“You know our men would never consider a man bedding his wife as such.”
I seethe with anger and shudder with fear. How can this world be so harsh? Can a girl ever hope to escape it? But running away would be far more foolish than cutting my hair. Without resources or money, I’d be caught and all that would amount to is my family being shamed and me being punished.
I ask another question rather than dwelling on that depressing scenario. “And the Seconda Notte? Is that real?” Nico’s jaw clenches, and he pulls away. “Will you do that to your wife?” I pry, tugging at his arm until he’s forced to look back at me.
When our eyes meet again, my brother’s not wearing his mask for me like usual. I see nothing in those empty gray eyes but a cold-blooded killer. “I will give my wife my protection, every comfort money can buy and children she will hopefully love. But my black heart and damned soul belong to the Trio and always will. She may hate me as she pleases, but she will accept the ways of our world as we all must.”
If my father said such words to me, I would remain silent but, with Nico, I am bolder. “So, you are telling me I must accept my husband’s infidelity as my duty?”
“You won’t marry for two years, and two years is a very long time for this peace and your betrothal to last, Caterina,” is his enigmatic reply.
3
Alessio
Lack of sleep and the dry desert air have my eyes burning when I emerge from the cell past noon. The abandoned copper mine was converted for this sort of work many years ago, when my great-grandfather became Capo after he skinned his predecessor and claimed the West for our family. He was a demented son of a bitch from all I’ve heard of him. No surprise there. He was a De Luca. Ruthlessness is in our blood.
Far from the touristy side of Las Vegas, the local cops know better than to come here, and while the FBI can be a problem now and then, they don’t know of this place. The guard on duty is an initiate. He’s only a few years younger than me, but I had more hatred in my heart at nine than this boy ever will. He had stared at the three-headed wolf tattoo across my throat with covetous eyes when I had arrived. He won’t be worthy of that until he takes the oath… if he proves himself worthy at all.
The shock on his face seeing me covered from head to toe in blood is comical. The traitor got what he deserved in my opinion, but perhaps I’ve been a bit more bloodthirsty of late. All my rage toward Morelli is forcibly channeled into my work instead of revenge. “Left a mess with that one,” I tell him, knowing he’s been listening to the screams for the past six hours. “Clean it up and dispose of his car.” I walk on without waiting for his response. He’ll learn his place in the Trio or die, same as the rest of us.
Armando is waiting by his car to drive me home, unimpressed by my bloodbath. “I just had the fucking interior cleaned. I should’ve brought towels.”
“It’s mostly dry now,” I reply with a shrug. “You’ve seen me looking worse.”
“Fine, get in. Wouldn’t want you to be late for the ball, Cinderella,” my best friend jokes.
“Fuck the betrothal dinner and Nico Morelli’s little brat of a sister. I need some sleep,” I say, slipping down into the soft leather seat and grateful for the blast of cool air as he revs the Charger’s engine.
“You do, but you’ll still go.”
“You talk too much, Armando.”
He laughs, unafraid because he knows I have no wish to harm him, no more than I’d harm my little brother or my sisters. I may be a demon, but I’m loyal to my family. Even if I never likedmy older brother Sil, that fucking psycho, blood still cries out for blood. It makes us look weak, having to swallow his death and shake hands with our enemies.
“Your father said to bring you home, and I am nothing if not a dutiful soldier.” Yes, he is and, when I’m Capo, I’ll reward Armando and his father for their loyalty. But, that won’t be for many years since my father will probably live a long while. Unfortunately.
It’s still strange to think about my change in status with Sil, Jr. gone. Las Vegas would’ve been weaker with him at its head. He got off on tormenting women instead of making our real enemies tremble with fear.
It’s better that he’s no more than the dust that irritates my eyes today.
It would be better still if I could put his killer in the ground next to him.
Instead, I get his sister in my bed.
“Nico loves his little sister. If you’ve ever seen either of those Morelli sons around her, it’s obvious. Never shy away from a weakness to exploit,”my father had told me when he’d shared my wedding plans with me.“Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
“Two fucking years? I prefer things hotter than that. Gia and Sofia are my sisters, but I will never bow to their future husbands. Me fucking his sister won’t stop Morelli from being a cold, murdering bastard as needed, a thorn in our side when it suits him, and it won’t avenge my brother.”
“I crave vengeance, too, but I believe Nico’s love for his sister runs a little deeper than your polite tolerance of your half-sisters.”
I know what he wants from me. Make her suffer and Nico will suffer; that’s my father’s idea of revenge. I’d rather just skin the bastard responsible and show the Trio that no one kills a De Luca and lives to smile in our faces over it.
An hour later, Armando drops me off. “Don’t you want to come in and watch my torment?” I ask.
“A good soldier knows his place, and it's not at his Capo's table every night,” he replies, an edge to his tone I wouldn’t expect. “Besides, I’ve got a girl waiting at Torque who wants to congratulate me on my last race.” He pairs that with his familiar smirk. Smug fucker. He’ll find his entertainment with women who can handle what he’s giving, not some little virgin schoolgirl I’m not permitted to touch for two years.
I’ve barely set foot inside the mansion when my stepmother intercepts me. “The Morellis arrived two hours ago, Alessio. Your future wife and her mother have been shown to one of the guest rooms to refresh themselves while your father and hers speak in his office.”
