11. Domenico
Chapter 11
Domenico
T he house is quiet when I get back. It’s not unheard of for my folks to leave and I’ll have the mansion to myself, but right now, all I can think of is her. I managed to get away from that bastard Vitale before he and his soldiers found me. But I saw how he treated Lelia. I’m not happy about it.
I shouldn’t feel so protective of her, but I can’t help it. She’s going to marry into a family that is known for their torture methods. The man in question is the devil himself. I can’t imagine what he would want such a young wife for. Actually, I can, but I don’t want to.
The thought of her with him, his hands on her, sends me into a blind rage. It shouldn’t be like that, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it now. She’s under my fucking skin. The scent of her perfume is still on me when I reach my bedroom.
I’ve decided what I’m going to do. My father gave me a choice this morning, and I told him I needed time to think about it. But after my meeting with Lelia, I know what I’m going to do. At first, I was against it, and I still am. However, I know my father. He wants power over the city, over every aspect of the underground world we rule. And I want to give him that.
It may be selfish.
It is.
But the solution is simple and when I explain it to him, he’ll see it too. One thing my father enjoys is a good bloodbath, and I intend on giving him just that. I make my way to the desk that sits against one wall in my bedroom and I fire up the computer.
I spend my time researching the Mosca clan. We have access to records that most people think are sealed, thanks to our resident hacker, Gian. He’s good with computers, and when I find the information I need, I smile. Mosca has never met me. He’s never seen me. I can become a ghost to the world. Reborn.
My father cannot deny me this.
The plan is foolproof, and I’ll be right there with Lelia. She won’t be in danger because I’ll be the one who saves her from a life of servitude. I dig into the Vitale family as well. Her father’s email is easy to hack. The imbecile doesn’t know how to use password protection.
I scroll through conversations with the Moscas, until I find the most recent one that was sent just this morning. I click on it after the subject line sets me on edge.
The Final Agreement
As I scan the message, my blood runs cold. I’m turned to ice when I realize I have to act quickly. None of these bastards know what I look like, which is my advantage. I don’t think twice about my next move.
I’m on my feet, heading out the door. I should run this by my father, but it’s going to be too late. I’m in the car and out on the road as I ponder how this could go. If I can get it right, I’ll be in the perfect position to take down one of the most violent crime families in the world. If it doesn’t, my father will be burying his son sooner than he thinks.
My phone rings in my pocket, but I ignore it. There’s no time to waste, and if it is Dad, then he’ll only want to know what I’m doing. I can’t let him know, not yet. Once I land this position, I’ll ensure the safety of the girl who’s stolen my whole fucking world from me.
She’s the enemy.
She should not be on my mind, least of all in my dirty thoughts. I should be planning to go there and murder her, but I can’t. I cannot bring myself to hurt her. Or allow anyone else to harm her.
When I pull up to the large ornate gates that have the Mosca clan symbol emblazoned on them, I come to a stop and wait for the security to reach my window.
“ Ciao, che cosa vuoi? ” he greets me, asking what I want. His narrowed gaze takes me in, slow and steady. I’m a stranger, and he should be wary.
“ Salve, sono qui per vedere signor Mosca,” I tell him with a smile that I’m here to see his Boss, hoping it comes across as friendly.
“ Qualé il tuo nome? ” He asks for my name, and I have to think quickly. I didn’t consider this when I got in the car. I’m running into this without a solid plan because the girl I want, the girl who kisses like a sinful angel, has fucked with my head.
“Guzzi. Diego Guzzi. For the job of bodyguard,” I tell him, this time in English. When I saw the email Mosca sent to Aldo, I knew it was my only in. I have to land this fucking job. My father is probably going to kill me for doing this without his knowledge or agreement. But I can’t turn back now.
The security nods, then opens the gate, and I make my way into enemy territory. And I know that I’m in it for the long haul. Either I’ll leave here tonight with a job, or I’ll leave in a body bag. But one thing I know for sure is that I have to try.
When I come to a stop outside the door, one of the guards comes out to greet and lead me through the entrance into the house of the Moscas. It’s elaborate. Everything I imagined it to be.
I’m escorted through the house, into a large room that has been furnished with deep red, gold ornate furniture. The art that hangs on the walls is of those passed, the ancestors. Every inch of the room screams of overindulgence.
And then he walks in.
“Diego Guzzi.” His voice is a rasp of intrigue. I’ve heard of the Guzzi family, not part of any clan; they run on their own. It’s as if they don’t care that familia is what makes us great.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Mosca,” I tell him. I know my plan may be fucked if any of the Vitale walk in, but for Lelia, I’m taking a chance. She’s well and truly fucked me over because I want her. And I won’t stop until she’s mine.
