Chapter 32
Bea stood under the rainfall shower, letting the hot water cascade over her shoulders, washing away the remnants of tears and heartbreak.
Marco had gone out to grab ice cream. Her favorite, salted caramel with dark chocolate chunks. He was the kind of friend who knew that sometimes the only thing that helped was sugar and fat and something cold to numb the ache.
She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, letting the water run over her face. They didn’t believe me. The thought circled endlessly, a vulture picking at the carcass of her hope.
They chose Victor over me.
She turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel. Her reflection stared back at her from the fogged mirror, red-rimmed eyes, bruised heart, but still standing.
Still fucking standing.
She dried off quickly and pulled on soft cotton shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Comfort clothes. Armor against the world. She heard the front door close.
“Marco?” she called, walking out of the bathroom. “Did you get the-” She stopped.
A large man stood in her hallway, blocking the path to the living room.
He was massive, six-foot-four, easily two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle. Shaved head. Cold eyes. A gun holstered at his hip.
Bea’s heart slammed into her throat.
Her gun was in the nightstand.
Too far.
She ran back into the bedroom, but he was faster.
His hand clamped around her arm and yanked her backward. She twisted, trying to break free, but he was too strong.
He grabbed her by the back of the neck and slammed her head-first into the hardwood floor.
The world exploded into white-hot pain.
Her vision fractured, splintered glass, broken light, darkness creeping in at the edges. She tried to push herself up, but her arms wouldn’t cooperate. He flipped her onto her back and straddled her, his weight crushing her chest. His hands closed around her throat.
Bea clawed at his wrists, gasping, choking, her lungs screaming for air.
“Victor sends his regards,” the man said, his voice flat, emotionless.
Victor.
The name detonated in her mind.
He sent someone to kill me.
The man’s grip tightened, cutting off her airway completely.
Darkness closed in. Her vision tunneled.
No.
No, I’m not dying like this. Not like this-
The man reached for his gun with one hand, keeping the other locked around her throat.
He pulled the weapon free and pressed the barrel against her forehead.
“Nothing personal, doll” he said. “I wish he would have let me play first but you know how it is.”
Bea’s world narrowed to that single point of cold metal against her skin.
This is it.
This is how I die.
Then…
A gunshot cracked through the air. The man jerked. His grip on her throat loosened.
Blood bloomed across his chest, spreading like a dark flower.
He fell sideways, collapsing onto the floor beside her.
Bea gasped, sucking in air, her throat burning, her vision swimming.
She turned her head and saw Marco standing in the doorway, gun drawn, his face twisted in fury.
“Bea,” He crossed the room in three strides, tearing the operative’s body off her, kicking the gun away from the dead man’s hand.
He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands hovering over her, checking for injuries.
“Are you okay? Did he do anything else to you? Bea, talk to me-”
She tried to speak, but her voice came out as a raspy croak. “I’m-I’m okay.”
Marco’s jaw clenched. “You’re not okay. Fucking shit Bea, I was gone for twenty-minutes-”
“You saved me,” she whispered, her voice raw.
Marco pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, his whole-body trembling.
“I heard the noise,” he said, his voice breaking. “I heard you scream and I ran. Fuck, Bea, if I’d been a minute later-” he trailed off not wanting to finish what he was thinking.
“But you weren’t,” she said, gripping his shirt. “You weren’t.”
They stayed like that for a long moment, her heart pounding against his chest, his arms wrapped around her like he could shield her from the world.
Then they heard the front door open again. Marco’s head snapped up.
He shoved Bea behind the bedroom door and raised his gun, aiming it at the hallway.
“Stay down,” he hissed.
Bea pressed herself against the wall, her pulse hammering in her ears.
Footsteps.
Heavy. Fast.
A man rounded the corner, gun drawn.
Dimitri.
His eyes locked on Marco, on the gun, on the blood, on the body on the floor.
His face twisted in rage.
“You fucking piece of shit!” He charged.
Marco barely had time to react before Dimitri slammed into him, driving him back against the wall.
“Dimitri, wait-” Marco tried to shove him off, but Dimitri was a man possessed.
He grabbed Marco by the collar and threw him to the side, his fist connecting with Marco’s jaw.
Marco staggered, then swung back, his knuckles cracking against Dimitri’s cheekbone.
“Calm the fuck down!” Marco shouted holding his hands out in front of him.
“WHERE IS BEA?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?!” Dimitri roared, grabbing Marco again. “WHO THE FUCK IS THE DEAD GUY?!”
Bea stepped out from behind the door, her voice a raspy whisper. “Stop it, please stop, Dimitri.”
Both men froze.
Dimitri’s head whipped toward her, his eyes wide, his chest heaving.
He took in the sight of her, bruised throat, tear-streaked face, trembling hands.
Then he looked at Marco.
Then at the body on the floor.
Realization crashed over him like a tidal wave.
“He saved me,” Bea said quietly. “Victor sent him to kill me. Marco saved my life.” Dimitri’s face went white.
“Victor-” His voice broke. “I know, I was coming to-“ his voice low. “My mother heard what he was planning, I tried to get here as fast as I could. I was too late.”
“Why do you care, Dimitri?” Bea finished. “You threw me away, what does it matter to you if I’m dead?”
Dimitri stared at her, his hands shaking, his entire world tilting on its axis.
