Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess (33 page)

Nathan knew she was lying. He always knew. “I’ll be home as soon as the deal is made, baby. I promise. I don’t want to leave you alone, but—”

“Go, Nathan.” Carter mustered up a small smile. “I’ll be here when you get home,” she assured.

Nathan kissed her lips softly, then deeply. Carter melted into him, surrendering to his kiss, feeling every bit of love he felt for her. She almost broke down in his arms.

When he ended the kiss, he whispered “I love you,” against her lips, grabbed his jacket and his holster, and left. Since he had taken his holster, Carter knew that whatever he had to do was potentially dangerous. She silently prayed for her husband’s safe return home.

Carter didn’t move from the table. She just waited for him to return. She didn’t want to go to bed without him tonight. About an hour had passed, and she was still seated. She stirred only when she heard the house phone ring. She frowned, wondering who would be calling the house phone so late. Nathan would call her cell if he needed her. Curious, she walked to the phone and picked it up.

“Hello,” she answered.

All she heard on the phone for a moment was soft sniffling.

“Hello,” a soft female voice said.

Carter instantly recognized the voice. “Jenna?” she asked surprised.

Jenna hadn’t called her in weeks. A twinge of happiness and relief breezed through Carter. Maybe she and Jenna would finally make up. Maybe her mother had been wrong about Jenna not being her friend. Maybe Jenna had missed Carter as much as Carter had missed her.

A smile spread across her lips. “I’m so glad you called, Jen. I just— I miss you so much. Maybe we can plan you a trip this weekend and hang out … like old times,” Carter said, feeling hope for her friendship with Jenna. “I could really use a friend right now, and … I have some stuff that I want to talk to you about.” Carter had decided that it was time to tell Jenna the truth about who she was … Well, some of the truth, not all of it yet. She wanted Jenna to meet her mother, whom she planned on calling soon. And she could use a little normal girl time with Jenna to pull her out of this depression-like state she was in.

Another soft sniffle was all Carter heard. She frowned. “Jen, are you crying?” Carter said, becoming concerned. “Is everything okay? Is it Benny? Is it your parents?” Jenna didn’t answer. “Jenna?”

“What’s your name?” she asked softly.

Carter’s brows furrowed. “Jen, you know my—”

“A woman who said she was your sister came by my house today,” she cut Carter off. “She asked me if I knew Cecilia Steele. Of course, I told her no because I was sure that I’d never heard that name before. Then she pulled out a picture of you in the front yard of a house in the country. You were probably— I don’t know— fifteen. And a man was standing with you. I’m assuming he was your father. She said his name was Silas.” Carter heard Jenna sob softly. “She had a gun. And she told me some … very disturbing things about your family,” she cried. “She said that you had lied to me. She said that your parents are alive, and you were running away from them. She said that they were murderers.” She cried for a moment before speaking again. “She told me to tell her everything I know about you, which I soon figured out isn’t much. I never really knew how little I knew until that moment.” Soft sniffles filled the phone again. “After she realized I knew nothing about you, she left and told me that I should probably stay away from you. I … I think I agree with her.”

“Jen—”

“I just called to say— goodbye. I don’t know who you are. I’m leaving New York, and I’m not coming back. You don’t have to say anything. I don’t want you to. I just didn’t want to disappear without telling you …” There was a long moment of silence before Jenna said, “Bye, Cecilia,” and hung up the phone.

Carter stood at the kitchen counter with the phone to her ear for ten full minutes before she placed it on the receiver. She left the counter and walked numbly to the cabinet where Nathan had put her bottle of wine. She removed a glass from the cabinet and drank until the bottle was empty.

She should leave. It was one of the first thoughts that crossed her mind. She should go to Hope Beach, find the woman claiming to be her sister, and hand herself over to Silas. He would tell her what the hell he wanted with her, and they’d be done with it. No more threats to the people she loved if he got what he wanted.

Carter sighed. She knew for a fact that leaving wasn’t an option. Even though she felt Nathan shouldn’t want to be with her, she knew that she would never be able to leave him. She loved him too much. That love made it impossible for her to be away from him. Plus Nathan would flip if he came home and she was gone.

She ran her hands down her face and fought off succumbing to her emotions. She needed to think. She needed to figure out what she wanted to do next. She knew she didn’t want to mess up her relationship with her husband. Nathan was all she had. She had to make things better before they got worse, and she lost him. Just like she had lost Jenna. Carter didn’t think she’d survive if she had to go back to living her life alone. She knew that if she lost Nathan, she’d run. She’d run until nothing reminded her of the love that she’d lost.

