Chapter 35
EMILIA
He pulled the gun out of the holster he wore at his side and looked at it.
It was black, and I’d seen it all my life.
It was always within reach, always threatening what he could do with his power.
“Your mother begged me not to do this; she was sure you’d come back to the family, but I know better. ”
My father’s back was to the door, but I saw it open, a sliver of light, and I clamped my eyes closed. All hell was about to break loose, and my father’s idiot men had no idea.
The lights went out, bathing the room in darkness, before a bright flash made the warehouse glow, and an ear-piercing bang followed.
Opening my eyes, the door flew open, and shooting started immediately.
My father ducked behind me, using me as a shield, holding his gun across me, ready to protect himself.
Before I had time to think, his gun fell out of his hand, and he was wailing behind me. The gunfire quieted, and the plastic that made a room was pulled down as the large overhead lights in the warehouse flickered back on.
“Amore.” His low voice calmed me and sent butterflies swarming through my stomach, all at the same time. “You’re not supposed to cause trouble when I’m out of town.” He stepped on the plastic, making it scrunch and crackle under his feet.
“What took you so long?” I said grinning up at him. My father’s groan as he rolled around on the floor, clutching his hand to his chest, broke the moment I wanted with my husband.
“You’re welcome, wife, I’m sure you meant to say thank you.
” He grasped my shoulders and tipped the chair up.
He looked down at the plastic and saw blood trickling down the side of my head.
Nico felt around my skull until he found the spot.
“Are you okay?” His voice filled with panic, and all I could do was nod.
Nico got the zip-ties off my wrists and ankles. I hadn’t realized my hands had gone to sleep until they started tingling. Balling my hands and opening them, I felt the feeling return. The feeling of pins and needles was worse than being slapped.
I held my hand out, and I looked over at Nico. There were no words needed; I didn’t have to tell him my plan, he knew. He handed me the gun he’d tucked in the waistband of his pants.
The gun felt heavy in my hand; it was larger than I usually used, but when it belongs to the giant of a man behind me, it makes sense.
Kicking the chair out of the way, I watched my father flinch.
“What’s wrong, Dad? Are you a little worried?
” I bent over and whispered in his ear. “Are you worried that the time has come for me to enact my revenge? You made me marry a man to ensure you remained in power. Power, you haven’t held for over two years.
Your power was mine.” He closed his eyes and then opened them, staring at me as evil incarnate.
My father was gone. The man who, at one time, was a loving man before he let this life worm his way into his soul.
“Fuck you.” He spat.
“Nico, sit him up,” I said without looking back at my husband. In this life, a woman telling a man what to do didn’t happen often, and I was sure we would have to “discuss” it when we got home, but right now I didn’t care.
He moved slowly, methodically and pressed his hand to my back as he looked at me.
Most people would have missed it, but it was he telling me I didn’t have to be the one to do this; he would take the burden from me.
He pulled my father into a sitting position, and I let my eyes flutter closed for a brief moment.
I needed a moment to myself. This was different from taking out a drug dealer or a man who likes to traffic young girls; this was my father. When I turned around, I saw Nico’s men gathering behind me; they were waiting for their next orders from him.
Turning back to my father, I took a few steps toward him and raised the gun to his temple. “Daughter, how can you stand over your father and point a gun at me? Where are your loyalties?”
That was all it took for the switch to flip, for me to forget the relationship and look at him like an enemy.
“You sick fuck. Let’s talk about loyalties, shall we?
I ran your operation for two years when you couldn’t get out of bed.
Do you have any idea how many people I put in the ground for trying to take what was ours?
When you found out, what did you do? You gave me to the highest bidder.
” For the briefest moment, I tore my eyes away from my father, the man who gave me life, the man who was supposed to protect me and stared at the face of the man who had actually done those things.
At this moment, I knew he’d burn the world down for me if I needed him to.
Letting my eyes fall back to my father, I took a step closer, pressing the gun harder against his head.
“You can’t do this, you’re a Carminatti.” He yelled, his face going red as his anger built. I was surrounded by Venosa men who were waiting to see the decision I made at this moment. It would either ensure their devotion and allegiance for eternity, or it would mean my death alongside my father.
I let my eyes fall to the floor, but the words from my wedding night seemed to be whispered in my ear, “You’re the wife of Niccolò Venosa, a title you will hold with honour and pride. Never look down for anyone.”
“I’m a Venosa.” I bent over and whispered in his ear. Standing, I locked eyes with Nico and pulled the trigger. My father slumped to the floor, blood oozed from his head, and his blood spattered all over the plastic behind him, but it didn’t even phase me.
“You need to see the doctor,” Nico said as he reached for my hand with his and the gun with his other.
Placing my blood-stained hand in his, we walked past his men lining the way to the exit.
They all lowered their heads as we walked by.
They had done it when I married Nico, but this time wasn’t because of him.
I’d proven to them I wasn’t my family any longer; I was theirs.
“Antonio, home.” My husband’s quiet words were music to my ears. We climbed into the back of the car, and I sank into the seat. I suddenly realized I ached all over. My head was pounding, and my eye was swelling so quickly that I would lose the ability to see out of it shortly.
“Amore mio, what do you need?” He still gripped my hand tightly. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I thought my hand was broken.
“I have everything I need right here. Ti amo.”
“You do?” He asked, disbelief filling his words.
“I do, I love you Niccolò Venosa, and I will until the end of my days.”
“I love you, Emilia, my wife, my partner.”
“I don’t know if I want to be your partner, Nico. It’s a lot of work, could I just be your wife?” I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.
“Oh, amore, you’re my partner forever, because you’re terrifying and it will benefit our family. But you can retire from the bloodshed if you like.” His light laughter was the last thing I heard before the world went black.