Hush 2: Slow Burn (24 page)

“We got this,” Wyatt’s voice comes through. “Head for that room, Brax and I have you covered. Noah, cover Luca, get Shannon out of here.”

“I’ve got Mrs. Donati,” Johnathan’s voice relays.

“I’ve got you covered, Bro,” Ryan adds.

Uri and I move quickly and burst through the door of the room Roberto Zuko is held up in. To my surprise, the bastard is just sitting behind a desk with his feet up and a smile on his face.

“So it is true. You married Val, the Caprisi family’s secret hitter. I’m impressed,” Roberto says with a wolfish smile. I hate that he resembles Uri just a bit. It’s in the eyes and the nose though his lips are a lot thinner. “Have a seat nephew it looks like you’ve taken a hit.”

“What is to stop me from just putting a bullet through your skull right now,” I hiss.

“Oh you could, but I think you would be more interested to know the truth,” Roberto says.

Uri cocks his head to the side. “And what truth would that be?” Uri says with a calm only he can pull off.

“The truth of why I want you dead. Why I want your wife dead and the truth of how I have really been trying to make that all happen all along,” Roberto smirks.

I lift my gun to pull the trigger, but Uri places his hand over it and pushes my hand down. He then wraps a hand around my waist and pulls me toward his side. I don’t resist, but I want to put a bullet in this man so bad. I’ll be good for now.

~B
~

Uri

I grit my teeth through the pain in my side. I was so amazed by the stunt Rita and Valentina were pulling off I lost focus for a single second, taking a bullet before I put an end to the fucker that shot me.

I have seen and done a lot of things, but this Slow Burn that Rita and Valentina pulled off like an elegant dance had me in a trance. They moved effortlessly and quickly, it was as if they were not there at all.

I should have known Valentina would come to my side. Now we stand here in front of my uncle and I want nothing more than to hide her away from this evil son of a bitch. However, there is something about his words and gaps in what I do know that cause me to take pause. I want to hear what this slimy wanker has to say.

I nod in his direction and he begins to speak. “You know, you and I are a lot alike, Son,” he chuckles.

“I am not your son,” I hiss.

“Step-son, nephew whatever, you don’t stop until you get what you want. I have watched you over the years. I thought we would break you at some point, but it never happened. You were supposed to die in the street with your father.

“I foolishly hired greedy men. They thought that they could get a fair price for you still alive. We both know how that worked out for them. Ah yes, and my dear distant cousin Angie. She was supposed to make sure that Don Caprisi didn’t have a daughter to marry into the Donati family. The stupid cow left not one, but two of you.”

“Are you saying what I think you are saying,” Valentina seethes.

He ignores her words and keeps going with his story. “I hadn’t planned on showing my hand so soon, but Barry Coleman, Sr. came to me for help when his son went missing. I sent him away with a false promise to look into it. That is until I figured out who his son had been involved with. Wyatt Black went and married that loser’s ex-girlfriend.

“I was intrigued by this. Angie may have been stupid, but she was resourceful. She managed to figure out all about your affiliation with the Blacks and the Mairetties. It only took a few spies to get me what I needed,” Roberto chuckles at his own amusement. “The walls have ears you know.”

“Yes, I am aware,” I say with a smirk. I sent him the ears of several of his spies.

“For years, your father and grandfather held those Irish fucks close. Treating them like family or better yet like one of
the
families. Those fuckers over in Ireland are what keeps Joe and his boys so fucking untouchable.”

“Where exactly are you going with this,” I sneer.

“My
father
, for lack of a better word to call him, wanted to take the family in this new direction for years. All he needed was the right backing. Lucky him, he made friends with Marcello Mairettie.

“That’s when he got in the ear of the Locatellis. Alanzo agreed to this stupid plan you all are trying to bridge. You all want to wash your hands of who we are. I say fuck that. None of you deserve the power you possess. Especially not you,” he growls.

“You sound a little bitter Roberto,” I taunt.

“You now sit as the head of a family you have no right to. And that piece of shit, spoiled as fuck cousin of yours has what belongs to
me,
” his voice raises and trembles. I lift a brow just listening as I question his sanity. As his words sink in, I feel the rage within and I also feel it rolling off of my wife.

“I tried for years to get someone to go at the two of you, but they were all idiots and cowards. I’ve lost more men to Luca’s tantrums and your arrogance than I care to count.

“Then things started to crumble in my very own home. You’re siblings were never supposed to be anything to you. I tried to ensure that, but that slut mother of yours couldn’t even get that right. I loved her, all I ever wanted was that woman. I would have turned my back on what was robbed from me, but she ran after your father like some sad puppy.

