“That’s the lie he tells outsiders to hidethe shame. Within our circles, the story is she killed herself, and most probably believe it because by all accounts he treated her even worse than me.”
“He’s a piece of shit, and his time is running out.”
“If you’re asking for my permission, you have it.”
“I know, kitten.” He presses his lips to mine in a soft kiss. “What about Jacopo?”
“He escorted me from Detroit to Miami for my wedding. My family couldn’t afford to come, so they put me into the hands of one monster to be given into the hands of another. I shook the entire time on the plane. I was terrified. I knew he had something awful planned for me. Jacopo was watching me like a hawk, and I expected him to pounce but he waited until we got to Dom’s house. I was a complete basket case by then, shaking and trembling with fear.” Tears well in my eyes as I think back to the night before my wedding.
“You don’t have to tell me. It’s okay.” Fiero hugs me close, dotting kisses into my hair and whispering soothing words.
When I have relaxed a little, I rest my cheek on his chest and tell him the rest. “Dom took me to his room and stripped me naked in front of Jacopo, and then he held me down while his buddy violated me. The entire time, Jacopo taunted me with how Damiano was now dating my best friend and planning to marry her because she wasn’t a cheating slut like me. After, Jacopo returned the favor for Dom, and they kept going in rounds for hours.” My tears are all gone when I lift my head and fix emotionless eyes on my Gage. “He broke me that night and every night since. Now there is nothing left of that naïve, innocent eighteen-year-old girl who stepped foot on the plane that night.”
21
FIERO
Icarry Valentina to bed, helping her into a red silk nightie and cradling her in my arms all night as she sleeps fitfully. I barely sleep, only grabbing a few minutes here and there. I’m too tortured with images of everything she’s been through to switch off my brain. Jacopo Pagano is lucky he’s already dead because he’d be on top of my kill list along with Dominic Ferraro.
I’m fully at peace with the decision I’ve reached. Even if it comes back to bite me on the ass, that’s okay. Dominic Ferraro is living his last week on this Earth. He just doesn’t know it.
Looking down at the woman sleeping in my arms, I make a silent vow to ensure no one ever hurts her again. No man will ever touch her but me. If anyone looks at her with even a hint of lustful intent, I’ll scoop their eyeballs from their sockets and make them choke on them. I hold her closer, dusting some kisses in her hair, careful not to hug her too tight so I don’t wake her. It’s still early, and she needs to sleep.
Reluctantly, I peel myself away from her and tiptoe into my closet, grabbing a pair of training shorts. Taking one last glance at my sleeping beauty, I head to my office and begin to set things in motion.
I call my assistant first, promising her a bonus when she protests being woken at five thirty a.m. After ensuring she’s got everything set up for tonight, I tell her to reschedule my day. I’m not leaving my kitten alone. Not after last night. She’s bound to be all up in her feelings, and I want to be here to support her as she processes everything. Questioning her about Dom’s activities will have to wait for now.
Then I place a call to my guys in Miami asking if anything interesting has cropped up. They began shadowing Dom and Cesco yesterday. They don’t have anything yet but promise to update me the second there is something to report. Next, I call Rico and ask him to handle a few things. He asks about Valentina, and I tell him she’s fine, but I don’t say any more. If Rico doesn’t know, he can’t be implicated.
Lastly, I send a message to Natalia Messina to make an appointment for her to come out to the house on Friday. Nat is Caleb and Joshua’s mom, and she’s a doctor at the private hospital we own in the city. Her husband, Leo, is Ben’s underboss. Nat provides private medical care to our small inner circle, and she’s the only one I’d trust with my kitten.
Finally, I summon Zumo and Caleb to my house, telling Zumo to pick up his best friend and explain everything to Caleb on the way. My brother is fully up to speed, and our meeting will be quicker if all parties are on the same page.
They arrive shortly after six thirty, and after checking to make sure my kitten is still asleep, I usher them into my office and close the door.
“I presume you know everything and you’re okay with it if you’re here.” I eyeball Caleb, trusting I was right to bring him into this.
“You know me. I’m always down to kill a few motherfuckers.” He flashes me a wicked grin and cracks his knuckles.
“You’re a husband now with a baby on the way.” Caleb’s wife Elisa is due to give birth in August, six days after Joshua’s wife Gia is due to give birth to their baby. “It’s okay if this is too much to ask. I understand.” I know Caleb can be trusted to keep it a secret even if he doesn’t participate.
“I’m all in, Fiero.”
“As I am, brother.”
I nod my gratitude toward Zumo before swinging my gaze back to Accardi. “What we’re doing is unsanctioned. This could jeopardize our standing or even our positions on the board.”
Caleb props his butt on the edge of my desk, flicking strands of dirty-blond hair out of his eyes. “The guy is corrupt to his core, and he’s in bed with the cartel. We’ll torture him for intel, and you’ll find the evidence retrospectively. Then we’ll go to the board and explain it, and they’ll let us get away with it.” His voice resonates with cool confidence.
“Are you very sure, Caleb?”
“Dude, seriously.” Caleb clamps his hand down on my bare shoulder. “All in meansall in.” His expression sobers. “I talked to Lili on the way. Don’t worry I didn’t give her any names or specifics, but I gave her enough info to explain the kind of man Ferraro is, and do you know what she said?” His eyes twinkle with pride and delight, like always when he talks about his wife, his Lili.
I roll my eyes. “Always so dramatic.”
“Hah! I think you’re giving me a run for my money these days.”
Can’t really argue that. “Go on.”
