Chapter 15
Alexander
“You won’t believe this.”
Jarvis’ voice had been as jarring as a call in the middle of the night. After glancing at my sleeping companion, I tossed back the covers, shocked I’d fallen asleep. “This better be good.”
“I discovered who your father was meeting. It took some doing but I managed to strong-arm a busboy at the restaurant.”
I moved to the set of open French doors, peering out into the night. “You know my patience is shot.”
He chuckled. “Well worth waiting for. Vitelli Russo.”
“Not possible.” My reaction was quick because there was no possibility that Baptiste Prince had met with our number one enemy. The last time it had occurred, my father had nearly snapped his neck. “This busboy is merely looking for a huge payout for false information.”
“He was allowed to live, boss man. Don’t you think I did a little digging before I called you? I don’t have a death wish.”
Moving out onto the deck, I stared at the sky, remembering every detail about the meeting between the two years before. A proposed alliance of the two families by marriage of Emmeline to Lorenzo Russo.
It suddenly dawned on me that if this meeting had occurred, it was possible my father had ordered a hit on Lorenzo prior to being killed. If so, why not share the news with me? Why not have security at this meeting? Something didn’t add up. “What the hell did you find?”
“Vitelli was shot as well.”
“What?” The news did surprise me and very little did any longer. “You’re certain.”
“Positive. It took me a couple hours to track down his whereabouts, burning a few favors along the way, but I located him in a private hospital just outside the city under an assumed name. I confirmed it with the hospital.”
“Why would they eagerly provide that information? This could be a setup.”
“I dated one of the nurses in the ICU. I have charm, you know.” Jarvis laughed.
When I didn’t respond, he cleared his throat.
“He was admitted to the ICU that very afternoon in critical but stable condition. They successfully removed the bullet lodged in his chest. He’s since been moved to a private room, his condition is now listed as stable.
She was kind enough to do some snooping since she works the night shift. There are always four guards with him.”
If what he was telling me was true, this was likely the only opportunity I’ve have to engage in a private conversation with the man. Not that I wanted to. However, Lorenzo’s murder was an irrefutable corroboration that his family was being targeted. But there were also more questions than answers.
Why was Vitelli also shot? There was no way in hell he’d go so far as to order his own shooting for some cover-up.
The more important questions were who would benefit the most from both men being taken out and…
I gripped the railing, taking a deep breath.
And was this truly about a proposed union to strengthen power within New Orleans?
The last time the proposal had been laid out, Emmeline had been seventeen. There hadn’t been a family member who hadn’t objected to the illicit union. Now, seven years later, the landscape of the city and the strong arm of power had shifted.
With several other crime syndicates taking up slack with our corporation involved in more legal activities, the pressure of the darkest part of the underworld was borne by the Russos. They would never go legit. True savages.
“Boss? You still there?”
“I’m here. I need the address. Meet me there with several guards. Tell your friend to lay low.”
“I thought that’s what you’d say. Meet you there.”
With the call ended, I returned to the bedroom, the slender shimmer of moonlight perfectly accentuating Catherine’s long hair displayed like a fan across her pillow. Her skin appeared luminous, her lips still swollen from the rough rounds of passion.
Her soft murmurs drew my attention. Very softly I brushed my fingertips down her arm, marveling in the softness. She rolled over, fading into a deep sleep.
I didn’t consider myself a monster.
But I could be.
Up until this point, I’d never thought twice about killing a man for crossing me. I’d bloodied an expensive suit in doing my job, tossing it away instead of wasting time having it professionally cleaned.
Another risk of questions being asked, accusations made.
Perhaps in the hours since I’d met my beautiful captive, I’d been doing some soul searching, reflecting on a life that I’d mostly taken for granted.
My uncle Armand was correct in that the lifespans of those involved in crime syndicates were shortened, which was why so many ruthless men were easily swept up into risk-associated activities, indulging in more primal proclivities the normal man wouldn’t dare consider.
While I’d taken plenty of risks, I’d also never succumb to the lethal addictions of so many others. But there was no doubt what was occurring between me and the stunning attorney.
