Chapter 50
CHAPTER 50
C aught off Guard
Michael
I’m exhausted. For the last week, Sim and I have been on call after call with Don Trovati. It is time. We were scheduled to leave for Italy next week. That was before Sammy and Monique were targeted.
Now, everything is being moved up. Collectively, the dons are making moves and handing over promotions. LaSalle was already in the process. That was the reason for our upcoming trip. We were to follow.
Now it will be simultaneous. The Alliance will be established and revealed to the world. All the planning and chess moves are to be revealed.
“Why do you think Mo was so upset about Sammy’s training? He is proficient and it’s helping him,” Sim says as we ride from the airport to our home in Italy.
Many of the others went to stay at the Mairettie family residence. While I know my brother is there for meetings, I’m tired and need my bed. We can get to business later after I’ve had some rest.
“He is three. I can understand her concern,” I reply.
My phone rings and I groan. The answer is no. I’m not doing anything else at this hour. We are not turning this car around to head anywhere, I’m not taking a life. The only thing I plan on doing at this hour is getting in my bed.
“Hello,” I snap into the phone.
“Boss, we have a problem.”
“What kind of problem, Adriano?” I huff tiredly.
My brain is barely functioning to allow me to force my eyes to remain open. If the problem doesn’t require me to approve someone else doing the work, I’m not going to be of any use.
“Men came here for Julissa, but they weren’t here for her. Somehow, they believe she is Symphony. They were here to kill Sim,” he says.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I seethe.
“They had Brazilian accents. The man they called was Italian. He mentioned wanting you and your wife dead. He also said something about the Locatellis.”
“When did this happen?”
“About six hours ago. I have already moved to the safe house. Her apartment was compromised. We couldn’t stay there any longer.”
“Thank you, Adriano. I will get back to you with new instructions in a few hours.”
“I would like to come to Italy. Symphony is in danger.”
“I need you there with Julissa. I will take care of my wife. She is safe with me,” I bite out.
“Boss, with all respect. I know Sim better than anyone else. I have been in gunfights with her.
“I know how she thinks. If she were in danger, I would be an asset.”
“I will call you with your next instructions.”
Without another word, I hang up. Before I turn my gaze on Sim, I can feel the energy has shifted within the vehicle. When I lock eyes with her, hers are burning with anger.
“This is not what you think. Julissa felt like someone was following her. I sent Adriano to stay with her to make sure things were?—”
“For two months … this is where he has been for two months? Do I look stupid to you?” She throws her hands up. “No, do not answer that. Your actions already have. You don’t respect me.
“I told you I would not have this. I will not share you with another. You gave her my bodyguard? My friend. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Symphony,” I bark.
I know she’s upset, but she’s never talked to me like this, and I won’t allow it to begin now. The fact of the matter is someone sent killers after who they thought was my wife.
That’s the fact that’s ringing loudest in my tired brain. Not someone; this was Leonardo. I know that without a doubt. He’s the only Italian stupid enough to set something like this in motion.
“You are not and never have had to share me with anyone. She needed help. She’s not like you; she can’t protect herself and she doesn’t have me. I sent Adriano to help her.
“At no point have I been to see her or involved in her life. This is the first time since the first week I sent him to be with her that Adriano has reported anything about her to me. I told him he should only call if there was danger.
“My mind has been on so many other things, on us. I haven’t had the time to pull him from watching over her. It slipped my mind.”
“Right, it slipped your mind because I haven’t been asking after him. Do you love her?”
“No.”
“Am I going to have to kill her?”
“Sim, she is nothing for you to worry about. I was messed up after you left without a word. I needed someone to talk to.
“She was a friend. Yes, I tried to date her, but that didn’t work out because I was and have always been in love with you. I have always wanted you.
“The only reason I even thought about trying to move on was because I thought I hurt you and we couldn’t move forward. I just didn’t know what I did or how to fix it?—”
“So you give her my bodyguard?”
“Yes,” I bellow. “Because I hate him. I hate the way he looks at you. I hate that he has been with you all this time while I have ached to be near you.
