61. Enzo #2
“I’ve been searching for their killer since. We had reason to believe it was one of Ivanov’s men. Trent got into Bolten. He worked his way in with the lords. I worked the streets, following any lead I could. We were searching for anything to go on.”
“Which De Santis are you related to? My grandfather Carmine never mentioned you to me, nor has my father.” Dom sat forward.
Trent and Anson glanced at one another.
Dom looked at me, and I sat forward in case I needed to intervene.
“My search led me to Matteo De Santis,” Anson said softly.
“My father?” Dom’s brows crinkled.
“Your father took me, Dom,” Drake said. “That day at the hospital? He offered me my freedom in exchange for Bianca. If I brought her to him, I’d be free. I accepted his offer.”
“What?” Dom was on his feet. I was quick to mine and got between him and Drake.
“Easy. Let him explain,” I urged. “Come on, Dom. Listen, man.”
Dom glared at Drake before he sat back in his seat. Drake sat too, and I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Alessio was in charge of overseeing everything with me,” Drake said. “He’s a nice guy. I can see where Vincent gets it from.”
Dom continued to glare. I cast an uneasy look between them again. If Cole hadn’t been set on attending classes today because of some fucking biology test, I’d have him here with me. E was working and Fox had some football stuff to do. The only person I had was fucking Anson.
“He saved my life. Alessio.” Drake continued.
“It was he who called off Matteo and Klaus. I was on my knees with a gun pointed at the back of my head. I really thought that was it. Alessio asked me questions about Bianca. About you and the kings. I answered with what I knew. I told him I’d gotten close to her while she was with us.
They wanted to know how close. I said. . . things.”
Drake breathed out. “They asked me what I wanted most in my life. I said my freedom. It was offered on the condition that I bring her to Matteo. He really wanted her alive. I told Enzo what was going on. Ethan has developed a drug like his zombie drugs, only this one completely knocks someone out. He made me a dart version. I shot her with it. I faked her death for Tate. I figured I might be able to pass her death off to Matteo, too, rather than bring her to him.”
“Continue,” Dom snarled when Drake stopped for a moment.
“I hired in with your father. I got in close with Alessio. He told me some things. I found out about other things. I went into the fold and did some shit I’m not proud of, but the trust grew.
Alessio and I became close. He told me Matteo was in love with a woman before he married your mother.
Her name was Delilah. He seriously loved her.
Alessio said you and Bianca remind him of Matteo and Delilah.
They were young. Carmine had a marriage arranged for Matteo, however.
He threatened to kill Delilah if Matteo didn’t stop seeing her.
So, Matteo broke it off with her and kept her on the side.
It worked for a while until she couldn’t handle him being married to another woman.
She took their children and ran. She didn’t go far, though.
I don’t know why. Maybe she kept hoping things would change.
She did change her name and the kids’ names. ”
Dom hadn’t moved an inch. He was way too damn calm. I didn’t know him well, but I did know Dominic De Santis was more dangerous when he was silent.
“Your father had a mistress. Delilah. While married to your mother,” Drake said. “The children are Alessandro, Tomasso, and Gianna.”
A muscle thrummed along Dom’s jaw, but he continued to sit in silence. I cast another uneasy glance at Drake, Anson, and Trent. They sat watching him, clearly knowing his silence could turn into something lethal.
“I found all of this out while in the fold. A lot of it Alessio told me because Matteo wanted me to bring Bianca to him so that you’d be alone.
He’s already reunited with Anson, and he wants to.
. . replace you,” Drake said softly. “Because you’re not his son.
Matteo wants you dead, Dominic. Anson is his heir. He’s your replacement.”
Dom didn’t move an inch as he absorbed Drake’s words.
When he finally stood, he paced the room and tugged at his black hair, frustration radiating off him.
We didn’t say shit as he gathered his thoughts.
Eventually, he let out a breath and returned to his seat, that calm silence still surrounding him.
“My father isn’t my father,” Dom murmured finally.
Drake shook my head. “He’s not. Your father is your grandfather, Carmine. You’re Matteo’s brother. Your family traditions on the night of Matteo and your mother’s wedding led to your grandfather and your mother conceiving you.”
Dom exhaled, his leg bouncing. A muscle popped along his jaw.