“Beatrice, I-“ He crossed the room in two strides and pulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly she could barely breathe. Then he dropped to his knees.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so fucking sorry, Bea.
I should have listened to you. I should have never let him into my head.
I am so fucking stupid. I saw the pictures and everything else just left my head.
I didn’t care if you had taken the money or not,” he felt Bea tense up, “I know you didn’t, I’m just saying when I saw you with him,” he shot a look to Marco who just shrugged his shoulders, “I saw fucking red, Bea. Call me a fucking caveman that’s fine, but you are ours, not his.
I didn’t want to think of another man touching you, giving you what only my brothers and myself should be giving you.
Fuck…I’m rambling. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to keep you safe, I promised you I would never let anyone hurt you, I failed you.
” His voice was raw with emotions as he hung his head low.
Bea pulled up on his shirt to get him to stand. She then cupped his face and made him look at her. She saw the truth in his eyes, that hurt, the betrayal, the love, she smiled softly at him, “You’re here now, you all have a lot of groveling to do, but you’re here.” she said, her voice breaking.
She knew that made her sound weak, she would make them beg for her forgiveness, but right now, she just needed to be held by him.
Marco leaned against the wall, wiping blood from his lip, watching them with a mixture of exasperation and relief.
“You Marchetti boys really know how to leave an impression I think that was the fastest forgiveness I’ve ever heard.
” he muttered. “I don’t ever want to hear that you made her cry like this again.
I will fucking kill every last one of you if you do.
You need to know here and now. I have never been your enemy, so don’t make me become one. ”
Dimitri pulled back just enough to look at Marco. “Thank you,” he said, his voice rough. “For saving her.”
Marco dramatically acted shocked. “You okay, did I hit you to hard? I know that had to hurt like a bitch.”
Dimitri gave him a look as if it could kill him, Marco chuckled and took a deep breath before adding, “She’s my best friend. I’d die before I let anyone hurt her.”
Dimitri’s jaw clenched, but he nodded.
Then the door to the neighboring apartment opened and Barb came strolling in only stopping and looking at the three of them and then down to the body on the ground.
“What the hell happened? Beatrice are you okay?”
Bea pulled away from Dimitri and crossed the room to hug Barb.
“I’m okay now,” she said, her voice still raspy.
Barb held her tightly, then pulled back and looked at the scene again really taking it in. The dead body, Marco with blood on his face, Dimitri standing there looking like he’d been hit by a truck.
“Do I want to know? Marco did the dead guy get a hit in or was that all dark and brooding over there?” Barb asked making Marco laugh, Bea groan and Dimitri narrow his eyes at this older woman.
Bea took a breath and explained, the shooter, Marco saving her, Dimitri arriving and attacking Marco before realizing the truth.
Barb shook her head, looking at Dimitri with pure exasperation.
“I hope you and your brothers have removed your heads from your asses,” she said flatly.
Dimitri’s jaw had finally relaxed. “We have.”
“Good,” Barb said. “Because I just got proof that’s going to sink Victor.” She pulled a folder from under her arm and handed it to Bea.
Bea opened it, her eyes scanning the pages.
Dimitri and Marco moved to stand behind her, looking over her shoulder.
The evidence was damning.
Bank accounts showing systematic embezzlement over years. Millions siphoned off into offshore accounts under shell companies. Dates that go with multiple shipments that have came up short or went missing all together.
Text message conversations between Victor and an unknown number, setting up the shipment hijack, confirming the sale of the stolen drugs, with Victor pocketing seventy percent of the profits.
And photographs.
Victor meeting with the dead man on Bea’s floor, the partnership was undeniable. Victor and this man had been working against the Marchetti family for years. Even conversations about pinning the Valenti’s against the Marchetti’s.
Dimitri’s hands curled into fists, his knuckles white. “It was him that turned our families against each other. He started that war all those fucking years ago.” He looks at Marco.
“I fucking told you asshole, I have no reason to lie to you.” Marco gave him a playful shove then added to Bea’s horror, “So do I get to join your little harem now?”
Dimitri turned to face him but Bea stepped between them, “Really Marco, not the time.” She tried but failed to keep a straight face.
Marco again smiled that charming smile and held his hands up, “I’m just fucking with you, but really though, can we be friends?”
Dimitri stared at him and to everyone’s surprise he laughed for a moment before sobering and looking back to Bea. “Victor will die tonight,” he said, his voice cold and absolute.
He looked at Bea. “I need to leave. I need to get ready for the stupid party. Victor is putting on, a masquerade of all things.”
Marco stepped forward. “Before you say no, just listen, I’ll take Bea to the party.
We’ll come in masquerade costumes, Victor won’t know she’s still alive, we will come with all this evidence and out him in front of everyone.
We’ll wait for your signal before we reveal everything, then you make an example out of him and anyone else who tires. ”
Dimitri nodded. “Deal. Marco, Thank you again. I owe you.”
He cupped Bea’s face, his thumb brushing over her bruised throat.
“You mean so much to me,” he said quietly. “I will spend the rest of my life making up for not taking your side.”
Bea’s eyes filled with tears. “Just don’t let him hurt anyone else.”
“He won’t.” Dimitri promised. Kissing her forehead before he turned away. Then he was gone, the door closing behind him.