Carter strolled over to the large window just as she saw lightning flash and thunder crack loudly in the sky. She sat on the large windowsill and pulled her knees to her chest, letting the sounds of the storm wash over her. She would wait here until he came home. Then she’d work on getting things back to normal between them.

Nathan entered Warehouse B with ten of his men behind him. He’d been waiting for this moment for weeks. All the hard work, the searching, the countless hours devoted to locating this particular problem was finally about to pay off.

He’d found Adrien Stone in New York City.

This was it. It had taken a long time to get the man to agree to a meeting, but they had done it. Apparently, Adrien Stone knew Carter was The Russian’s girl, he just didn’t know that The Russian was Nathan Salerno. That was understandable. Many in the criminal world thought ‘The Five’ were five contract killers Angelo Salerno had hired to be enforcers for his organization. Nathan was cool with that. He didn’t want the attention anyway.

Nathan was confident in his plan for tonight. He had used his many connections around the world to study Adrien Stone’s ways, and he was already one step ahead of the motherfucker. Finding the man and eliminating the threat of the Stone family was the first step to getting his wife back.

There were no words to describe how much Nathan missed Carter. She didn’t talk, laugh, eat enough, or sleep restfully anymore. She hadn’t even cried. Nathan missed her tears the most.

It was like she was there, but … not there. It was as if every bit of life and will to live had been sucked out of her that morning three weeks ago. Thinking back to that day in the office, he wished he’d have tried harder to get her to talk. Lately, she’d been falling deeper and deeper into her depression. Carter had lost herself. The revelations of her life had killed her spirit. And Nathan needed his Carter back. He missed her bad jokes, her flirty personality, her sassy temper. He wanted his spoiled brat back. And he’d tried everything, but nothing had worked. Now, having tried everything else, Nathan could only think of one more thing he could do to get his wife back. He had to eliminate every threat having a negative effect on his wife’s happiness. Starting with the Stones.

As he entered the meeting area, Nathan laid eyes on Adrien Stone. The motherfucker looked just like his picture. Although not as built as Alexis Stone, was about 6’0 tall and had the same long, black hair. Damn, Nathan hated to say it, but his wife resembled this piece of shit. As Nathan and his men approached, Kyle, Mickey, Dante and Lucca— who had already been there with Adrien— moved aside. Nathan took long strides across the warehouse to Adrien. As soon as Adrien saw him, his brows rose and the Stone family’s signature smile spread across his lips.

“You look like Angelo Salerno. But you do not look as Italian as he does,” he said with mirth in his voice, his thick French accent slurring his words.

Nathan’s answering smile was sinister, mirroring his intentions for the evening. “I am Russian,” Nathan replied.

“Russian? But Angelo is your father, yes? You get this Russian from your mother?”

Nathan stopped when he stood in front of Adrien. He smirked. “Yes,” he answered. “Did you know my mother?”

Adrien nodded and extended his hand, and Nathan extended his. They shook hands firmly. “Yes, I see the resemblance between you and your father now. You have features like Anastacia’s lover.” Adrien’s men chuckled. “Anastacia is like her mother when it comes to men. At the first sight of a white man, she opens her legs. Fucking whore,” he muttered.

Nathan’s jaw ticked. Adrien’s first mistake of the night— talking shit about Nathan’s mother-in-law. Nathan glanced over at Mickey and saw him fighting to contain his rage. Mickey loved Anastacia Stone, and Nathan could tell the comments Adrien made didn’t sit well with him, either.

Nathan drew in a deep breath, reigning in his temper. He looked at the men standing with Adrien in disgust. “You have a large amount of security with you tonight, Mr. Stone. Do you not trust me?” he asked.

“I trust no man,” he replied coolly. “Do they frighten you, Russian Salerno?” he asked through a chuckle.

Nathan had never seen arrogance that rivaled his own. Adrien Stone looked at him with absolutely no fear in his hazel-green eyes. It was something Nathan was familiar with. The men he went up against on a daily basis did not fear him— until he proved himself a force to be reckoned with.

Nathan smirked. “Do I look frightened to you, Adrien Stone?”

Adrien snorted. “You
look
like a baby boy to me. How old are you, boy? When I was told a Salerno knew where to find my niece, I assumed it would be an adult.”

Nathan loved being underestimated. He welcomed it. It made the element of surprise so much sweeter.

