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Everything had to be perfect.
I opened her closet door, peering at her clothing, finding a box of ammunition stored amongst shoeboxes. The woman could be a trained killer herself.
Ten minutes later I’d finished, leaving only the bathroom away from my ever-watchful eyes. I grabbed the bag, determined to leave, then was drawn to her smaller space. After flicking on the light, I stepped inside cautiously, as if I’d suddenly grown a conscience. The thought would ordinarily fill me with amusement but not on this day.
The apartment itself was luxurious in nature. However, the marble tiled shower and floor, the oversized clawfoot tub surrounded by a ledge littered with candles, bath oils, and bubble bath provided a powerful image in my mind, one too dark and sadistic for the vision in front of me. As I’d done before, I touched her things, gathering even more of a sense of her. Beauty, brains, and brawn.
Before turning out the light, I caught my reflection in the mirror. Blood covered a portion of my face and neck, my dark shirt splattered but invisible. It had been a long time since I’d studied myself in the mirror. Doing so today did little more than remind me of the beast I’d become.
I shifted my gaze to the massive shower then to my watch. After taking a deep breath, I yanked open the glass door, turning on the water then tearing off my clothes. As soon as I stepped in, I planted my hands on the wall, dropping my head under the heavy stream. I watched as strings of blood swirled near the drain, removing the horror of my actions.
A life that had a single purpose, a killing machine. I threw my head back, raking my fingers through my hair then grabbing the bottle of shower gel. Maybe it was time for me to take control of my life, finding the destiny that had been ripped away by far greater evil than anything I’d been tasked to do.
In doing so, maybe then could I rid the demons plaguing my mind, the wretched fate handed to me fifteen years before. Then I’d watch as those who’d destroyed my family learned what it was like losing so much in an instant, facing the wrath of the hand of God.
CHAPTER10
Lucia
Thank God the day was over.
It had been long and arduous, the continuous rain keeping my mood filled with anger and darkness the entire day, the foreboding remaining. As I grabbed my things, a sixth sense crawled into my system at the sound of sharp rap on my office door. I lifted my head, inhaling as soon as my brother Enzo walked in. He’d appointed himself the enforcer of the family, something I often found amusing given he’d long since professed to wanting to move to America to become a baseball player.
Maybe the four times he’d tried out for a team, failing every time had finally given him an indication that his dreams were far out in left field.
“La mia bella sorella,” Enzo said in his gruff voice as he walked in without an invitation. When he started the conversation by calling me his beautiful sister, I always knew our father had sent him to check up on me. This time with good reason. I had evil thoughts of taking a trip over the weekend, derailing my father’s plans by putting a bullet in Antonio’s brain, departing before anyone was the wiser.
“What do you want, Enzo? I’m in no mood for bullshit.”
His mood immediately soured, his expression turning rigid. “Always the cynical one of the family, aren’t you?”
“Maybe you didn’t hear my question, so I’ll phrase it differently. What the hell are you doing here?”
I hated his smirks, the way he chastised me with his cold, dark eyes. We looked nothing alike, except for the color of our hair, which had always led me to believe he was an illegitimate child. Sadly, I knew better.
“I wanted to see how you were doing with the impending marriage around the corner.”
“Uh-huh. Let me translate for you. You’re here to make certain I don’t escape to another continent prior to the big event.”
Chuckling, he glanced around my office. He’d never wanted to be a part of the legitimate side of my father’s corporation. That had left me entirely alone, finding enjoyment as well as my place amidst legitimate sales of diamonds and other precious jewels, our recent store opening in the Diamond District proving my worth. There was even a possibility I could be elected to the board of the Diamond District partnership. But my accomplishments still didn’t matter to either my father or my brother. While I understood how much money had been made over the years with the various illegal activities, I knew the bottom line. My father’s side of the business had lost a significant percentage of the family’s wealth while the side I’d nurtured had increased exponentially.
“I think you know that doing so wouldn’t be in your best interest.” His answer was trite, more so than usual.
“I’m curious, Enzo. What has our father promised you in exchange for selling your soul?”
“You knew a long time ago that there was no escape for either one of us. We were born into power, prepared to accept our positions.”
“You now want the throne so badly that you’ll do anything to grasp it. I hate to remind you that I’m firstborn, the rightful heir to the powerful kingdom.” Perhaps annoying him wasn’t in my best interest, but I had no intention of playing family politics on a rainy, late Friday afternoon. I did have full intentions of taking a hot bath with a glass of wine in my hand, the bottle on the side for refills. The weekend was meant for pampering myself, shaking off the ugliness of remembering my last name. And my brother wasn’t going to ruin it.
“You will never be anointed as the rightful heir.”
“I find it fascinating how interested you are when you ran away from the responsibility just the same as I did. At least I’m protecting our family’s interests in the States.” I folded my arms, studying his facial expression. We weren’t close and had never been. The man was cruel and volatile, violence second nature to him. When I’d caught him killing an animal out of anger, I’d turned my back on him completely.
“Be careful what you say to me, sister. I will rule one day, and you might not like the place you’re forced into.”
I’d had enough. I grabbed my purse, slinging it over my shoulder, brushing past him. He caught me before I could make it to the door, wrapping his hand around my arm, digging his fingers in. Just like he’d done when we were kids. He wanted me to cry in pain. That wasn’t going to happen.
“Fuck you, Enzo. Get out of my office.” I jerked my arm free, storming toward the door and throwing it open. When he didn’t budge immediately, I pointed toward the open space, glaring at him with all the hatred I could muster.
