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Bria
It tookeverything in me to not attack Angelo Romano. I wanted him dead, and I didn’t think there had been a time in my life when I’d wanted anything more.
Telling Luciano that I hated him was something that just came out. He made me feel raw and sex had felt so intense for the first time for me. I had looked for anything I could say to put distance in between us and keep myself safe. What would dampen a mood more than telling somebody you hated them?
However, Luciano was far too young to be responsible for my brother’s death, and I had been a part of many deaths since stepping up to work with my father. I knew all too well what it was like to follow orders.
Angelo, though. He was a different story.
I did truly hate him though. With every fiber of my being. Angelo had destroyed the facade of my family. By removing one person brutally from our family, he had changed us all irrevocably. If I had any less control of myself, then I was sure I would have acted on my urges and used whatever was nearby to kill him.
Luciano was right. The sins of his father didn’t pass down to the son. He wasn’t a just or good man, but at least he was tolerable. I had no illusions when it came to Lucien Romano. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. The same couldn’t be said for his father, Angelo. He was as fake as he was unpredictable. Regardless of what he said, he wasn’t loyal to anyone.
And I wanted him dead. But unfortunately, that wasn’t currently an option for me.
“Has my son not taught you to speak when you’re spoken to?” Angelo asked. I could tell his courtesies wouldn’t last long, not for me, at least.
“I simply have nothing to say.” The words were far from what I should have said. I should have apologized, let him think I was fearful of his presence. But, I was never one to back down when challenged by someone I had no respect for. I couldn’t play the role, not for him.
I had to remind myself that I was doing this for Carina because this could be her in the lion’s den instead of me. There was still time for me to be replaced, only I wouldn’t be alive to protect her.
“A response like that deserves a good, firm smack to remind you that you have no power here.” The words were said evenly, but then Angelo let out a deep breath. “But, I’m sure my son would be upset if a scar marked your face, especially before your wedding. He is your husband now and your discipline falls to him.”
Angelo took a step forward. “But cutting out your tongue, now that wouldn’t mess up your looks. It would guarantee that you didn’t make the same mistake twice.”
I swallowed hard as I held my chin up, trying not to think too much about the threat. It was genuine, that much I could tell. Mafia dons didn’t get their positions with idle threats. Above all else, they acted and followed through. I would know, I’d issued them myself and followed through on each of them. How else would things get accomplished if people didn’t take me seriously?
All of the pain Angelo had put others through flashed before me, and I was sure some of their offenses had been less than what I’d just said. I should be treading lightly, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t made to cower or be docile. I wanted this man dead, and it wasn’t easy for me to hide my true emotions. For years, I had been in a position that when I wanted someone removed, I simply did the removing. Fighting my nature now was a battle all on its own.
“How would I say ‘I do’ without a tongue?” I asked him, cocking my head to the side, almost as if it were an innocent question, but everyone in this room knew the truth. I was provoking him, trying to see what he would do. It was dumb, but I couldn’t stop what I’d already put into motion. If I got the chance, I would happily take him out of this world with me. I wouldn’t hesitate. I needed to witness how he worked. How he handled situations. It would be painful.
Angelo grabbed me by my throat, squeezing so hard that air was struggling to make it through. I stopped myself from having a big reaction, I could have fought, but I was severely outnumbered. I maintained his gaze and didn’t struggle.
I held onto the breath I had for as long as I could until the edges around my vision started to fade. I would willingly maintain eye contact and let myself pass out before fighting him for the very air I needed to breathe.
His hold on my throat grew tighter. He looked at me closely, and I noticed the hard look in his eyes. The coldness, the lack of remorse. He really could kill me right now and not feel bad about it. This had nothing to do with obedience and everything to do with the pleasure of the kill. He could do away with my body and never think about me again. I would let him do it before showing weakness. I had not spent years training and working myself through some of the ugliest situations to buckle and beg for life from a Romano.
“If you ever get smart with me again, there will be no more threats,” he told me, his voice even and stone cold. “I will take out my gun, and I’ll aim it at your head and shoot you. That is a promise. I am a man of my word. I’d tell you to ask others who crossed me, but none of them are alive to tell you about it.”
The blackness was getting stronger as I listened to his stupid voice tell me about his merciful actions. I choked down my words and steadied my breathing. I was proud of myself for not taking heaving gulps of air. Or scraping at my throat to release his grip. I had to show them that I could endure a lot. That I didn’t scare easily.
“I am solely letting you live because my men have explained that today you proved your loyalty to them. However, given the blatant disrespect you’ve just shown me, I now believe it was only to save your own skin. Consider our next interaction carefully. If you wish to prove the assumption I’ve come to is wrong.”
No words left my mouth, and my vision was beginning to grow dimmer. My eyes began fluttering, and I was about to pass out before Angelo released me. I fell to the ground, but I fought the need to gasp for air, and instead dropped my head down slowly pulling in as much oxygen as my lungs would allow.
My head was spinning, and I was trying desperately to return my heart to normal. I wanted to be ready in case I needed to defend myself. I wouldn’t take being kicked while I was down. I’d never been treated like that in all of my life, and something told me this wouldn’t be the last time if I allowed it.
When I looked up, Angelo was pointing at me, speaking with his son, but I couldn’t hear anything they were saying. Regardless of the fact that Angelo had released me, it had been too little too late. The headache I felt was getting worse, and my vision blurred again before I collapsed against the floor, my mind going blank and my world turning black.
* * *
My head pounded as consciousness slowly woke me up. The first thought I had when I came back was singular.
Had it all been a dream—a terrible nightmare?
I could feel the silk of my sheets from my bedroom, and I let out a deep breath. I was happy. Lying in peaceful silence for a moment, I collected my thoughts. I would get out of bed today, see what happened with our vendors overnight and take care of anything that needed me involved.
Maybe I would even visit the local spa we’d just bought to help launder money. Slowly, I embraced consciousness, and my eyes opened.
