Chapter 23Ari
Chapter Twenty-Three
ARI
I'd arrived within seconds of getting off the phone with Anna, but I guess that'd been plenty of time for her to go missing. Her purse had been lying near the back door.
When I stepped outside into the alleyway, I found out why the two men I'd assigned to watch her weren't answering my calls. They'd each taken a single bullet and were facedown, dead.
I crouched next to one of the bodies, examining the precise shot placement. Professional hit. My jaw clenched as I scanned the alley, looking for anything out of place. That's when I spotted it -— a small, shiny object near a dumpster.
My heart raced as I cautiously approached. It was a cufflink, ornate and clearly expensive. My mind raced through possibilities. Michael? One of the Morettis? If they had her…
As I pocketed the cufflink, a soft snore caught my attention. Half-hidden behind the dumpster was a homeless man, curled up in a ratty sleeping bag. How had he slept through a kidnapping?
"Hey," I growled, nudging the sleeping bag with my foot. "Wake up."
The bundle of rags stirred, and a grizzled face emerged, bloodshot eyes blinking in confusion. "Wha...? Listen, mister, I ain't done nothin'..."
I crouched down, ignoring the stench of unwashed clothes and cheap liquor. "I'm not here about you," I said, forcing my voice to soften. "A woman was taken from here. Blonde hair, a little shorter than me. Did you see anything?"
The man's watery eyes darted around, not quite meeting mine. "I don't want no trouble..."
"You're not in trouble," I assured him, pulling out my wallet. "But if you saw something, anything at all, it could help save her life."
He licked his chapped lips, eyeing the bills in my hand. "Well... I was dozin', but then there was this noise. Like firecrackers, but not quite."
"Gunshots," I supplied grimly.
“Next thing I heard was this screechin'—tires, y'know? I peeked out and saw this big black car tearin' outta here." He pointed a grimy finger. "Went that way."
I pressed the money into his hand, more than I'd initially planned. "Thank you. You may have just saved her life."
As I stood to leave, he called out, "Hey, mister? I hope you find her."
I paused, surprised by the genuine concern in his voice. "Yeah," I said softly. "Me too."
I stood, my mind racing. A black SUV headed west. It wasn't much, but it was a start. At the end of the alley, I could see the fresh tire marks confirming the homeless man's story.
I made a series of calls—Dimitris, Thea, Lex, and then Lucas—as I jogged back to my car. "Focus the search west of the coffee shop," I ordered.
The cufflink in my pocket felt heavier now. A plant? A coincidence? Either way, I couldn't ignore any potential lead. Anna's life depended on it .
I slammed my car door shut and peeled out of the alley, tires squealing against the pavement. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel, my mind racing with thoughts that Anna could be somewhere scared and hurt or worse.
I was about to call Dimitris for an update when my phone rang. His name flashed on the screen, and I answered before the first ring ended.
“We’ve got her location,” Dimitris said.
“Where?”
“I’ll send you the address. Want us to wait for you?”
What if she was hurt? “No, if you think you can safely get her, do it.” I strode back through the coffee shop towards the front door. “I’m headed that way now.” I ended the call as I pressed the gas pedal harder.
As I drove, I contacted Ares and had him meet me there. I arrived ahead of him, and Dimitris met me as I strode toward the entrance of an abandoned pizza joint that wasn’t far from the Riverwalk.
“Lorenzo had her.”
I stopped short. “Lorenzo?”
He nodded. “ Yeah.”
“Is she okay?”
“Shaken, but she seems to be fine.”
The words were barely out of his mouth as I stepped inside. My gaze landed on Anna and then Lorenzo, restrained by two of Dimitris’s guys. I’d have a long talk with him once I was sure she was okay.
I returned my attention to her, and my chest tightened. She was sitting on the floor with her legs pulled up, arms wrapped around them, and her head resting on her knees.
I don’t know if she didn’t hear me approach or what but when I squatted next to her and touched her leg, she shrieked. The instant she realized it was me, she came off the floor and nearly tackled me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She continued to repeat it until a sob broke the pattern.
I circled my arms around her. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here.”
“I was?—”
“Shhhh.” I set my lips against her ear. “We have company. Let’s go to the limo and talk. Do you think you can walk?” My ribs were still healing, and as much as I wanted to carry her, I didn’t want to drop her, which was a good possibility if I attempted it .
Nodding, she let me help her to her feet.
“This isn't over, sweetheart. Trust me. It's not over." Dimitris stalked over to the guy and hit him hard enough that his head flew back. His knees buckled and the two men holding him let him crumple to the floor.
Anna tensed, her fingers digging into my arm.
“Take him to the warehouse. I'll take her home, and then meet you there," I said as I walked out with Anna.