“Do I look like a child, Stone?” Nathan took a menacing step toward him.

Adrien’s men immediately went on the defense by taking steps forward toward Nathan. They were very good, very sharp. It didn’t concern Nathan, though. As soon as Adrien’s men moved, Nathan’s men moved.

Mickey motioned for Nathan’s men to surround Adrien and his men. They followed his command while keeping their hands on the weapons at their side. Kyle stood at Nathan’s right and Lucca on his left. Dante came up behind Nathan, and Mickey moved to stand behind Adrien and his men.

Adrien let out a dark chuckle. “What is this, boy?” he laughed “Some kind of attack?” he yelled, his voice taking on an edge. Suddenly, his tone got serious. “Do you have any fucking idea who I am?”

Nathan smiled. “I do know who you are,” he replied, thoroughly amused by the man’s anger. His wife and mother-in-law were a thousand times more intimidating than this pussy.

Seeing that Nathan was unaffected, Adrien upped the ante. “I don’t think you understand who you’re fucking with,” Adrien growled. With a snap of his finger, every one of his men drew their guns and aimed them at Nathan. “Here’s the deal, Russian Salerno. You bring me Anastacia’s little bitch, and I won’t have my friends tear you and your little play buddies apart.” He shrugged “This is the only chance I will give you to save yourself. And I’m only giving you this chance because I think you know where she is.”

Adrien Stone smile wickedly, crossed his arms over his broad chest, and waited for Nathan’s response. Nathan ground his teeth together tightly, trying his best not to mess up the plan. He didn’t particularly like being spoken to as if he were a simple-minded child. Not to mention that shit had just made the mistake of calling his wife a bitch.

Nathan forced a smile. “Very well,” he said reluctantly, knowing his time would come very soon.

Adrien’s smug smile widened to a grin.

“Cousin, do you mind grabbing Mr. Stone and me a seat so that we can discuss Carterina Stone?” Nathan asked Lucca, never taking his eyes from Adrien Stone.

Lucca nodded and retrieved the chairs.

With a wave of Adrien’s hand, his men lowered their guns.

Adrien was the first to take his seat facing Nathan. Nathan lingered for a moment, removing his suit jacket before taking his seat. After Nathan was seated, Kyle, Mickey, Dante, and Lucca pulled up their own seats beside him. Then the remainder of Nathan’s men sat behind The Five. Adrien frowned as Nathan and his men made themselves comfortable, looking as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

“You were right, Mr. Stone …” Nathan said, capturing Adrien’s attention. He crossed one long leg over the other and smiled. “I do know where both Ms. Stones are. She and that Russian have been living in New York for quite some time. They stay in the Manhattan area where my father and I reign. They actually occupy one of the penthouses in one of my buildings.”

“So why are you willing to take me to her?” Adrien asked.

Nathan shook his head firmly and frowned. “I am not taking you to her, Mr. Stone. I am merely telling you where you can find them. I want no part in your visit.”

“Why not?” Adrien asked in confusion “You must have heard about the reward I am giving— ten million. I assume you want to meet the girl that will be the reason for our riches.”

Nathan sat silent for a moment, needing to reign in his temper once again. It wasn’t easy hearing this bastard put a price on his wife.

Once he calmed, Nathan feigned fear. “I have no desire to go up against that Russian she’s living with,” he said, trying to keep a straight face. “The man has lost his mind. He’s madly in love with that woman, and I mean
mad
,” Nathan stressed. “He’s gone completely insane. Even more crazy than he was before. I heard he beat three men to death because they called her a bitch.” Nathan shook his head. “He’s a fucking brute.”

“But she is a bitch,” Adrien cut Nathan off. “And a crazy bitch, considering who her father is. I heard from an associate that Spook Steele had a brother. A twin. He told me that Anastacia didn’t fuck the hit-man, she fucked his brother. Silas is his name. I’ve seen him twice.” He let out a humorless laugh. “Anastacia is one stupid bitch. That bastard makes me look like a saint.”

“Interesting,” Nathan interjected. “Tell me more of Silas Steele. I wasn’t aware Spook had a brother,” he lied.

If he was going to get any information on Silas Steele, this would be a good place to start.

Adrien shrugged. “I really can’t tell you much. He needs to be in a fucking padded room, far away from decent human beings.” He smiled. “But then again, don’t we all? I met Silas Steele only by accident. He wasn’t supposed to be at the gathering, but he showed up. He usually sends Aziz—”

“Who is Aziz?” Nathan asked, mentally taking notes.

