Salvatore: a Dark Mafia Romance (13 page)

I
couldn’t win
. No one could. What I said to her, I meant it. Franco Benedetti would win. And everyone else would lose.

Lucia went straight to her room when we got back to the house, and I shut myself up in my study. She hadn’t talked to me the entire ride. Probably pissed at me, which I expected. I would deal with that later, though, because as soon as I booted up my laptop, I saw an e-mail from Roman regarding Luke’s activities.

Luke had been busy indeed, meeting with various members of the Pagani family in the tristate area. We knew that, though. That wasn’t new. It was the next part that intrigued me.

He was spending his nights in Isabella DeMarco’s bed.

That’s why it so surprised me to learn that I was wrong. That he wasn’t Effie’s father.

But that wasn’t the strangest thing. In fact, what I saw made zero sense.

I picked up the phone and dialed Roman, but before he could answer, the door burst open. Lucia stood in the doorway, looking pissed off.

“So are you just going to lock yourself up in here and not talk to me at all?” She walked inside. “Because you’re giving me fucking whiplash.”

I put the lid of my laptop down just as Roman answered the phone. “Let me call you back.” I got up and closed the door. “You ever hear of knocking?”

“What the hell is going on, Salvatore? What happened this morning? You were fine. We were fine. Then you had that breakfast meeting, and I don’t know. It’s like you keep pulling the fucking rug out from under me!”

“I told you, I’ll give you your freedom as soon as I can. I thought you would want that.”

“This isn’t about that. You can’t just throw that out there. And besides, how long until you’re boss? And what if you change your mind?

I resumed my seat behind the desk but pushed away from it and crossed one ankle over my other knee. “I won’t.”

That silenced her for a second. She just stood there surprised.

“If you want a fight, I’m not in the mood,” I said. “Not now.”

She shifted her weight and folded her arms across her chest. “How about the truth, then? Are you in the mood for that? What is the Luke DeMarco
problem you have to take care of?”

I let my gaze run over her. She’d changed into a pale yellow sundress, and I could see she wasn’t wearing a bra underneath. My balls tightened, but I steeled myself. Lucia was fast becoming a weakness. My weakness. I needed to stop this. I meant what I said, that I’d release her from her contract. I needed to take care that when the time came, she wouldn’t look back.

The best way to do that was to be a dick.

I leaned forward and placed my elbows on the desk. “How’s your ass, Lucia?”

“My ass is none of your concern.”

“Show me.”

“Screw you.”

“You want to know about Luke DeMarco?”

She eyed me warily but nodded.

“Fine. He’s stirring up trouble. A lot of it.”

“What did Franco mean when he told you to take care of it?” she asked.

“You aren’t surprised by what I just told you?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “We’ll always be enemies.”

That took me a moment to digest. I decided to push further, see how much she knew.

“Why exactly did your father disown your sister?”

“Because she got pregnant.”

“Doesn’t that seem strange to you? I mean, this is modern day. Women have babies out of wedlock and alone all the time.”

She studied me. What did she know? Did Isabella confide in her? How much?

“I don’t know. I guess my father was old-fashioned.”

“Has your sister ever questioned it? How he was willing to lose her and his grandchild?” I asked.

“My father didn’t exactly make the best decisions regarding either of his daughters, did he?”

“No, I guess you’re right.”

“Why are you asking?”

“Just curious. Why don’t you go for a swim. It’s nice out.”

“Why are you pushing me away? I thought—”

She sat gingerly on the edge of the couch, and the fact that I’d caused her that hurt messed with me. Was she innocent? Or did she know more than she let on? And if Luke wasn’t Effie’s father, then who was?

“What did you think?”

“You said some things last night.”

She shook her head then brought her hands to her face, rubbing it before looking at me again.

“I am so confused. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. I don’t know where I stand, and as soon as I think I understand something, understand you, you strike out then pull back again.”

Watching her, I rubbed the back of my neck and loudly inhaled, then exhaled, realizing I couldn’t be a dick. Not to her. She deserved better. “It’s best if we keep our distance, Lucia.”
I don’t want to hurt you, and it seems it’s all I can do
.

She studied me, and the look inside those wide eyes screamed confusion. I understood it. I understood her comment about the whiplash.

My phone buzzed on the desk, and I glanced at it, seeing a text from Natalie.

“I need you!”

What the…

“Salvatore?” Lucia called me back to the present.

“Go for a swim,” I said, standing and patting my pockets for my keys.

“So that’s it? Go for a swim?” She snorted, rising too.

Finding them, I heard the phone buzz again.

“Hurry, please!”

“I have to go.”

“No!”

She rushed me, gripping my arms before I made it to the door.

“You can’t just walk away from this. From me! You can’t just leave me here like this! I have a right to answers!”

I pulled her hands away and sat her down roughly on the couch. “I have to go. When I come back, we’ll talk. I’m sorry, but I can’t right now.”

“It’ll be too late then!”

My mind was too full with Natalie’s frantic messages for Lucia’s words to penetrate. I bolted out of the house and to the car that still sat parked in the driveway. I didn’t look back, just drove as fast as I could to Natalie’s house.

