Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
~CARMINE~
Three Months Later…
“ I love you.” The lie rolls off my tongue easier than the first time I said it, just a few weeks ago. Nadia and I have become inseparable since she moved in with me. We fuck. We laugh. We eat.
And then we fuck some more.
I know her body better than I know mine. Every curve, every erotic inch that makes her writhe in ecstasy.
But it’s a shot to my ego and my pride that I still don’t know her mind. Nadia is good at keeping her thoughts close to her chest and only sharing bits and pieces of information. But she’s loosened up considerably, and our time together has been fun.
So much so that I enjoy having her in my house.
No, not mine . I won’t have the daughter of the man I hate most in the world living in my home. But she doesn’t know that.
I press a kiss to her nape as she fusses with an earring, and then she smiles at me in the mirror.
“I love you, too, darling,” she says. Her eyes go wide as I slip the diamond necklace around her neck from behind and fasten it with nimble fingers. “Oh my God, Carmine.”
Her hand moves to touch the ice that glitters in the mirror.
“Later, when I make love to you, you’ll wear this and nothing else.”
Her gaze flies to mine, and she smiles quickly before turning to launch herself into my arms.
“You know I love gifts,” she says against my mouth.
“And I love giving them to you.” Nadia is spoiled. Selfish. Indulgent—all of the things I expected of her.
It’s a pity that she didn’t prove me wrong. Part of me wanted to respect her. To discover that she’s nothing like the rest of her family.
But that didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, Nadia’s been fun, but she’s the typical, overindulged daughter of a powerful man; a woman used to getting her way.
She playfully tugs on my lower lip with her teeth, then walks across the room to open her Hermes bag, moving a few small things over to her tiny clutch.
“I hope nothing horrible happens today,” she says with a sigh. “It’s Annika’s wedding day. She deserves to have a happy day without any mafia shenanigans thrown in for good measure.”
“Weddings, like funerals, are truce days. You know that.” I fasten my cufflinks, the ones with the rubies that Nadia got me for my birthday last month. “Everyone will be on their best behavior.”
We’ve been in Denver for three days, preparing for Nadia’s cousin’s wedding. Annika’s groom, Richard Donaldson, has no ties to any mafia family, and that’s the way Annika wanted it. Rumor has it that her family isn’t thrilled, but they’re permitting the union.
Reluctantly.
My family flew in yesterday. Nadia and I had dinner with my parents, Shane, Rocco, and my cousin, Elena, and her husband, Archer. Elena was raised like my sister. When someone murdered her parents, I took it upon myself to see to avenging their deaths.
Nadia’s family will pay.
But not today.
Three other family organizations will also attend Annika and Rich’s wedding. But there’s an unwritten rule for weddings and funerals of mafia families. No violence. No retribution is to be dispensed on those days. They’re days of celebration. Community. If beefs or scores need to be settled, it’s for another time and place.
We may be brutal, but we can be respectful.
“My brother flies in this morning.” Nadia checks her lipstick in a handheld mirror, and I school my features.
Alexander Tarenkov will die at my hand. Not today, but one day soon. For his many transgressions.
“I was surprised he didn’t come sooner.”
“He was in Europe,” she says with a shrug. “Doing what, I have no idea. You know he doesn’t say much to me.”
I smile as she takes one last look in the mirror. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”
“Ready.”
“A toast,” Igor Tarenkov says as he raises his glass and gets the attention of the roughly three hundred people at the reception. “To my niece, Annika. My little firefly. You make a lovely bride, my darling. And to Richard. If you fail to take care of my girl, you’ll swim with the fishes. Cheers.”
We laugh and raise our glasses as Igor sits at the table with his brother—Annika’s dad—and Richard’s parents, who look a little worse for wear.
“I don’t think Rich’s parents are used to people like us,” I murmur to Nadia, who chuckles and sips her champagne.
“You’d be right. Annika said they’re doctors from the suburbs.”
“Just like her,” I point out as the bride approaches our table.
“I’m so happy to see you,” Annika says to Nadia as she leans in to kiss her cousin’s cheek. “Are you all having a good time?”
“What’s not to like?” Rocco asks.
