53. Alessia
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
ALESSIA
W e’re all sitting around the table at Astor’s parents’ house. We’re having dinner and River keeps making jokes, calling it the last dinner before doomsday .
“He’s expecting us to hit him first, he won’t expect us to go after his family. Or anyone other than him,” Mikhail says. I shove a piece of steak in my mouth and I feel a squeeze on my knee. I look down at Astor’s hand hovering over my knee.
“We’ll enter his house from the side, the roof, and the front fucking door. He’ll have nowhere to go,” Jay says, spreading a map over the table. He and Teagan took all day finding a blueprint of the house Javi has been staying in since he got here on our wedding day. Turns out, he flew in right after Astor and the boys left to come check on me. He’s been in on it the whole time and Astor is pissed. It’s not often that someone can psych him out. It’s not often that someone can out-think him. And I know it’s getting under his skin.
“Whatever you do, just bring him to me,” Astor says. He’s grinding his teeth when I nudge his shoulder.
“You’re going to give yourself a headache, baby. Eat and relax. You’re more worked up than I am,” I say, smirking. He raises his eyebrow, but shoves a piece of steak in his mouth. I lean in and whisper low enough for him to hear me, “Good boy.”
He practically chokes on his food and I tap his back before throwing my drink back to hide my laugh. He growls and yanks me by my nape. “I hope you enjoyed that, because it’ll never happen again.”
I giggle and Caroline leans in next to me. “Bitch, did you call him a good boy ?” I kick her under the table to keep her quiet.
“So, if we can’t go, then what are we supposed to do while y’all are all acting like GI Jane and Joe with their little minions?” Briar asks. I open my mouth to respond, but Teagan leans forward and glares at her before responding.
“You’re going to go to your friend’s to sit there and wait.”
My eyes grow big and I fight the smirk on my face.
“Again, Teagan, you are not the boss of me. Shut up.”
“You’re a goddamn brat.”
“Ok, you two. Honestly, you’d give everyone so much relief if you just fucked. If you need the table, we’ll leave. For bloody sakes,” River chimes and Mikhail grunts.
“Oh, everyone quiet. I think the big guy has something to say,” Tess teases. I freeze, because these two are so weird. You never know how he’ll respond, at all.
“You’re a goddamn brat, too. You might want to be quiet… princess .” Astor chuckles under his breath and I raise my eyebrow to him. This is a dinner that I truly could do every day. Despite the wrath I’m going to give tonight, I feel light. We’re laughing and joking, and I feel like I’m with the people that truly care about me.
“Well, keep playing your cards right and I’ll be your goddamn brat, big guy .” I can’t help it—I laugh. I laugh loudly . She winks at him and I shake my head.
God, I love these people.
“I’m glad this has been so entertaining for you all, but are we ready?” Astor asks.
I look at him and he kisses the side of hair. I’m about to ask him if we can sneak away before we go, but then the door swings open. I want to vomit when our parents walk through the door.
“I want to leave.”
“No. I’ve got you. Ok?” I roll my eyes, and the next thing I know, I’m grinding my teeth.
Damn it.
“Looks like I’ve rubbed off on you more than you’d like to admit, little devil.”
I smack his arm and he smirks.
“Shut up, you’re annoying.”
“Alessia.”
My head spins towards the sound of my father’s voice and I feel angry. I stand up and Astor, along with all of our friends, watch as I walk towards my father. I stop an arm’s length away. I look him straight in his face.
And walk past him.
As much as I wish I could talk to him, tonight is not the night to hash anything out with him. My mother stands behind him and I stop to kiss her on the cheek.
“Hi, Mama.”
“Be safe, figlia .” She hugs me tight and I walk out of the door, turning my head to the table as I look at Astor.
“I’ll be outside.” He nods his head and my girlfriends follow after me.
“You ok?” River says, hovering behind me.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”
“Are you going to ever talk to him again?”
“Yeah, but not tonight.”
“ Malyshka …” Astor says, approaching me. He wraps his arms around my waist and the rest of the men file out of the house.
“Ready?”
“I am. Are you?”
I look over myself and back at him. “Actually, I want to go home and change.”
“Meet you at the spot at midnight,” he tells the guys as he deposits me into the car.
I quickly change into all black. I figured it’d fit the occasion, someone is dying tonight. And I can’t wait. I can’t wait to put every single last one of them through what they put me through.
Knowing that I have the support from Astor helps me. It makes me feel more ready, like I can do anything. I was strong enough not to kill Anna when I really fucking wanted to. Now I’m going to test myself again to see if I’m strong enough to torture the fuck out of Javi and whoever else is there to try and protect his miserable fucking life.
“I got you something,” Astor says as I pull my black combat boots on. I look up at him and smirk.
“Oh yeah? What is it?” He pulls out a folded blade and tosses it to me. It’s smooth under my hand and I run my finger over the engravement on it.
Pavlov
“Nice touch, husband.” He pulls me to him and shoves his tongue in my mouth, his hand running over and gripping my ass tightly. I groan into his mouth and tuck his lip in my mouth before gently biting down.
“Ready to cause some ruins?” Oh baby, I am.