Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Caleb
“ W as it sore?” Gia asks, pointedly staring at my groin.
“Is this the way it’s going to be from now on?” I ask, glaring at my brother as we duck behind the wall of the apartment building the girls live in. “You blabbing my private business to your girl every time I confide something in you?”
“ Fiancée .” Gia thrusts her hand in my face, and her glistening engagement ring almost blinds me. Joshua bought her the biggest diamond even though he knows Gia would have been equally as thrilled with a much smaller ring. The ring I chose for Lili is more subtle but no less stunning.
“I know,” I drawl, squinting as the door to the building opens. “You never stop shoving that thing in everyone’s faces.”
“It’s just so pretty,” she purrs. Her arms go around my brother’s neck, and I roll my eyes. Here we go again. They have been all over one another since they got engaged. “I’m the luckiest girl alive. I love you, Joshua. So, so much.” Predictably, his lips claim hers, and I heave a sigh as the three girls who emerge from the building aren’t the three girls we’re here for.
Panting and moaning ensues as they devour one another, and I’ve had enough. Slapping the back of Joshua’s head, I hiss, “Quit that shit. All the slobbering makes me want to puke.”
“Jealous much, Caleb?” Gia preens while draping herself all over my brother, sporting full lips that are now swollen and glossy.
I flip her the bird.
“Did you really do it for Lili?” she asks, all hint of humor gone from her expression in a nanosecond.
“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth, sending a fresh glare my brother’s way. We need to have a conversation about privacy. Not that I really mind. Gia is already like a sister to me, and we bicker and bitch like real siblings. It’s hard not to like her. She’s spunky, smart, and brave, and she makes my brother so incredibly happy. She’s got a fan for life in me for that reason alone.
“She doesn’t even know though, does she?”
I shake my head as the door opens again, illuminating the lone man exiting the building.
“Why did you get a vasectomy in the first place?” she inquires, genuine curiosity splaying across her face.
“I’m not fully sure,” I admit. “I thought it was because I never wanted kids, but now I realize that isn’t entirely true.”
“You didn’t want to risk having kids with anyone else,” Gia says, proving her observation and analytical skills are not lacking.
“I didn’t consciously decide that, but yes, that’s what it boils down to.”
“And now that you’ve finally taken your head from your ass and realized Lili is the one for you, you want to have kids with her,” she adds.
“You could be a therapist if this new role doesn’t work out for you,” I tease, glancing at the time on my watch and wondering if we should call it a night. It’s Thursday, and the PI I hired via Ben’s security firm to shadow Gwyneth and her friends said they have a regular Thursday night club date, but maybe we picked the one Thursday they have decided to stay home.
“I like my promotion, and I’ve got zero desire to listen to other people’s problems.”
“I like it too,” J agrees. “I won’t worry now you’re largely office based.”
Gia decided she didn’t want any more field roles after the shit that went down last year. But she’s a shrewd informant, so Massimo promoted her to team manager, overseeing the intel-gathering division. She will work closely with Philip, Don Mazzone’s IT guy, and together the two teams plan to improve the intelligence available to support our work. Presently, she’s working with Joshua reviewing all our bio dad’s files to identify what old man Greco was looking for.
The door swings open, revealing three women who are unfortunately familiar to me. Finally. It feels like I’ve been plotting to take these bitches down forever. “Showtime.” Rubbing my hands with glee, I summon patience as we wait for the women to walk by our hiding spot.
When they appear, we spring into action grabbing one each and jabbing them in the neck with the diphenhydramine sleeping aid. They go down quickly and quietly with the element of surprise, and Vittus opens the side door of the van, allowing us to toss them inside.
“The others should be here shortly,” I tell Vittus and Giulio ninety minutes later when the unconscious girls are each secured to chairs in one of the interrogation cells of the bunker. We dropped Gia and Joshua off at Elisa’s place on the way. I want Lili here to witness this, but I’m unsure if she’ll appreciate the gesture or not. I had thought of not including her and telling her after the fact, but I won’t hide this part of myself from her. If we stand any chance of a future together, she needs to understand what it truly means to love a man like me.
That’s a big if though. She’s still dating Sebastien , she still hasn’t unblocked my cell, and she is now refusing my flower and gift deliveries, so I’m trying to think outside the box.