My brother nodded and motioned to a couple of his guys. They’d have Lorenzo loaded up and waiting for me by the time I got Anna settled.
Ares held the door for us, and as soon as he shut it, she launched herself at me again. “I’m sorry. I should have told you I was meeting Papa.”
“I knew.”
She leaned back. “What?”
This had a good chance of backfiring on me. I steeled myself, knowing that her safety was worth more than her momentary happiness. “I had guards assigned to watch over you. I knew you were meeting him.”
Her lips puckered in a pout while her eyebrows knitted together. “I guess you trusted me about as much as I trusted you.”
“It wasn’t about trust. Your father is in a feud with your brother. You may not want to be in the middle of it, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t bring you into it. I wanted to make sure you were safe. After the first couple of times you met with him, I assigned men to make sure you were protected. Lorenzo had them murdered. That’s the only reason he got close enough to take you, and for that I’m sorry.”
With a heavy sigh, her shoulders rounded. “I should be grateful, I guess. I still don’t like that you didn’t tell me, but I guess that goes both ways. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about meeting Papa.”
Rubbing her back, I replied softly, “It’s okay. Tell me what happened.”
Her lips turned down in a deep frown. “Lorenzo held me at gunpoint. I didn’t want to go, but there was a toddler in the shop and he said he’d kill her.”
“He would have, so you did the right thing.”
“He said I’d been promised to one of the Morettis by my papa, but that Jason had stepped in. He said his family was taking what was theirs.”
Still no answer as to who she was promised to. Gabriele, maybe ?
“He said he was going to force me to marry. That I’d do it on my own or they’d drug me.”
This was Lorenzo’s last day on earth. That he would even suggest doing something like that was repulsive.
“I’m sorry. That had to be scary.”
Anna's fingers twisted in her lap. "Do you think... do you think Papa would have really given me to one of them?"
Shrugging, I replied, “Maybe. If he thought a union would strengthen your family, which it would have.”
Anna wrapped her arms around herself, a shudder running through her body. "I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
My heart clenched. "The wedding," I said, the words tasting like ash. "If you need time, or if you want to... to call it off... I'd understand."
She scoffed. “No, I don’t want to postpone it.” Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, she took a deep breath. “Papa said he wasn’t coming and that I didn’t have his blessing.” She looked at me. “If Lorenzo is telling the truth, then how could Papa have been so hypocritical? I wouldn’t have wanted to marry that man.”
“You didn’t want to marry me,” I quipped.
“That was before I found out you were a good man.” She chewed her lip. “Lorenzo isn’t.”
A good man. “Anna, you need to understand who you’re marrying.”
Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not..." I swallowed hard. "I'm not a good man."
"Ari, that's not?—"
I held up a hand, silencing her. "Please, let me finish. You deserve to know the truth."
Anna hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"Remember that night I left you at the condo?" I asked, my voice low.
"The night of the ambush?" Her eyes widened. "Ari, you don't have to?—"
"I do." I met her gaze, unflinching. "It wasn't just an ambush. It was the start of something... darker."
I told her everything—the girl at the club, the corrupt officials, the blood on my hands. With each word, I waited for her to recoil, to see me for the monster I was. But she just listened, her expression unreadable.
When I finished, the silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating .
Finally, Anna spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you telling me this now?"
I let out a heavy sigh. "Because you deserve the truth. The things I've done... they're a part of me. And they always will be."
“Oh, Ari.”
Continuing, I said, “There’s a reason we need a new police chief and mayor. I killed them. I found the mayor in his home, dragged him out, and broke his neck. The police chief got word that I was doing a cleansing. The chief along with the men who’d attended those parties with him led me to a warehouse where they ambushed me. If my brothers and Thea hadn’t shown up…”
I paused a beat and continued. ”Three years ago, I thought I’d weeded out these predators—the kind that killed my baby sister, Gianna, but I’d let some go. They’d lied to me, but at the time, I didn’t have the proof I have now. When I returned to the club, I found labeled tapes. The only remorse I have is that I let them live three years longer than they should have.”
Bringing my gaze back to hers, I said, “I’m a killer, Anna, and I can’t promise I won’t do it again. So, when I tell you I’m not a good man, that’s what I mean. I’m not.”
“Ari…” she said and moved until she could look me in the eyes. “By whose standards? Ours or the world’s?”
“Yours. I only care about yours.”
Her lips touched mine. “There are women and children who will never have to worry about their attackers ever again because of you. They were powerful men. How many of those monsters would have never seen justice? How many would have beat the system?” She pressed her lips to mine again. “You’re the best man in the world to me.”
Anna ran her nose along my jaw. When she reached my neck, she pressed her lips against my skin and held them there. “My opinion of you hasn’t changed. You’re mine.” She nipped at my skin again.