“That’s not all.” Drake cleared his throat. “I got information on Bianca’s father while there.”
Dom sat up straighter, all his focus on Drake. I didn’t know if he was going to pound or not, and that kept me on edge.
“Her father is Nathaniel Walker. He was Matteo’s friend. One of his best friends. He handled all of Matteo’s accounts. His money. Everything. He also did a lot of dirty work for Matteo, including helping Klaus and Alessio handle. . . business.”
Dom didn’t say a word so Drake pushed on.
“I found out Matteo believed that he’d betrayed him and was helping to work with the Ivanovs to take him down.
Nathaniel disappeared. He was last seen with David D’Angelou.
From what I’ve gathered, Nathaniel exchanged Bianca to Ivanov for his life.
That’s why D’Angelou got his wife and Bianca.
Ivanov made the arrangement for Hail and Bianca’s marriage as a way to gain traction and get in league with D’Angelou, who has his fingers in plenty of pots and is growing.
More power. More everything, basically. At least, that’s how I understand it, but you know how shit goes in our world.
Maybe there’s more to the story. I don’t know.
This is just what I know and thought you needed to know. ”
“Bianca’s father worked with mine?” Dom finally asked.
Drake nodded tightly.
“And he gave her away in exchange for his life?”
Another nod from Drake.
Dom frowned, everything about the way he sat displaying the anger he was trying to keep contained.
“That’s not all. Nathaniel wasn’t even his real name,” Drake said.
“His real name is Konstantin Volkov. He was always an Ivanov implant. He also went by the name of Jonathan Lawrence and had an entirely different family besides Bianca and her mother. Matteo wants Bianca as a way to punish her father. He knows word will get back to him.”
Dom rubbed his face and was silent for a moment.
“So, you’re my. . . nephews?” Dom finally asked, casting a quick look to Anson and Trent.
“We are,” Anson confirmed.
“And my father. . . brother . . . wants me dead so you can be the legitimate heir?” Dom’s voice shook. My heart went out to him. It was a fuck of a blow to get. The man who raised and hated him wasn’t even his father.
“He does,” Anson answered gently.
“And he wants to use Bianca for revenge? On her father and to hurt me?” Dom pressed.
Drake nodded and sighed. “He wants to do to her what Carmine did to him. He took everything from him. His true love. His potential love with your mother. Essentially, Matteo’s entire life and potential happiness were taken by your real father, Carmine.
Matteo raised you like you were his because Carmine threatened to take it all away if he hurt you or fucked up.
Matteo blames you for everything, even though it was never your fault.
And if you die, you can’t take Matteo’s place.
His real sons would be in line to be heirs.
With you alive and being Carmine’s remaining known heir, everything would fall to you. ”
“Fuck,” Dom snarled and tugged at his hair, his leg bouncing. “What the fuck?”
No one said a word as we let Dom sort through his emotions.
“And. . . are you here to fucking put a bullet in my head?” Dom demanded, glaring at Anson. “I’m standing in the way of you having it all.”
“I’m here to put a bullet into the head of whoever the fuck killed my mother and our sister,” Anson said fiercely. “I don’t have any interest in becoming an heir. Nor does Trent.”
“I don’t,” Trent agreed. “I mean, I will if you two assholes die, but I’d really rather just live my life. Maybe learn to surf or some shit.”
Dom was quiet again. He got to his feet, a deep frown carved into his face.
“He seriously wants me dead? My fath-brother?”
“Sorry, man,” Drake said. “He’s working on it. Wants it to look like an accident. Or overdose. Or. . . suicide.” Drake winced.
Dom let out a snarl. Before I could stop him, he stormed from the room and slammed the door behind him.
We sat in silence, listening as his footfalls fell away.
“That went well,” Anson finally muttered.
“Could have been worse,” I said, knowing damn well it could have been. Of course, the day wasn’t over, so that didn’t mean shit.
“So what now?” Trent looked at each of us. “Should we go after him?”
“The last thing you should do is follow him,” Drake muttered. “Let him cool off.”
“He has a lot to think about,” I said. I sighed, knowing Dom really needed some time to come to terms with everything. “A lot of decisions to make.”
But hell, we all had decisions to make. I just hoped they would lead us to a place we could deal with because the latter was terrifying.