“I hear you’re here for a job interview,” he remarks as he settles into an armchair that looks much more like a throne. Perhaps it’s his way of showing me he’s in charge. I won’t argue with that, not when I’m alone in his home, in his territory.
“I am,” I tell him as I settle on a chair that faces him. “I have the experience. I know this life better than most. And I’ll kill to keep a woman safe.” There is no lie in my words, and I can feel his watchful gaze assessing me.
“My new wife is young,” he informs me. “I want her watched twenty-four seven.” My blood boils at his statement, but I school my features and nod. “She’s fiery, and the only reason I’ve chosen her is because one day, she’ll gift me enough heirs to take over the Mosca Dynasty.”
Jealousy surges through me. Even though I know Lelia doesn’t want this bastard, I can’t help but feel anxious knowing his plan for her.
“She’s got a good bloodline, and there will be men lining up to steal her from me.” He doesn’t realize one of them is sitting across from him. “But I have signed the contract. Her father has confirmed I’ll get her in two weeks once she turns eighteen.”
“Very young,” I throw out, unable to stop myself, but the asshole thinks I’m impressed and chuckles haughtily. His fat fingers lace together.
“It’s how I like them,” he says, and my gaze burns right through him. Just then, two young women walk into the room carrying a tray each. One with drinks and the other with cigars. They set these down on the table between us and stop, waiting for their orders from Mosca.
“These are two I acquired not so long ago,” he murmurs, his hand tracing one of the girls’ arms, then he takes her hand and tugs. She falls into his lap. His show of dominance in this room is stifling.
The grimace on the girl’s face is apparent. She can’t be more than eighteen. There is no way. Bile surges up to my mouth, the burn of acid causing me to clench my fists. But he doesn’t notice because he’s far too enthralled by the pretty girl.
“If you work for me, you are loyal to the clan. I know your Guzzi name is nothing more than a front because your family are cowards.”
I grit my teeth. It feels like a personal attack, but I have to remind myself that he thinks I’m someone else. I nod to appease him. “I’m not like them,” I tell him. “I was born into the wrong bloodline,” I continue, hoping he’ll see the ruse for what it is.
He does laugh. The sound is throaty, as if he’s had far too much alcohol already. And it’s only three in the afternoon. I want to leave now. I need to know that the next time I walk into this house, I’m part of the clan.
“We leave for Italy the moment she arrives,” he says, shocking me. I wasn’t expecting him to take her away, but it makes sense. If he has any untoward plans for her, he’ll want to have her as far away from the Vitale clan as possible.
“Then I leave with you,” I say, keeping my voice calm and confident. I can’t fuck up now. It seems I may have a job to do. Also, I need to tell my father about my plan. All I can do is pray he doesn’t lose his shit.
“Then I think we have a deal, Mr. Guzzi. Be here on the tenth with your belongings. I doubt we’ll return to the city anytime soon.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mosca,” I say as I push to my feet. “It’s been a pleasure.” I hold out my hand, which he accepts, and we shake on it.
When I reach home, I’m amped up. My body is a live wire. My father is in his office when I walk in and I know he’s not going to be happy. When he glances up, he offers me a nod.
“We need to talk,” I tell him. “I’ve secured a position in the Mosca clan.” I don’t waste time because there is none.
His eyes are wide on me, shock creasing his wrinkled face. “What?”
“I’m going undercover to take them down.” He doesn’t respond, so I say, “He’s got young women there, none older than twenty.”
“Does this have anything to do with the Vitale girl?” When I don’t respond, he chuckles. “I didn’t expect my son to break his loyalty by falling in love with the enemy.”
“She is not the enemy,” I insist. My father could easily kill me right now. And I couldn’t blame him because I should never have gone near Lelia. But I did and there is no taking it back now.
“So, you’re prepared to take down one of the most corrupt clans there are? All for a girl?” He looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind. Perhaps I have.
“I am.” The confidence I exude makes him take notice. I’ve always been willing to do anything my father told me to. He is the Boss after all. But this is different. This is my plan, not his.
I knew the lure of killing Ignacio Mosca would be too much for him to disapprove of. He wouldn’t deny it would be a good thing if the bastard were gone.
“Then I suppose you’ll be gone for a while,” Dad says, settling back in his seat.
“I leave for Italy in two weeks.”
“Let’s hope you return,” he says and I know that’s all the support he’ll offer me on this suicide mission. I turn and leave the office, and I know that no matter what, I have to get those girls out of there.