’re married, and Sienna sees how good we are together, she’ll drop the subject of not being the right woman for me.
Her sensitivity balances out my violence. Her vulnerability feeds my protective side. Her feminine body fits against me like a puzzle piece locked into place.
But most importantly, she calms me like no other. When I’m in her arms, I’m so focused on her that all the pressure of being the capo dei capi melts away.
She’s my peace in a world filled with death, corruption, and violence.
Every day, I have to do what’s best for the families. When shit goes down, my number is the first they call.
So when it comes to Sienna, I will be selfish. She’s the one thing I’m taking for myself.
Nico parks behind Dad’s G-Wagon, and when I climb out, a tired sigh dries my lips.
I walk down the path and see Dad and Uncle Angelo standing outside.
When they spot me, Dad asks, “Did you kill that bastard?”
“Yes.” I stop by them to shake Uncle Angelo’s hand before meeting Dad’s eyes. “Are you taking Valentina and the kids home with you?”
“Of course.” His tone is low and deadly, telling me he’s struggling to control his temper.
Placing my hand on my father’s shoulder, I say, “He suffered and pissed himself. I made sure he knew he was going to die before I ended him.”
Dad nods, then looks at Remo’s cottage. “How did I not know things were bad between Valentina and Will?”
“She didn’t want you to know,” I reply.
He locks eyes with me again. “And you?”
I shrug. “I knew Will was a pathetic piece of shit, but I’m surprised that he was so stupid to think he could get away with hurting Valentina.”
I let out another sigh as I walk to the front door to check on my sister.
The moment I enter the living room, Valentina’s head snaps up. She’s sitting between Mom and Remo, and there’s no sign of the kids.
“Where are Asher and Talia?” I ask.
Valentina stands up, her movements nervous. “Asleep in the guest room.”
I nod, and as I look into her eyes, she bursts out in tears and hurries toward me. I wrap my arms around her and let her cry. Not wanting to burden her mentally, I lie. “I made it quick.”
She nods as she grips me tighter.
I might not understand why she loved Will, but it doesn’t change the fact that she did.
I hold her for a minute longer before pulling away and saying, “I want to check on the kids.”
Taking the stairs up to the second floor, I hear Valentina behind me, and when I gently push the door open, light falls into the bedroom from the hallway.
Asher quickly sits up as I walk to the side of the double bed. Talia is already lights out.
When I crouch beside the bed, Asher moves closer and whispers, “Is my dad gone?”
I stare into his black eyes. Honestly, the kid is my spitting image.
Deciding not to lie to him, I answer, “Yes, and he won’t come back. From now on, Uncle Remo and I will take care of you.”
Asher’s eyes begin to sparkle with unshed tears. His jaw clenches as he fights not to cry.
I lift my arm and wrap my fingers around the back of his neck. Pressing my forehead to his, I say, “You don’t have to be strong yet, little man. It’s okay to cry. I’ll watch over you until it’s time for you to become a man.”
His arms dart around my neck, and he lets out a sob that delivers a punch to my heart. “I didn’t know what to do when he was strangling Mommy.”
“That’s why I came.” I rub my hand up and down his back. “And I will always come to help, Asher. I love you and Talia and will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
“I love you too, Uncle Christiano,” he says, while his tears lessen.
“Get some sleep,” I say as I move him into a comfortable position. I press a kiss to his forehead, then straighten up. “Whenever you need to talk to me, just tell your mom to call me. Okay?”
“Can I call at any time?” he asks as he snuggles into the pillow.
“Yes.”
As I leave the bedroom, Valentina tucks Asher in. I take the stairs down, and when I reach the living room, Remo asks, “Do you want a drink?”
I shake my head. “I’m leaving.” I give him a grateful look. “Thank you for taking care of Valentina and the kids.”
“No thanks needed.” His eyes flick to the stairs as my sister comes down them, and his expression softens. “You know I’ll do anything for Valentina.”
I hope with all my heart that she can learn to love Remo.
I pat my best friend’s shoulder, then glance at Mom and Valentina. “Night. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
Leaving Remo’s place, I say goodbye to Dad and Uncle Angelo before I head to the SUV.
When Nico starts the engine, I can’t keep the exhaustion from my tone as I say, “Sienna’s apartment. After dropping me off, go to my place and pack me a bag. You can leave it with Ciro.”
“Okay.”
I lean my head back and close my eyes, my bones feeling like they weigh a ton.
I just want to hold my woman and smell her comforting scent.