“Zena, my mother, Sophia Rossi,” Remo’s introduction followed a slow smile as if he were pacifying or setting me up, I couldn’t decide.
“Mrs. Rossi.” I thrust out a hand on instinct, hoping she wouldn’t notice my sweaty palms.
I shouldn’t have bothered. The woman made no effort to take my hand. Instead, she scrutinized me through narrowed eyes and pursed lips. I was taller than her by a couple of inches in my heels, but she carried her stature with such authority, I felt like a cow on auction as her gaze traveled the length of my body. Where Remo’s was placid hunger, hers was rancid disgust, like I’d just crawled out of the sewer and dripped muck on her fancy shoes.
“I would’ve expected your brother to practice safe sex, Remo.” She maintained eye contact with me while addressing him. Her thick Italian accent more pronounced than her sons. “Considering the number of whores out there who wouldn’t hesitate to jump on the gravy train at the mere mention of healthy sperm.”
I gasped, lowering my hand and clenching my fist so I didn’t sucker punch her in the face. God, it would’ve felt awesome to do so.
“At least you’re pretty, I’ll give him that.” She arched a brow. “Still.” The single word had my hackles rising but before I could respond, she smirked. “How much would it take to get rid of it?”
“What?” I slapped a hand to my mouth, the other grasping my stomach, defending my baby. My eyes met Remo’s over his mother’s shoulders. If I expected remorse there, I was sorely mistaken. Hadn’t I given him a reason to hate me already. He merely shrugged, his expression almost saying,‘What the fuck did you expect?’
“My son is to marry in three days, girl and he can’t be seen agreeing to the likes of a ‘oh look I’m pregnant with your baby’ tart. So, name your price and disappear.” She dismissed me by swiveling away on her heel.
“You call yourself a mother,” I spat, clutching my chest as a shooting pain barreled its way past my rib cage. “I don’t want your fucking money,” I gritted through clenched teeth. Slowly, as if I hadn’t just insulted her, she turned to look at me, her eyes deadly daggers of poison as their intensity burst through me. I didn’t care. “I’d rather rot in hell than have to deal with you Rossi’s again.”
“Oh,” that one word held copious amounts of terror and for just a moment I regretted my words. “If that is your wish,cara, then so be it.” It took me a second to grasp the meaning of her statement, but it was too late. She glanced at Remo. “Get rid of her.”
“Wait. What?” My stomach turned inside-out, my skin instantly cold. “You can’t do this,” I screamed as Remo reached my side and grabbed my arm. “Don’t do this, Remo,” I begged, digging my heels into the floor, the marble tiles didn’t help my attempt. He dragged me toward the door. “Remo,” I screeched, tears blurring my vision. I hit his arm to stop him. His grip, however, was too strong. “Remo, please,” I cried. “Don’t do this. You’re killing an innocent baby, Lorenzo’s child.” My chest rose and fell in quick succession to keep up with my erratic breathing.
“Remo?”
He stopped and turned to look at his mother. My body shuddered against his hold, tears searing my cheeks as I prayed she’d changed her mind.
“Not a trace back to Lorenzo. Keep it clean.”
“What?” I screamed. My heart slammed against my rib cage as cold panic spread through every pore.
“Really, Mother. Guess you’ve never seen your son in action then, have you?”
“What the fucks wrong with you, Remo?” They were discussing me like I was a fucking animal who’d just retched on their damn carpet. “You’re sick,” I hissed at her before he yanked me out of the room and down the hallway.
I squirmed against his hold. Two men walked past, and I screamed for their help. They just ignored me and carried on walking. Remo clamped a hand around my mouth and dragged me into the elevator. He slid his other hand around my waist and jerked me backward. With my back to his chest, he leaned down. “Keep your goddamn mouth shut and do as I say, kitten, or trust me, every single person you know is going to be lying right there next to you in that hole I’ve got ready for you,” he whispered in my ear, his voice thick with undisguised amusement.
My eyes widened and I mumbled against his palm, shaking my head. He wouldn’t harm my family, Rayden. “Please.” The muffled sound did nothing, his hold didn’t slack off, it tightened.
“I did say paybacks a bitch, didn’t I and now I’m collecting. Six years too late but fuck, it’s just as fucking thrilling.” His maniacal laugh filled the cubicle and my knees buckled. “You know, it’s sad to let such a beautiful body go to waste.” He squeezed my hip. “I should’ve fucked you when I had the chance. Now you’re soiled goods.” He bit my earlobe and I yelped against the palm over my mouth.
Mascara burned eyes that felt puffy and sore. Defeated, I sagged against his body, a silent prayer bouncing around my head like a ping-pong ball. As if by some divine intervention, Remo’s phone rang when the elevator doors swooshed open. He answered and I saw the distraction as an opportunity, the second we stepped out the rear door into the alley. Putting every ounce of strength, I could muster into my arm, I elbowed him in the stomach. In that split-second he doubled over and loosening his hold on me, I shot out of his arm and raced off down the alley.
I didn’t bother to stop when he yelled. Determination induced panic infused my legs with speed that would embarrass the fastest bullet out there. But Remo was fast, I heard his feet pummel the ground behind me, shunting adrenaline into my viciously pumping heart.
“Get her!” someone shouted which told me Remo had company.
By the time I rounded another two alleys, my chest was burning from the exertion and I silently thanked Rayden for pushing me into taking kickboxing classes with him. I was a lot fitter now than a month ago. When I was certain I’d gained a couple of feet, I veered left into an alley blocked by boxes at the entrance. Ducking behind a dumpster, I leaned against the wall not caring that it stank of stale piss and vomit. I took a moment to draw much-needed oxygen into my lungs. Tears rushed down my cheeks almost like a direct taunt to my thirst for water. I closed my eyes for just a second. “Calm the fuck down and think, Zena,” I mumbled between deep exhales. Opening my eyes, I dug around in my purse for my phone. Between the sniffles and tears, I had to squint at the screen. Swiping at the tears with a frustrated curse, I dialed Rayden. It was only when he answered, did I remember Remo’s threat to harm my family.
I swallowed, pushing all the calm I could manage into sounding normal. “Ray?”
“Zena,” his voice came across soft and tentative. He was still angry.
The tears fell harder, and I swallowed again. “Ray, I’m sorry,” I cringed at the break. Would he come for me if I told him, I was being chased by a Rossi, again? “I’m so sorry, Ray,” I repeated, not sure what else to say, more scared to put him in harm’s way. He knew what Remo was capable of. “I didn’t mean to hurt you—” I broke off. Stuffing a fist into my mouth, I bit down on a finger, letting his soft breathing fill my ear, my heart. “I won’t ask you to forgive me but please—” I swallowed a few more time. “Please don’t forget me,” I whispered, knowing I couldn’t go back home, yet.
“Zena, what—” he paused. “Why does that sound like a goodbye?”
“It’s better this way,” I hiccupped on a sob.
I could hear his long-drawn-out exhale as though he’d taken time to think about what I’d done. “No, baby, it’s okay, when you’re back home, we can talk about it.”