“I wanted him out of my face. I was tired of watching him look at you, so I sent him away. Now I’m happy I did. She could be dead, and I wouldn’t have known it was because someone was looking for you.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“You don’t have to talk, but I need you to listen. You are the most important person in the world to me. Everything I do is for you.
“If I had to choose between you and her, it would be you every time. I’m sorry I have hurt you. I never meant for that to happen.
“I was trying to help a friend who helped me find my way back to you. I was dying without you. Nothing in my world made sense.
“What was the point in all of this if I couldn’t have you? It started with me wanting to protect you, but over the years, you began to squirrel your way into my heart. I thought I had hurt you and I ended up in a dark place because of it.”
“I hear your words, but they do not fix your actions. You knew how I felt. You should have told me.”
“I should have.”
Symphony
Right now, I am so mad at myself. I trusted Michael to be honest with me. I thought we had become partners.
If he doesn’t care about her, why would he help her and send her my bodyguard? If he is jealous of Adriano, who is my friend, how does he think this makes me feel?
I huff and punch the bed. How can he snore like this when I’m so upset and can’t get my thoughts to settle? I want to beat him over his head in his sleep.
Before I do something silly, I get up and climb from the bed. I need some space. My feelings are jumbled and wrapped in anger.
I look at my holster, but I’m too angry to touch it. I can’t be sure that I won’t pull a pistol and fire it. At the moment, I want to shoot him right in his butt.
“Stupid husband. Stinking liar,” I grumble as I turn to leave the room.
I stomp my way through the house. It feels so empty without all the guards that are usually here. Since we left with the family, our men are all coming in tomorrow.
I’m not used to this type of silence. Walking to the sunroom, I decide I want to play to fill in the quiet. It isn’t until I get there that I remember my piano is now in New York.
Buttface had it sent there. What does he expect me to play while I’m here? Does he give that woman gifts?
Why did he have to send Adriano to guard her? If something happens to my friend while he’s with that woman, I’ll never forgive Michael. Adriano should be here—with me.
“Ugh, why can’t I stop thinking about this?” I huff as I make my way to the kitchen.
I go to the refrigerator to find something to snack on. Maybe I can eat my feelings away. I think of calling Adriano to ask him about that woman and what’s been going on, but I realize I left my phone in the bedroom.
Glancing toward the garage door, I think about going for a drive. I snicker to myself and shake the thought off. I can barely drive in America.
My laughter is cut short as my ponytail is grabbed from behind. The person drags me back a few steps and I’m taken by surprise. I drop the plastic container of fruit to the floor and spin.
When I face my attacker, I grab his wrist with both hands and drop back onto my butt. He still has his hand wrapped around my hair, but not for long. I drive my feet into his hips and push.
When that doesn’t free my hair, I take my right foot and kick him in the face with all my might. I keep kicking until he releases my hair and stumbles back. Once I’m free, I leap to my feet and pounce, knocking him to the floor.
Blow after blow, I hit him in the face with my forearm until my body is jolted with blinding pain. I stiffen and begin to convulse. Then everything goes black.
Julissa
I wait for five minutes after Adriano leaves to get us something to eat. As much as I wanted to take a nap, sleep wouldn’t come. When Adriano said he was going for food, I realized this was my chance.
If I’m going to make a run for it, it’s now or never. This way, I won’t be a burden to anyone. I can figure out what’s next for me.
The one thing I do know is that I’m done with men until I heal myself. I deserve to find a man who loves me the way Michael loves his wife. Every time he talked about her, there was this look in his eyes.
I should have known I never stood a chance, but I had hoped. Michael is so attractive and has this presence about him. I had wanted to wrap myself in that.
Maybe that’s just it. I’m picking the wrong men. Perhaps if I stop looking for powerful men, I’ll have more success in a lasting relationship that’s healthy and good for me. I sigh and shake my thoughts off.
With my backpack on my back, I open the door to the apartment, ready to restart my life. However, as I open the door, the blonde woman from the elevator is standing on the other side with her bundle of joy in her arms. A nagging feeling settles in the back of my head.
This woman looks familiar in some way. Something about her eyes and coloring. I go to ask her if she needs help with something, but she lifts what I thought was a baby and I’m suddenly staring down the barrel of a gun.
“Oh my?—”