I’d fallen prey to the toxicity of a sadistic desire that would never be fulfilled or satisfied.
We’d fucked several times, both ignoring the dangers of our coupling, clinging to each other as if the tether was impenetrable. When I knew it was tentative at best.
But I’d taken her again, driving my cock deep inside, forcing her to cry out my name time and time again. The shock of realizing how much she craved the roughness, the beast taking her, had fed the darkness. And still, it hadn’t satisfied the hunger.
Soon enough, she’d fallen free of the haze of lust, once again demanding her release.
I had no qualms about keeping her as my prisoner, but doing so wasn’t practical even under the best of circumstances.
I didn’t live in the middle of nowhere. I’d chosen a house based on an act of revenge in taking the home after destroying an enemy instead of securing something more private outside the city limits.
That meant the neighbors would keep talking and I couldn’t kill all of them.
I’d thought about leaving her phone with her, but she’d yet to earn my trust.
Not that she could trust me either and removing all her rights wouldn’t go far in improving the situation.
There I went again, acting as if I had a conscience and had cared about the feelings of anyone else. That hadn’t boded well for me years ago and at this point was the last thing I needed.
So many lasts with her.
So many firsts.
Catherine had finally fallen asleep in my arms, comfortable being with the devil. I’d remained watching her as if a small part of me feared once I left the room she’d disappear.
She was too beautiful and untouched by a world of sin and corruption, but God help me, I needed her like I required air to breathe.
That’s why I hated the self-indulgent thoughts that she was keeping something from me. At minimum, there was a game being played.
Vitelli would talk.
This was something I had to do. Perhaps I’d finally get needed answers.
Maybe then I could do the right thing in letting her go.
Maybe…
While the city was never asleep no matter the hour, the rural outskirts were different. The darkened two-lane roads and expansive bayou allowed for anonymity.
The hospital was small and very expensive, used by those requiring privacy.
As I headed to the back door, I considered how best to handle the discussion.
With the Russo Don incapacitated in the hospital, I now knew why there hadn’t been any recent acts of retaliation.
His condition also begged the question as to whether Vitelli had even been responsible for the attack at the courthouse.
I’d left the house with explicit instructions that my sweet angel be allowed to explore the house and grounds, but a watchful eye would remain while I was gone. I’d given her an example of the trust that would be afforded to her.
All while keeping her on a short leash.
If she tried to escape again, I’d be forced to resort to other methods of keeping her. The errand was necessary, although I’d promised her a swift return so she could become absorbed in my world.
Maybe I was a fool for doing so. Or maybe I simply craved spending more time with her and had created the perfect excuse.
Jarvis approached as soon as I walked in through the service door.
“Any changes?” I asked.
“None. There is a limited staff. Two of our men are ensuring we’re not interrupted by the police. How do you want to handle the guards?”
I pulled out my weapon, tipping my head in his direction. “Whatever is necessary for me to obtain the answers I need.”
“Yes, sir.”
While I’d required a meeting with the Consigliere for the next day, it would appear the timing needed to change.
There were no significant decisions my father had made, especially in his later years without consulting Jacques.
At minimum, the aging attorney would know what the hell the meeting was about.
And I wasn’t in the mood for stonewalling.
If my command was being followed to the letter, my most trusted men were on the streets watching for any potential attacks from Russo and talking to informants.
Upon Sinclair’s encouragement, I’d also done a little politicking, heading to a couple of our warehouses to show my face and bark out a few orders. As Armand would say, business needed to continue and that was one aspect he was right about.
With what few fires had needed to be put out behind me, I could concentrate on attempting to decipher the mystery.
As we headed up the stairs to the eighth floor, I was reminded of how much I loathed hospitals, avoiding them whenever possible.
As a child, I’d spent way too much time in one.
While it had been a children’s hospital complete with colorful walls and a playroom full of toys, I’d had no energy to be a kid. There’d been no reason.
After the agonizing months of suffering, I’d become someone else.
At first, merely a quiet kid who kept to himself.