“Hello, Rafe.”
My brother’s expression turns to a scowl. “I’ve told you a million times to call me Rocco.”
“I will never do that,” Annika replies with a straight face. “Your name is Rafe . That’s what your mother calls you.”
“You’re not my mother,” my brother reminds her.
“Isn’t that fortunate?” Annika replies without missing a beat.
I always liked Annika. Like my cousin Elena, Annika has no interest in the family business. She’s a doctor with a business in Denver. Her new husband, Rich, is also a physician.
They’ll live a quiet life, making a good living from their jobs, even if Igor uses them from time to time to clean up a mess or two.
Having a doctor in the family is incredibly helpful.
Rocco narrows his eyes on Annika, but she just smiles at us. “Oh, I want you to meet someone. Ivie, come here.”
I recognize the maid of honor as she hurries over to our table and offers us all a smile.
“Everyone, this is my best friend since we were six. Ivie Roberts.”
“Hi.” Ivie waves and flashes a shy smile. She’s pretty but not beautiful. Not extraordinary like the other women in the room. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Shane says as he takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. “You’re lovely, aren’t you?”
Rocco and I share a surprised look.
“Oh, it’s just the dress,” Ivie says, glancing down at the blood-red gown that fits her curvy body like a glove.
“No, I think it’s the woman wearing it.”
“How charming,” Nadia says. “Ladies, let’s make a trip to the champagne table.”
Nadia loops her arms through Annika’s and Ivie’s and leads them away. Ivie glances back and gives Shane a sassy wink.
“Really?” I say to Shane, who just stares back at me blankly.
“What?”
“What do you mean what ?” Rocco says with a laugh. “You were totally mooning over that girl. And she’s not your type. She’s not any of our types.”
“What does that mean?” Elena demands, and Archer suddenly seems fascinated with the silverware on the table.
Smart man.
“She’s fucking amazing,” Shane replies with a scowl. “Did you see her?”
“Yeah.” I nod slowly. “We saw her.”
Without another word, Shane stands and goes in search of the woman, and Rocco lets out a laugh.
“What’s wrong with her?” Elena demands again. “She’s pretty.”
“She’s not ugly,” I agree. “But she’s hardly Shane’s type. He goes for the cold, supermodel types.”
“Like Nadia?” Elena asks with a cocked brow.
My eyes narrow on her. I don’t know why I suddenly feel so defensive of the Bratva princess. I can’t stand her.
“You don’t understand.” The words are clipped. Short.
But Elena doesn’t back down.
“You know how I feel about this.”
She thinks my mission’s futile—is sure that Nadia doesn’t have the answers, and that I’m wasting my time.
I think she’s wrong.
“Let’s dance,” Nadia says, suddenly at my side. I take her hand, kiss the palm, and stand at her request.
“That would be a pleasure.”
She leads me out to the dance floor. As the Goo Goo Dolls sing Iris , I pull Nadia to me, flush against me, and we move around the space.
Her lean body is a temptation that I never stop longing for. It’ll be a pity that I won’t get to fuck her anymore once all of this is said and done. I don’t know that I’ve met a woman I’ve been so sexually compatible with before. I may not find one ever again.
The fire in her eyes as she gazes up at me tells me that she’s just as fired up as I am.
Without another word, I take her hand and lead her off the floor, down a hallway, and to an empty storeroom that must be used as a maid’s closet for the hotel.
I lock the door behind us and yank her against me.
“Did you do that on purpose?” I growl against her neck. “Seduce me on the dance floor so I’d be hard and wanting you?”
“Maybe.” Her voice is breathy as her hands immediately reach for my slacks, pulling them open so she can plunge her hand inside to cup me. “Probably.”
“Fucking hell.” I turn and pin her against a shelving wall of folded sheets. I gather her skirt in my hands until it’s up around her waist and then grin when I find her bare.
“I love it when you go without panties, babe.”
“I know.” She bites my earlobe. “Now, fuck me, Carmine.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I retrieve the condom from my suit pocket, and when I plunge into her, I’m like a wild animal, unable to stop myself from fucking her hard and fast, punishing us both with the crazy rhythm I set.
