Page 19 of Vengeful Promise


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“What are you saying? Donald!” Vito sounded shocked. “I’ll have your heads for this. My brother is a powerful man.”

Vito backed away as Nikolai strode toward him. Donald and his men decided at that juncture to leave the study. Nikolai didn’t look back. He knew Ivan would allow them to pass.

“You said you wouldn’t shoot me, that you’d spare my life,” Vito began.“You dare go back on your word?”

“I said I wouldn’t shoot you,” Nikolai acknowledged. He tucked his gun only to bring out a slender knife, whose bladeglinted silver under the afternoon light. He drove the pointy end into Vito’s gut. The mafioso tried punching him. Nikolai endured his weak blows. Strength quickly left Vito’s body as he continued to bleed out.

“I lied about my other promises,” Nikolai told the dying man. He stepped away and watched Vito gasping for his last breaths. Nikolai then remembered his initial purpose here.

He took out his phone and captured Vito’s last moments on video. Nikolai would send the video later to Paolo La Russa. In the distance, he could hear police sirens. The press would not be far behind. He nodded to Ivan, his other men, and the mercenaries.

“We best be off before the police arrive,” Nikolai said.

Chapter Ten

Veronica looked at the pregnancy test kit in her hands. Feeling dizzy and a little overwhelmed, she exited the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Her fingers trembled.

She wasn’t afraid of Nikolai finding out the news and she wasn’t worried about Nikolai being a good father. Nikolai had already proven himself to be a great and caring husband. He would make an amazing dad.

Awful memories slipped out of the locked box in her mind. Veronica remembered arriving from school that day, eager to tell her mother and older brother Gino about winning first place at her class spelling bee contest. She came home to a silent house, her father noisily sobbing in the kitchen. Arturo would not look at her or answer her questions. The head housekeeper had taken her aside and broken the terrible news to her—that the car her mother and brothers were in was run over by a drunk driver.

Later that evening, she overheard some of her father’s men talking. They confirmed a rival crime family had paid that driver handsomely to run down her mother’s car. Why did the killing never seem to end? Didn’t she and Nikolai get shot at right after their honeymoon?

Veronica told Nikolai she would get over the assassination attempts, but would she really? Looking over her shoulder constantly was tiring, but bringing kids into the picture seemed like a bad idea.

Shivers assaulted her body. Veronica slipped under the covers. Her teeth started to clatter as her mind took her back to a more recent memory, of her entering her father’s study and seeing his skull and brain come apart like a broken watermelon.

Yes, there were days Veronica was able to function normally. Nikolai was usually able to chase her inner demons away, but Nikolai was not here. He was out on some dangerous task he wouldn’t share with her.

“This is just a phase, one that willpass,” Veronica told herself. She wanted to stay in bed forever. The housekeeper eventually knocked and left food on the bedside table, before excusing herself. Veronica must have winked off. She was terrified she would dream of her family being murdered again, but thankfully her nap was peaceful.

Veronica woke to someone gently shaking her. She looked up and saw Nikolai’s concerned face above her. Veronica made space for him on the bed. He frowned, running his fingers through the tangles in her hair.

Nikolai had a large splotch of blood on his otherwise pristine white shirt. Veronica touched the spot, half-expecting her fingers to come away with red fluid but the blood had dried.

Her husband took her fingers and placed a kiss on them.“What’s wrong?” Nikolai asked.

“Who died?” she asked, avoiding the question for the moment.

“Vito La Russa,” he answered.

“Why does that name sound familiar? Is he related to the La Russa Don?” she asked. Veronica knew these people were responsible for Arturo’s death and the other assassination attempts.

“Paolo’s brother. It turns out Vito’s been keeping some of his human merchandise in his basement.” Nikolai’s tone was grim. “Tomorrow, the newspapers will report about his illegal activities. There won’t be any mention of our name in the raid of his home, but the other crime families know.”

“The La Russa Familia is ruined?” Veronica asked, hope in her voice.

She slipped out of bed and settled on his lap. Veronica didn’t even mind that her husband smelled of cigarette smoke and dried blood. Nikolai dealt with death daily. This was the life she had chosen. Nikolai being close already made her feel better. Her fears might be justified, but unlike her father who could not protect his family, Nikolai was made of stronger stuff.

“It will finally be all over soon, my love,” Nikolai said. He slid one protective arm around her waist. “With their reputation in tatters, the La Russa Familia will fall. Paolo will probably leave the country in haste but I have a nasty surprise waiting for him. He will not leave this soil alive.”

“Thank you,” she murmured. Veronica decided to ask what this surprise was. She realized she didn’t want to know.

“Now, tell me what’sbothering you,” Nikolai said, stroking her back.

“This,” she said. Veronica reached for the pregnancy test on the bedside table. Nikolai hadn’t noticed it yet. Her husband’s eyes widened as he saw the result.

“This is wonderful news, baby,” Nikolai exclaimed. He kissed her again, then frowned, studying her expression.“You are not pleased? Do you not want to have children?”

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