I
couldn’t believe this
. He’d just left, walked out! I’d really thought last night, after what had happened in the bedroom, the things he’d said, I thought he felt something. And even as I’d told him I hated him, I didn’t. I’d held fast, refusing to let go.

I felt something for him.

Then this morning, when he’d defended me, didn’t that mean something? And what about when he’d been so possessive when he’d seen Dominic in our room?

God, I was stupid.

His cell phone buzzed again, and I got up. He’d forgotten it in his rush. The latest text was on the screen.

“Are you getting my messages? I need you!”

The name of the contact read Natalie.

Natalie
needed
him?

And he’d dropped everything for her. In a fucking heartbeat, he’d dropped everything and run out of the house, not even remembering to take his cell phone with him!

Fine. That was fine. She was probably the reason he’d release me from my contract. He didn’t want me. I was a burden on him. He claimed not to have liked humiliating me last night, but he’d gotten hard doing it. He’d used me. He was getting off on it while he could. Probably cheating on Natalie while he was
forced
to keep me.

He made a fool out of me. I was a complete, fucking idiot.

He wanted Natalie? Fine. He could have her. He could fucking have her.

I walked into the bathroom that adjoined his study and dropped the cell phone into the toilet before I ran upstairs to my bedroom. I threw a few things into a duffel bag. I didn’t care about anything anymore. I wasn’t permitted to leave the grounds? I had to tell him where I was at all times?

He could go fuck himself. Or fuck her.

Fuck!

Flinging the duffel over my shoulder, I made my way to the garage. I knew they kept the keys to the cars there, and I’d seen the code Salvatore had punched into both the box that contained them and to open the gate yesterday. I was out of here. I was done.

Getting into a car was easy. Getting out of the garage easy. By the time I got to the gate, I saw Marco running down the driveway after me. I punched in the code to open the gate, but nothing happened.

“Shit.”

I tried again, one eye on the rearview mirror as Marco’s form neared. He ran fast.

I tried the code again, and again, nothing. I stopped, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Think. Think! You saw it yesterday!”

I tried again and exhaled in relief as the tall gates finally crept open, slow as fucking molasses. I inched the car forward, too aware of Marco just a few feet away as finally, finally, the gates opened wide enough that I hit the gas, the tires screaming against stones, kicking up dirt and rock and leaving him literally in the dust.

I grinned, seeing him pull his phone out and put it to his ear, no doubt trying to call Salvatore, tell him I’d broken one of his stupid rules. Too bad Salvatore’s phone sat in the toilet.

That made me laugh.

I didn’t calm down on the drive over to Isabella’s house. The opposite, actually. What was the point of all of this? Why take me when he wanted someone else? Why?

Because daddy said he had to if he wanted to be boss
.

This was so fucked up. Salvatore’s father controlled him. He had to do what he did, or his father would take away what was his right. He’d give it all to Dominic. My life didn’t matter. What I felt didn’t matter.

Felt. No, I
felt
nothing. Nothing tender, at least.

But I was beginning to trust him.

The devil you know.

At least Salvatore’s indifference to me kept me safe. Franco or Dominic, they would do worse things to me. Of that, I had no doubt.

So why did his indifference hurt me? What did I want?

Isabella’s house looked empty when I got there. I pulled the car up in the driveway, far enough back that it wouldn’t be visible from the street. I wondered if she kept the spare key where we used to in case we locked ourselves out. But as I walked down the long drive back to the house, I saw Isabella’s face peer out of the kitchen window. I raised my hand in greeting, but she didn’t wave. Her face grew worried. I saw her rush from the window and throw open the back door.

“Lucia?”

I fell into her arms, tears breaking loose, although I couldn’t say exactly why. What would I tell her? How could I explain that I was jealous and hurt? That after all the things he’d done to me, all the things they’d done to me, I wanted him. Because I did. I wanted Salvatore.

“What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

We walked inside and went right into the kitchen.

“Sit down.”

She pulled a chair out and set a box of tissues in front of me. She busied herself making some tea, casting glances my way as I blew my nose and mopped my face, forcing deep breaths in and out, trying to get myself under control. Isabella set a fresh cup of tea in front of me and then took the seat across from mine, taking a sip from her cup.

“What’s happened?”

How much should I tell her? I wasn’t worried about her judging me. I just didn’t want her to think me weak. Or worse, a traitor.

“I’m so confused.” I shook my head, picked up the mug of tea, and stared into the swirling dark liquid.

“Did he hurt you?”

Yes. Oh yes.

I swallowed a sip of tea then faced my sister. “I think he’s having an affair.”

She looked surprised. “Why do you think that?”

“Because we were in the middle of a conversation when he got a text from someone named Natalie and bolted. He was in such a hurry he left his phone behind. I read one of the messages.”

“What did it say?”

“For him to hurry. That she
needed
him.”

Isabella checked her watch. I went on.

“He just left me there and walked out in the middle of a conversation!”

“Wasn’t Natalie the name of his brother’s wife?”

“What? Dominic’s married?”

“No, Dominic’s not married. Sergio.”