“Aziz is Silas’s voice, at least that’s what I call him. He’s the middle man between Silas and the rest of the world. Silas deals in human trafficking. I’ve gotten a few spoils from him myself,” he said. “Maybe after this, I’ll send you a nice gift, boy. Unless you’re sensitive to that kind of thing because of your mother and all … The Steeles train their whores much better than Ivan. Just tell me your preference— young women, young men, little girls, little boys. Hell, I’ve heard some of them have been his own offspring. He keeps them caged.”

Nathan held his breath for a moment and willed himself not to react to what Adrien had just said about his mother. What the hell was he talking about? Knowing what was coming next, Nathan reached out and placed his hand firmly against Lucca’s chest, holding him in his seat. Lucca had loved his Aunt Anya dearly, and it had broken him nearly as much as it had broken Nathan when she was killed. Nathan knew Lucca wanted to know what the hell Adrien was talking about, too, but they couldn’t focus on that, not yet. This is what he told his cousin silently. Lucca gave him a look, and Nathan gave him an understanding nod, silently telling him that his time would come.

Be patient
, he thought. He’d ask his father what Adrien had meant about his mother later. Nathan stared at him with cold, emotionless eyes. “Do not ever speak of my mother, Adrien. This I will only say once,” he warned menacingly. After giving his cousin a loving pat on the cheek, he turned his gaze back to Adrien. He could tell that Adrien had noted the change in his accent and his eyes.

Adrien shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “That doesn’t matter.” He swallowed and looked at Nathan, flanked by two men at each side. “What matters is you telling me where I can find the girl … I should be … I …” Adrien continued to scrutinize Nathan and his men. The more he looked, the more uneasy he became.

Then Nathan saw it flash through his eyes— realization.

A dark laugh erupted from Nathan’s chest. “There it is,” Nathan said, pointing at Adrien. “I was wondering how long it would take you to count to five. I have to say, you’re not as sharp as my mother-in-law— or my wife,” he said coolly. “They would have put it together the moment I walked through the door.”

Shock and surprise registered on Adrien’s face.

Nathan nodded. “It is true. I am Carterina’s husband. And you will not be going anywhere near my wife.”

Adrien opened his mouth to speak, and Nathan silenced him with a look. He knew what Adrien was going to ask next— he didn’t need to hear his voice.

“And before you ask— yes, I am the Russian they speak of. The men sitting next to me are my brothers.”

“The Russian?” he stuttered. “Are you fucking kidding me? Angelo Salerno’s fucking kid? Bullshit.”

“I bullshit you not, Adrien.”

“B-but I don’t understand. They should have known this,” Adrien mumbled as if her were talking to himself.

“What’s there not to understand? I’m The Russian and Carterina is the Russian’s girl.” Nathan shrugged. “You came here to harm what belongs to me, and I came here to warn you against fucking with me,” he sneered. “Now, Adrien, what you have found yourself in tonight is a bit of a … bind.” Nathan explained calmly. “Now here is the
real
deal. Your search has come to an end. You will be escorted back to your home in France tonight and no later than that—”

“Hold on, hold on,” Adrien cut Nathan off, shaking his head.

Nathan arched his brow. “I don’t like being interrupted, Adrien. I’d advise you not to test me,” Nathan warned.

Adrien didn’t listen. “Don’t fucking test me? Just because I’m a little shocked that Angelo and that whore actually produced a competent human being does not mean I’ll allow you talk to me as if you are something more than some Russian whore’s bastard. Hell …” he said with an angry wave of his hand, “you could have just as easily been my son, as many times as I paid Ivan to fuck Anya!”

Rage paralyzed Nathan’s body and seemed to radiate from his skin. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“Nathan, he crossed the fucking line. You need to kill him,” Lucca stated from his side.

Both Salerno men were now fighting to contain their murderous rage. If they snapped, neither Adrien nor his men would leave the warehouse tonight.

Adrien didn’t relent. “You fuckers aren’t going to do shit! You don’t want a war with me, boy! The blood that runs through my veins is that of a king! You lucked out, just like your gutter trash, peasant father!” His venomous tone was saturated with arrogance. “You think I will allow myself to be beaten by the son of poor trash and a whore who didn’t even know how to suck a fucking dick properly!”

That did it. Nathan and Lucca shot up from their seats so fast that it took a second for everyone to register that they’d moved.

Nathan pulled Adrien Stone up from his seat and used every bit of strength in his body to hurl the man across the room as if he were a rag doll.