“I thought getting rid of you and taking her as my wife would make things a piece of cake. My
father
would see I settled down and took on some responsibility and you, his favorite because you are so fucking much like your father, would be out of the picture. We could keep the three children that were no threat to me. We would have had it all, but she turned them against me and they went running to you behind my back. I still don’t see how I missed that one.

“Angie fucked up letting you get close to Caprisi’s brat. You two never should have been married. Then you go and make friends with the most powerful family of all. Essentially carrying out your father’s plan all along and not even fucking know it. Those sneaky pieces of shit deserved to be exposed for their true colors,” he is foaming at the mouth at this point and I am getting tired of this shit.

“Are you done yet,” I drawl.

“My plan was perfect in the end, but once again I let fuck ups in on the plan. Patrick Mims and his stupid sadistic nephew ruined things every step of the way. Christian was an idiot of the highest caliber.

“Briggs did me a favor by disposing of him. Patrick, now Patrick was my financer, but Angie stupidly got involved with him. When he disappeared, she went and got sloppy. I haven’t heard from her in months, so it is clear you all got to her,” he chuckles like the sick bastard he is. “When you removed Mims from play I needed that little tart Vanessa to sign off on the accounts I had hidden, but she just disappeared what out a trace.

“She was another waste. Good for nothing. She couldn’t even get pregnant by the right man. I needed that baby for leverage. You see nephew. You all are a bunch of entitled bastards that think you can have whatever you want, whoever you want, every single last one of you. Donatella belonged to me, she was mine.

“It has always been my intention to take you all down. Those Irish fucks, the Briggs, those stinking lying Mairetties, Caprisi’s ungrateful ass, and you
Donati
. You and your whole family,” he snarls the last name he would never rightfully carry with such disgust.

“Well good luck with that,” Valentina says dryly.

I look down at my wife. I see it in her eyes. She needs this kill. From his words, he was yet another puppet master in her world of pain, but I need this just as badly. This man took my father’s life because of greed and lust for power that was never meant to be his.

He has beaten my mother, kept her away from me and did the same with my siblings. This man helped to place the scars that have made me the man I am. Uncle Nicholas promised me revenge and all my life the man has delivered on his promises.

I see the moment we come to the same understanding. Morte Nera comes with the Hush. We each lift an arm with our glocks at the ready. Roberto’s eyes widen.

“We are nothing alike,” I say simply.

“Enjoy hell,” Valentina says.

With that, I squeeze her side and we both squeeze the triggers before he can say one more, vile word. I relish the silence that follows his gurgled attempt at a final word. With nothing left to be said or done, I take my wife and leave our past behind.

Fouty-Five

Thank You

Valentina

I enter Nico’s hospital room feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I feel like this is my fault. The man I used to know is no longer here. The infectious smile that used to glow in his eyes is gone, even though he tries putting on a front.

Nico will never play soccer again. The doctors say it will take some extensive physical therapy for him to walk even remotely normal. He has had three surgeries on his shoulder alone. I could see in his face the day they told him he would never play again that he was devastated. Soccer is like air to Nico.

I have watched the once funny and loving man turn surly and mean at times. He is cold at moments and shut down at others. He mostly puts on a brave face for me. I think it is because he knows I blame myself.

As I step into his room, I sigh in relief because finally after weeks I am getting him all alone. I have Vita with me. She seems to be the only one that can get a genuine smile out of him.

His head is resting on his pillow and he is staring out of the window away from me. I can tell he is not sleeping, but he hasn’t turned to acknowledge me either. That stings a bit, but I push that to the side.

“Nico,” I say softly.

He sighs heavily but still does not turn towards me. “Can I have one day, Valentina. I just want one day to myself without everyone staring at me like some pathetic invalid,” he huffs.

“I didn’t come to stare at you. I came to talk to you,” I reply. “I brought Vita. She misses you.”

At that, he slowly turns his head towards me. Unshed tears are welled up in this big strong man’s eyes and I can’t help the tear that slides from mine. I quickly wipe it away and shift closer to the bed to settle Vita beside him. She quickly snuggles up next to him.

“Nic – Nic,” she coos at her uncle.

“Hey, pretty girl,” Nico chokes out.

Vita babbles a few more sounds and then lays her head on him content to be next to her uncle. I say nothing for a few minutes as I take a seat in the chair next to his bed. Nico places his good arm around Vita and strokes her hair as he stares up at the ceiling.

“We didn’t get to do much when we were little. After my father died,” he pauses and swallows thickly. His next words are filled with so much bitterness. “After my father was murdered and my mother remarried, our step-father didn’t let us do much.

“But Mama fought him when I asked to play soccer. It was the first time I saw her stand up to him. I never had proof, but I think he used to hit her. I believed that he hit her that night, but I got to join the team.