“Oh.” Shit, how had I not remembered that? “He’s having an affair with his dead-brother’s wife?”

“Why are you jumping to that conclusion? It could be anything.”

“Are you defending him?”

She sat back and folded her arms across her chest. “I guess I’m trying to figure out why you care.”

I would almost say there was something accusing in the gaze she leveled me with. I rested my elbow on the table and dropped my forehead into my hand. “I don’t fucking know.”

Isabella’s chair scraped away from the table. She got up and went over to her phone on the counter. She typed in what I assumed was a text message then turned back to me. She leaned against the counter and studied me with a strange expression on her face before she walked back over to me and rubbed my back.

“It’s natural, I guess, if you’re stuck living with someone who basically holds your whole life in his hands, to develop some feelings for that person. You’re not in love with him, though.”

I shoved her hand away. “In love? Who said anything about being in love?”

She sat back down. “I’m just saying don’t beat yourself up over it. Good riddance, and hope he
is
fucking his dead-brother’s wife!”

“Izzy!”

“I’m sorry, that came out cold. The most important thing is that you’re out of there. And you’re not going back.”

“Where’s Effie?” I suddenly realized the little girl wasn’t here.

“She went swimming with her best friend, and they were going to have dinner together after. I should go get her soon.”

“You should have seen Marco’s face when I drove away.”

“I bet that was something.”

“Izzy, I overheard something this morning at Franco Benedetti’s house. I wanted to talk to you about it.”

“What?”

“Salvatore and his father were talking. I’m not sure if Dominic was there or not, but I heard his father say something about taking care of Luke.”

She didn’t seem surprised by what I said.

“They know you’re trying to stir things up, Izzy. You have to be careful.”

“That’s Luke. Not me.”

“Well, then you need to tell him to be careful. What’s going on with you and him, anyway? I saw how he looked at you at the church, and he was here the other day. Are you two having an affair?”

“An affair. It sounds so illicit.” She picked up her teacup and dumped its contents into the sink. “You’re caught up on this affair thing today, aren’t you?” she asked, her back to me.

“Is he Effie’s father, Izzy? Is that why Papa—”

She snorted and looked off to the side. “Luke is not Effie’s father.”

“Who is?”

She turned and met my gaze, her expression cooler. “It’s not important. What is important is figuring out what we’re going to do to keep you away from Salvatore.”

Isabella’s cell phone rang, and she eyed the display. “I have to take this. I’ll be right back.”

She walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, surprising me with her sudden secrecy.

“This isn’t a good time,” I heard her whisper. Then I heard my name before she hung up and returned to the kitchen.

“Who was that?”

“The mom who took Effie swimming.”

“Oh. You could have talked to her.”

“It’s fine. She was just checking in. Are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich.”

“No, I’m good. I think I’ll go lay down if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, go ahead.”

I stood, feeling this space between us, something strange that hadn’t been there before. But then she walked over to me and hugged me.

“You’ll be okay, sis. I won’t let him hurt you. I’ll take care of everything.”

An unease settled over me as I made my way up to my old bedroom. Something in her tone or posture was off…wrong. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, though. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was the five years between us. She’d changed too, just like all of us. She’d grown a little harder. But maybe that was what she’d needed to do to survive.

* * *

A
fter a short rest
and a microwave dinner later in the evening, I’d gotten ready and gone to sleep in my old bedroom, the sinking feeling never leaving my stomach. It wasn’t too much later when I woke to rain beating against the window and voices arguing. I sat up and glanced at the time on my phone. It was a little after midnight. The display showed eight missed calls, all from—surprise, surprise—Salvatore.

I guess he’d gotten home from Natalie’s. Asshole.

I ignored the messages, got out of bed, and cracked the door open. The voices came from downstairs. It was Isabella and a man. Although I knew the voice, I couldn’t place it. It didn’t belong here.

“You promised me. I don’t want him hurt!”

My sister sounded agitated.

“I’m placating. Relax.”

“How the fuck can I relax? God, I wish this were over!”

I stepped out onto the landing and crept over to the stairs. Hearing the familiar creak on the third step, I froze, hoping they hadn’t heard. They continued arguing.

“You need to go. You can’t be here.”

I suspected my sister didn’t realize she was whispering that loud.

“I took care of what you wanted done. Don’t I get a little reward?”

What you wanted done?

“I’m sure Salvatore will be here any minute. He’s not stupid, he knows where she’d run to. Get out of here before he gets here.”

Salvatore was coming?

“I parked a few blocks down. I’ll duck into a room. No worries, babe.”

Was that
Dominic
? Calling my sister
babe
?”

Tires screeched to a halt just outside the house. Headlights shone through the windows, and a car door slammed shut.

“Pussy whipped,” the man said just as someone leaned on the doorbell.

I turned and ran into my room, pretending to just come out of it when I saw Izzy run to the door.

“Is that the doorbell?” I asked, not wanting her to know I’d overheard anything.

“Here we go,” Izzy said.

I walked down the stairs. Izzy opened the front door.

A soaked and furious Salvatore stood just on the other side, his gaze fixed on me.