Her mouth drops open. “You—you think they’d do that?”
“I think they’d do anything to try and bring down the Rossis, including using you to try and make it seem as though we’ve broken our word.” I have a flash of memory, of Alessa underneath Finnegan, of the tears in her eyes. “They’re the ones who are dishonored, not us.”
She puts her hand on my cheek, calming the raging ruin in my heart. “You saved me.” With a soft touch, she runs her fingers through my hair to the still-tender lump on the back of my head. “And they almost killed you for it.”
“Takes more than that to end me, piccolina mia. A whole hell of a lot more.”
At that, she gives me a small smile. “I wish you were bulletproof.”
“Don’t worry about that.” I press my forehead to hers. “I don’t have to dodge bullets if I’ve already killed all the assholes with guns.”
“Vicious.” She runs her lips across mine. “I like it.”
“Good.” I bite her bottom lip. “Because when I get home, I’ll be covered in the blood of our enemies.”
She rubs her thighs together. “It’s so wrong what you do to me. I swear there’s something wrong with me.”
“Nothing wrong with you.” God, I fucking love this girl. “You were just made for me. Only me.”
“Yes.” She finally releases my shoulders, though reluctantly. “I know you have to go. I just …”
“You’ll be safe here with your mom.” I force myself to pull back.
“I’m not worried about me.”
“I am.” I stow my second Glock in its holster, then reach for my jacket.
She leans against the wall and crosses her arms over her chest. “Mom said she could get me out of here. Out of this life. But if she can do it for me, she can do it for both of us.”
I freeze, then turn back to her. “What?”
“She told me she could do it.”
Blindsided. I can’t process what I’m hearing. She wants to leave? “There’s no way out, Alessa. Not for me. This is my life. Staying here and fighting this fight.” I don’t add that if she tried to leave, I’d find her. I’d bring her right back here and spank her round ass for even thinking of leaving me.
“I’ll never leave your side.” She walks to me. “Never. I just wanted you to know about it.”
I arch a brow. “I wonder if she told Carlito about her little magic trick of making daughters disappear.”
“Oh, no.” She shakes her head. “I’m not coming between them. I know we said no more secrets, but that’s one for her to reveal. Not me.”
“Wise.” I kiss her forehead. “Sit tight. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Will it be over then?” she asks, hope in her eyes.
I want to lie to her, to tell her that tonight will end the Perth threat. But it won’t. It’s just the opening salvo in the coming war.
Instead of saying anything, I lift her into my arms and give her one last, long kiss. “I love you, piccolina mia.”
“I love you, too,” she says as she tries to keep her chin up and her eyes clear of tears.
I have to walk away, to meet my father in the foyer, and to stride out into the night in search of bloodshed. I do it with a glad heart, because I know when my sins are done for the evening, I’ll return to my perfect Alessa, to the woman who keeps my heart safe as I wreak vengeance on all her enemies.
18
Alessa
I hate this. All we can do is sit around and wait. I try to keep myself busy, but it’s useless. I’m restless, and my mind keeps getting away from me. I keep thinking the worst is going to happen. But I should trust that Torino will do what he has to and come back to me safely.
“I suppose we don’t need to change much for this wedding. Maybe the date? Might be a bit much to use the wedding date you had set for Finnegan.”
“You still want to have a big wedding?” I ask, surprised. If Mom’s trying to distract me it’s working.
“Of course. We need to let everyone know that while this might be a bit taboo, Carlito and I still stand behind the both of you. We need to be a united front.” She pulls her glasses off and sets them down on the desk.
“And you do fully support this? Really?” I ask and almost hold my breath as I wait for her answer.
“If Torino will treat you as well as Carlito treats me, I more than support this union. I only needed to see if he was going to step up to the plate. To fight to have you. I needed to make sure he was who I thought. And he proved to me that his loyalty lies with you.”
It’s crazy to think she planned this whole thing, but the more I think about it, the more it all makes sense.
She continues unbothered, “The only casualty are the Perths, and well, that's as good as any to have. They should have been put down a long time ago.”
Mom is always a few steps ahead of everyone else. I’ve always known that. I just didn’t know she’d use her cleverness on me. “You knew how this whole thing would play out, didn’t you?” I ask.
“Of course. Torino didn’t make it hard to see. I’ve always kept tabs on him. I figured he had to be either gay or in love with you. He doesn't dabble in the whorehouses as the others do. Nor did I ever see him date.”
“That’s reassuring, I suppose.” I snort a laugh. Torino put my jealousy about him to bed. Literally. I trust him, and I know he’d do anything for me. Would never hurt me. He knows that would kill me. Him too, for that matter.
“The Rossi men see the value of having a devoted woman by their side, and they know what it takes to keep that devotion. The respect they must give it.” My mom has changed so much since marrying Carlito. I guess that happens when you have a significant other that treats you as an equal and lets you flourish.
I turn, bolting out of the office when I hear the back door bang open and Torino’s voice shouting my name. When I see him, I don’t stop running until I jump into his arms, even though he’s splattered with blood.
He catches me, his hands going to my ass as I kiss him. “Tell me none of this blood is yours,” I get out between kisses. I’m so lost in him I don’t even realize that he’s carrying me through the house.
“It’s the blood of the people who think they can stop us from being together. Soon, everyone will realize the city’s streets will run red if they think they can break us apart.” I should probably be grossed out with all of this talk of spilling blood, but the only thing I am is turned on.
“Torino.” My mouth crashes down on his in a needy kiss. The sight of him covered in blood shouldn’t make me wet, but it does. He looks as though he’s a warrior who came back from battle, and I’m his prize. I’m way too eager for him to claim me. The thought of him striking down our enemies to protect me has me trembling with need.
His hand reaches under my dress, giving a yank to my panties. They rip, no match for my Torino. “Need inside of you.”
“Yes.” I reach between us, going for his belt as he presses me up against the wall in his bedroom. He groans when my hand wraps around his cock, and I give it one long stroke before I pull him fully out of his pants.