“God, yes,” she sobs and lets her head fall back against the sheets. “Fuck, yes.”
It’s over as quickly as it began. Once I dispose of the condom and we right ourselves, I open the door so we can return to the party.
Pandemonium hits.
“Oh, shit, what happened?” Nadia says as she hurries to the dance floor where a crowd has gathered. I follow.
We push our way to the front in time to see Armando, one of my father’s men, seizing on the floor. He’s foaming at the mouth, his face beet-red, eyes bulging.
“He’s been poisoned,” I mutter as I stare down at the man.
“I’ll call the police,” someone offers, but they’re quickly taken aside.
We don’t call the authorities.
And the fact that this was done here , with a mix of families and civilians, makes my blood boil.
I march over to Nadia’s father’s table, where my dad is already standing, his expression mutinous.
“That drink was meant for me ,” Pop says. “Armondo grabbed it by accident. We laughed about it, and then I flagged down the waiter for another. Moments after drinking it, that”—he gestures to the floor—“happened.”
“Are you implying that I ordered your murder at my niece’s wedding?” Igor asks, his tone mild. “I’m not the only boss here, Carlo.”
“Yours is the only family the Martinellis have an issue with,” Pop replies.
Shane and Rocco stand beside me, all of us behind our father. Nadia and her brother, Alexander, stand behind their father.
My gaze holds Nadia’s.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Igor says. “I’ve never done anything to you or your family.”
“You had my sister killed,” Pop immediately replies.
“I always liked Claudia,” Igor says and drums his fingers on the table. “Vinnie, not so much. He was a pitiful excuse for a man and certainly had no business being the boss of your organization. But I suppose that’s none of my business.”
“So you killed him,” Pop says.
“I certainly did not,” Igor says and leans forward. “No one in my organization is responsible for Vinnie’s or Claudia’s deaths. If I was, I would take responsibility for it.”
My father nearly vibrates with his fury.
“What good would that do me?” Igor continues. “The Bratva is successful, thriving, without the need for war. Just because I thought Vinnie was a worthless piece of shit doesn’t mean I ordered his death. And I certainly wouldn’t give the order to have you, my friend , Carlo, killed at my firefly’s wedding.”
“Then what the fuck is going on?” I demand and scan the crowd. Someone took Armondo’s body away and cleaned up the floor. The guests murmur quietly. The DJ started the music again.
Only at a mafia wedding could someone get murdered and have the party carry on as if nothing at all happened.
“Clearly, someone has it out for our families,” Igor says. “Nadia.”
Nadia places her hand on her father’s shoulder. “Yes, Papa?”
“I’m assigning this to you.”
“Carmine will help you,” Pop agrees, and I feel my back straighten.
“I don’t need to involve Nadia in this.”
“I’ve just involved her,” Igor says. “You’ve been playing house for weeks, and nothing has come of it so far. Let’s change tactics.”
My eyes move to Nadia’s, and right before me, the warmth I’ve seen in those blue orbs freezes.
“Did you honestly think I was in love with you?” She smirks. “Grow up, Carmine.”
I should have seen it. I should have known that she was double-crossing me. Maybe I did. Perhaps I ignored it.
I’m a fucking idiot.
“It’s decided,” Pop says. “You two will hunt down those responsible for what’s happened here today. And for my sister’s death.”
With the wave of a hand, we’re dismissed. Before Nadia can run away, I corner her and turn her to me.
“What?” She glares up at me.
“What was the end game?” I ask, my voice hard as stone.
“I didn’t have one. Yet.” Her gaze falls to where my hand rests on her arm. “I didn’t give you permission to touch me.”
I feel the smile slowly spread over my lips. “So, it’s true what they say? You’re nothing but an ice princess.”
She doesn’t even flinch. “And you’d do well to remember that. I don’t want your help with this.”
“You have it anyway.”
“I said?—”
“Do you think I give two fucks what you said?” I lean in to her. “We work together. Starting now. No more show. No more lies.”
“No more sex.”
I chuckle. “Darling, you couldn’t keep your hands off me if you tried.”
“Watch me.”