Chapter 17 #2
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, boy. I won’t let you marry my niece,” Mario threatens. Stacey screeches, ‘No!” finally joining the conversation.
Tristan turns and scoffs, laughing darkly. “Like I give a fuck. I never wanted to marry the bitch anyway.”
Gregor’s eyes narrow, and he opens his mouth to respond, but Mario beats him to it.
“If you want that little slut in one piece, then you will do exactly what I tell you to. If you don’t, I’ll give her to the guys to console them after they are bailed out.” He points at Vienna, who sniffles and blanches, shaking her head.
Tristan’s shoulders sag, and Mario knows he won. Tristan won’t do anything to jeopardize Vienna’s safety. He still has them by the short and curlies.
“Now get out of my sight. I don’t want to see any of you today until that drug supply has been secured. If you return without it, I will make you all pay,” he threatens, and I wince.
Fuck, we do have an upstate warehouse for our drugs, but that wasn’t what I planned for the day. I can work around it though. It’s mainly another warehouse of weed, but I’m pretty sure there are pills and coke stored there too. I’ll have to ask Sage when I see him.
I stand up. “I’ll call the pilot,” I tell him, reaching for my phone, and Mario’s eyes narrow on me.
“Make sure he doesn’t disappear again. I want full access to the helicopter. Have him stay in one of the cottages behind the mansion, same with the jet pilots. Have them move there too. I promised Stacey she could use it to take her honeymoon in Bora Bora.”
Stacey smirks at me, looking pretty pleased with herself.
I wince but readily agree. Our guys are trained professionals. They’ve been with the family for a long time and will be able to take care of themselves. Mario won’t risk losing access to those perks either, so they should be fairly safe from his wrath.
I head out of the dining room, eager to escape all the drama and tension. I’m the only one who is not stressed the fuck out, but then I know the truth, and I need to wait a little longer to share it with the others.
I hear the others trail out after me, but before any of them can question me, Dan picks up.
I give him instructions to bring the helicopter to the estate and pick us up, but I don’t give him the location over the phone in case anyone is listening.
I’m taking the others to the cabin. It’s about time they are reunited as a family and everything is placed on the table.
We have two days to get everything organized before the stupid wedding, and we can’t afford to miss any important details.
He replies, telling me he’ll be here in about an hour. Now I just need to hold the others off until he gets here. I head in the direction of my room. If I can lock myself in it, hopefully I can avoid any difficult questions before we are someplace where we can’t be overheard.
“Tori,” Colton calls, but I put on a burst of speed and hurry upstairs.
The sounds of someone running behind me has me picking up the pace, but I’m not fast enough, and just as I make the landing of my floor, a hand grabs my arms, and fingernails dig in as Vienna pulls me to a stop, getting in my face.
“What did you do?” she hisses, and I feel a small sliver of hurt. I mean, she’s not wrong, but she could give me the benefit of the doubt. I guess neither of us have given each other a reason to.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” I snarl, knowing we’re being monitored, but she’s obviously forgotten in her grief. “I didn’t do anything. I’ve been here the whole time, and Colton told Mario my phone is clean.”
She scoffs. “Please, I know about the…” She trails off as the boys reach us, and Colton gives her a quick shake of his head.
“Vienna, honey, your grief is making you irrational,” Xavier says carefully, and she glares at him with hatred.
“You’ve shown your true colors, haven’t you? One little taste of her pussy, and you forget about the rest of us,” she says viciously, waving her hands around dramatically.
Colton murmurs soothing words to her and gathers her in his arms, but she pushes him away.
“No, just no.” Her last word comes out on a sob, and she turns and runs to her room, pushing the door open and slamming it closed behind her.
“Fuck,” Colton mutters and runs his hand through his hair.
“She isn’t wrong. Neither of you seem to give a fuck about Addison.
They could be doing who knows what to her,” Tristan says through gritted teeth, and I put a blank expression on my face, but obviously not quickly enough.
His eyes narrow in suspicion as he looks between the rest of us.
“Oh, I see how it is. Care to share with the class?” he murmurs quietly, anger in his tone.
“Not here,” Xavier snaps, shaking his head.
“I’ll tell you everything when we get where we’re going,” I promise quietly, hoping nobody picks it up. “But you need to continue to be devastated. Leave Vienna be for now. She’s understandably upset.”
Tristan shakes his head. “I’m not sure she will ever forgive any of you for this,” he says and follows her into her room.
“He’s wrong,” Colton assures me. “She will, and she will grovel at your feet in gratitude.”
I wince. “Well, I hope you all feel that way when I tell you everything. Be on the back lawn in an hour.”
Xavier tries to reach for my hand, but I snatch it away.
“I can’t at the moment. Just go make sure she’s okay.
” Before they can reply, I slip into my room and turn the lock.
Taking a deep breath, I smother the sob that wants to leave my mouth.
I know I have a reputation, but for her to think I would do something like that to an innocent hurts.
I was hoping she would at least give me the benefit of the doubt, but I guess she’s suffered too much trauma to see past it to what is right in front of her. I don’t blame her, but it still stings.
Looking around my room, I feel kind of lost. My eyes prickle with emotions, but I don’t have time for a pity party.
Instead, I find the burner phone from last night and send Mickey a message, advising him of our impending arrival.
I only hope that by the end of the day, we’re not still at odds with each other.
I’m going to need everyone’s help to take down the Maricusos.