The nips turned into her teeth skating across my skin, her tongue darting out to taste it. I think she could have asked me to jump off a bridge and there wouldn’t have been enough blood in my brain to keep me from plummeting.
When her lips reached mine, she hovered millimeters above, our breaths mingling, driving me crazy. Every time I tried to connect with hers, she’d move out of reach. I moved wrong and couldn’t catch myself in time to stop the grunt.
Everything stopped. She caressed my face with her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Worth it.” I chuckled.
Anna pulled away, her eyes locking with mine. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine now.” She smiled. “Take care of Lorenzo. I’m going home and getting cleaned up. I’ll have dinner ready by the time you arrive, and once we’ve eaten, you’re going to hold me tight and kiss me until my lips are raw. Am I clear?”
The vision of that had me debating which was more important. I worked my jaw. I needed to find out what Michael was planning. “I’ll try not to take too long,” I said as I opened the car door and stepped out.
“I’ll see you at home.” She winked as she shut the door.
Home. She’d made my house a home, and when I got there, I’d see her smiling face, wrap my arms around that body, and kiss those sweet lips .
I was hers.
Playtime was over. The second Dimitris saw me, he knew I needed some space with our guest. My brother wouldn’t go far, but I’d be alone with Lorenzo for as long as I needed to be.
I didn’t even pause as I reached Lorenzo, swinging hard. My fist connected with his jaw, nearly knocking him and the chair over.
He spat blood on my shoes and smiled. “You should go ahead and kill me. I’m not talking.”
“No, this isn’t about getting information out of you. This is about you taking my girl at gunpoint. I have no intention of making it quick,” I growled as I swung again.
“And I’d do it again, Kalantzis.” He bared his teeth at me.
“As Marco’s consigliere, you’d think your sense of self-preservation would be stronger, but I guess you’re not that bright,” I said and gave two swift punches to the side of his face.
He laughed, and I lost my temper. When I took a break, his entire head was a giant bruise, and he was missing teeth. I knew because I sliced my knuckle on one as I knocked it out. Hearing loss was a good possibility too. I’d restrained myself though. I didn’t want him dead. I wanted him properly educated about my belongings.
Somehow, he managed to stay conscious, which admittedly, I found impressive. Stamina. Not a lot of guys had that these days. There’d only been one other time I’d dealt with a Moretti, and he’d represented poorly.
Lorenzo labored to breathe as he tried to right himself. His impersonation of a bobblehead was on point. His head dropped back with a groan.
I pulled a chair closer, took a seat, and set my ankle over my knee. “I’ve already guessed that Michael Georgiou was building an alliance with Benoit and Moretti. I also know about Jason and Michael. The coup.”
A slow, rattling breath. “Your train’s on the right track…but your conductor is a moron.”
“I’m not the one tied up and beaten to a bloody pulp.”
“You will be. I’ll make sure they keep you alive too. That way when I recover, I can repay your kindness.” Recover. That was a good joke. It implied he was walking out of here.
“You killed the chief and the mayor and all those cops.”
“I have videotapes of them with children. Including Marco.”
Yeah, I’d kept that spicy piece of information to myself from everyone until I’d confided in Anna. It’d been buried in Franklin’s office. I’d been suspicious of Gabriele from the beginning. Being beaten up and shot didn’t mean that it hadn’t been coordinated with Marco to set my family up.
“Marco owns this city. He’ll never see the inside of a court.”
I was calculated in what I said next. I wanted to see Lorenzo’s reaction. “I doubt he would since Gabriele is hunting him down for molesting his granddaughter.”
Nothing. Not a flinch, twitch, or tell. If nothing else, I had to respect the discipline it took to pull that off. “Marco’s got plenty of people around to keep him safe. He doesn’t need to worry about his brother.”
“Wouldn’t Gabriele know the typical hideouts? I would think that’d make things tricky.”
Lorenzo glared at me.
“Who was Anna promised to? Marco?”
He continued to hold my gaze.
My frustration climbed. “I guess Michael and Jason had it all planned out?” I threw Jason in there because I wanted Lorenzo to think I was suspicious of both.
Just a glare.
That smug face. I wanted to beat the information out of him, but I knew that wouldn’t work. As much as I wanted him dead, I knew he had the information I wanted. Possibly needed. I’d let him marinate for a while and try again.
“Dimitris!”
As he returned, he flicked his gaze to Lorenzo then back to me. “Anything?”
“Throw him in a cell, keep him alive, and guarded. Maybe he’ll be a little more talkative in a couple of days.” After my honeymoon. Two weeks would be a good length of time to be locked in a cell by himself. Solitary confinement had a way of loosening a person’s tongue. “I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
As I walked out of the warehouse, I set the whole situation on the back burner. I was getting married tomorrow, and I wasn’t letting the Morettis steal that from me or Anna.