Mom told me Elisa is going to form an official graphic design business when she graduates in a few weeks. I’m not surprised. She’s so talented, and she’s already got a decent side business. It shouldn’t take much to expand it into a full-fledged full-time company. Maybe I can help with that. My brain churns ideas as my cell pings with an incoming call.
It's the doofus new guard from our building. “Accardi,” I answer, picking at a nonexistent thread on my shirt as I listen to his boring monotone. “I don’t want them in my place. Get them to leave it in the lobby. I’ll send a few men down to take care of it.”
“Problems?” Giulio asks when I hang up.
“Nah.” I tap out a message on my cell. “My new bed just arrived.”
“What happened?” Vittus grins. “You break the old one?”
“Nope.” I repocket my cell after directing a couple of soldati who live on the floor below mine to take care of it. “The old one had to go.”
Our underboss and consigliere stare at me expectantly, waiting for me to elaborate, but I’m offering nothing.
A muffled moan claims all our attention as we watch the redhead slowly come to. With perfect timing, the door creaks open behind us and Gia, Joshua, and a scowling Lili step into the room. I breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of her. I was a little concerned Gia wouldn’t be able to convince her to come.
Her eyes widen, and her mouth forms an O when she spots the three women tied to chairs in the dank, dirty cell. Tears are leaking from the redhead’s eyes as she frantically looks around the room, panicking behind the tape covering her mouth.
“Oh my god,” Elisa whispers before clamping a hand over her chest.
I get up and walk toward her, trying to ignore how my heart is jumping somersaults in my chest. I’m like an addict in need of a fix any time I see Elisa these days. I miss her so fucking much. Not getting to see her or talk to her is akin to missing a limb. I had taken her presence in my life for granted, but never again. If I’m lucky enough to convince her to take a chance on me, I will cherish every second we spend together.
“Thanks for coming.” I step right in front of her, blocking her view of the three girls who have made her life hell. From what Gia has said, the pixie-haired bitch was the main instigator, but the other two have joined in on occasion, so they are far from blameless.
I’m going to enjoy ripping their lives to shreds.
Right about now, our guys should be planting the drug evidence in their apartment. It’s enough to have them sent down for at least a couple of years once the call goes out to our police and judicial contacts. They’ll ensure they are arrested and sent down for the crimes.
“What is this, Caleb?” Lili asks, her expression a confusing mix of conflicting emotions.
“Payback, angel. It’s time these girls got what’s coming to them, and I wanted you to see this.”
Her eyes drift over my shoulder as additional muffled moaning confirms the other two are now awake.
“This is wrong,” she whispers, chewing on the corner of her mouth.
“Is it?”
She continues nibbling on her lips. “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“This is about doling out justice, pure and simple.” I place my hands on her shoulders, peering deep into her troubled eyes. “They have tormented you for years, and the bitches targeted me to deliberately hurt you. They also recorded me without permission.” Not that I’d have ever given it. I’m usually more careful, but I’d been high as a kite that night and clearly not thinking straight.
“They have this coming,” I add. “I should kill them, but I’m letting them live. Their punishment will be payment enough.” I can’t resist brushing my fingers along her soft cheek. Her skin is so smooth under my fingertips, and I wonder if the rest of her feels the same. My dick jerks behind my zipper, and I caution it to calm down because this isn’t the time or place.
I haven’t been with any woman in months, and my dick is growing tired of my hand. But I’ll just have to get used to it because I’m serious about proving to Lili I’m a changed man. I had no shortage of offers at the party on Saturday, and I easily and happily turned every one down.
The only woman I want is the one woman who wants nothing to do with me.
How’s that for irony?
“Caleb?” Elisa snaps me out of my head, and I realize I’ve just been caressing her face and staring at her like a loon.
“I wanted you to be here, but if it’s too much, you can leave. I won’t force you.”
Something indecipherable crosses over her face, but it’s gone just as fast. She moves back, out of my reach. “I want to stay. I want to bear witness to whatever you have planned.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Caleb,” she grits out a warning. “That’s a surefire way to make me leave.”
“I’m sorry,” I lie, moving my mouth to her ear. “I love you, Lili.” I straighten up and turn around, not waiting to see her reaction.