“After that, I vowed to be the best soccer player out there. She fought for me to play and I wanted to make her proud. Nothing and I mean nothing has ever been as important to me as soccer. I love my sister and brothers, but soccer belonged to me. When I became great at it, I felt like I found my freedom.

“Then I came here, spending my off time with you guys. You and Vita have become so much more to me than just family. You see through me and Vita, she is the sweetest little girl. How could you not love her,” he gives Vita a sad smile before returning his gaze to the ceiling.

“If I had to trade soccer for you or her, I would pick you two over and over again, and not because Uri would have kicked my ass. I would do it again Valentina. I would give my life if it meant saving Vita’s. So please, stop coming here looking like you are the one that pulled the trigger.

“You were fucking amazing that night. I froze up,” Nico pauses to wipe away his tears. “I let you down. I was there to protect all of you and I froze. So stop beating yourself up. I fucked up, not you.”

“I just wanted to tell you, thank you,” I say on a shaky sigh. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, now let it go,” Nico says and turns back to the window, yet not letting Vita go.

Fouty-Six

Be My Forever

Shannon

My nerves are shot. I jump at every little thing. Luca has suggested therapy a number of times, but I don’t want to sit and talk about it. I just want to move on with my life.

And now I have a reason to. I confirmed it this morning. I am pregnant. I don’t know why, but I feel like this is what I needed. Like this baby is going to finally help me to define who I really am.

I feel like I have to figure it out now because I want to tell it to my children someday. Kind of like my mother did for me in her journal. I have read the entire thing now. She was in such a great place right before she had me. I wish I could have gotten to know her in person.

I slip from beneath the cool sheets and marvel at how good it feels to be back home in our place. Yes, I said it. This is my home. Wherever Luca is, is where my heart is and that is my home.

It brings me to tears every time I think of how he rescued me. I am so grateful to all the others, but when Luca came in guns blazing and throwing himself in harm’s way to shield and protect me it showed me the final proof I needed that he truly loves me.

The selfish Luca I used to know would never do something like that for anyone. I look in the mirror at my naked body and run a hand over my flat belly. A smile tugs at my lips.

“Are you a Luca or a Lucy,” I ask my nonexistent bump.

I’m startled when Luca steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. He is beaming at me through the mirror. I know right away he heard me.

“I hope it is a Luca, but we can try again if it is a little girl,” he smiles at me.

“Are you happy,” I ask nervously.

“Ecstatic,” Luca kisses my temple. “I guess it is a good thing I already proposed.”

“I guess it is,” I giggle.

A few nights ago Luca shut down Lincoln Center and had the place filled with white and purple roses. A lone violinist played as Luca dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him.

Of course, I said yes. I had already been planning the wedding. When Luca told me he wanted to have the wedding in Italy, I think I fell in love with him all over again.

“You are already glowing,” Luca murmurs against my shoulder. “I want to make love to you. Just like this, to remember this moment.”

Luca walks me closer to the full-length mirror. I know the drill; I place my palms to the mirror and spread my legs. Luca cups my breasts and starts to roll my nipples in between his fingers causing my back to arch and a moan to slip through my lips.

“So precious to me,” he murmurs then starts to place soft kisses along my shoulders, making his way down my back.

I can see him drop to his knees in the mirror. He stares into my folds licking his lips. I watch as he looks up at me.

“You’re really having my baby,” he asks almost sounding like a little boy being told he is really getting the toy he has been wishing for.

“Yes,” I nod with a little smile on my lips. I am so happy I could burst.

He places a kiss to one cheek then the other. “I love you so much right now. You have no idea how much I love you,” with that his tongue laps through my pussy lips.

My knees buckle, but I catch myself and Luca’s strong hands wrap my thighs for support just in case. He groans and grunts into me as if this is his first time tasting me. I start to rock my hips riding his face, throwing my head back as my eyes roll.

He spreads my cheeks with his fingers, his grip so tight I swear I’ll have bruises. I don’t care, because it feels fan-fucking-tastic. As his tongue gets deeper, I feel my approach to my final destination rushing its way forward.

“So amazing,” I drawl, my voiced with laced my feelings of with ecstasy.

Luca chuckles, but keeps going until his face is covered in my juices. I cry out loudly and flex my fingers against the cool mirror. Luca wastes no time dropping his boxers to the floor and thrusting inside me.

Both his hands splay my tummy as he watches us in the mirror. He pumps in and out of me at a tender pace, not too slow and not too fast. He is taking care to make love to me even like this.

His large shaft feels incredibly hard and long inside me, more so than ever before. I can literally feel his body pulsing with need. His brows dip low as his eyes roam my body. It is like he is seeing me for the first time.

Our eyes lock in the mirror and say all the words we don’t need utterances for. He is my forever and I’ll be his. Nothing else needs to be said.