I'm Nothing (The Family Book 2) (13 page)

Zara didn’t know what to say. She wanted to comfort
her mother, but also, she wanted to hurt her, the way that she’d been hurt.

Lucien wasn’t the kind of man you made deals with, and
he’d proven that more than once.

“You could have told me the truth.”

“And risk you hating your father? No, I couldn’t do
that. I couldn’t allow you to think badly of your father. He did what needed to
be done, and there’s nothing I could have done.”

“Did he suffer?” she asked.

“Zara, some stuff, you don’t want to know. He only
asked that I not tell you what happened. I don’t think he knew that Lucien
would continue with the whole debt thing after he’d gone. It was a deal made
between the two of them.” Her mother handed her a hot cocoa.
 
“I even put in some marshmallows in, and
sprinkled on some dark chocolate.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I’ll always love you, Zara. I’m pleased you decided
to see me.”

“I didn’t want to come. I just, I’m in love with
Tonio.”

“You are?” her mother asked.

“Yes, I’m totally in love with him.”

“I didn’t see that one coming,” her mother said.

“Do you not like him?” She didn’t care if her mother
liked him or not.

“I do like him. He’s a good guy, but his life, Zara,
it’s dangerous.”

“I love him, and he’s had a great deal of people leave
him, and use him. I’m not going to be one of them.” She didn’t care what Tonio
was going to tell her.

She loved him.

****

Everyone had arrived, and Tonio had spotted Lucien
West, along with the other three of their enemies. He didn’t care about anyone
but Lucien. Tonio sipped at the same glass of champagne that he’d picked up
earlier.

Glancing over at Donnie, he saw the signal that said
everything was about to go down. His heart was racing. Adrenaline pumped
through his veins ready to fuck over their enemies. The future was theirs, and
the past was going to remain there.

The doors were locked, all the exits covered, and the
house was plunged into darkness. There was a little scream, and then the large
television came to life. At first, it showed a woman dancing in underwear. She
was looking all sexy, her eyes glazed over as if she was thinking of sex, but
she just looked hyped up on drugs to him.

Several guys whistled.

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Take it off.”

“Come on, baby, show it all to poppa.”

Tonio scrunched up his nose, sickened by what he was
hearing. These men, they had kids, people to take care of.

Suddenly, the screen changed after the woman gave a
little kiss.

“What the fuck do you mean?” Donnie asked.

Tonio stared at the screen, seeing Jake’s father tied
to a chair. Luiz, Jake, and Donnie were around him, ready to strike.

“It means little shits like you can’t think to run The
Family. You don’t even know how to wipe your own ass. You’ve got no chance of
taking on The Family.”

“Really? You think that, Dad?” Jake asked.

“No one will respect you.”

“My father taught me that the only way to garner
respect is with blood. To kill or be killed. He’s dead, and I’m standing right
here in his place. I wonder if he regrets giving life to the man that killed
him?”

“You won’t kill me. I’m nothing.”

Jake grabbed his gun, firing. The bullet took out his
father’s leg. The man screamed, going to the floor.

“I’ll kill you, Dad, without a second of regret.”

“Jake, you’re my son.”

“Sorry, you gave birth to a killer.”

The lights came back on, and Tonio grabbed Lucien
around the throat and dropping him to the floor. His gun was pressed against
the bastard’s temple, and he also held a knife in his other hand. Any wrong
move, and Lucien was a dead man. The other three men had business deals with
drugs, girls, and the cartel. None of them wanted to go against the cartel.
Donnie had organized a deal with the cartel in exchange for the men who were
plotting to overthrow them.

The cartel at first hadn’t wanted to deal with a bunch
of kids, but their reputations preceded them. They were far more deadly than
the men attempting to do business. Their fathers had turned them into cold
blooded killers. None of them were afraid of getting their hands dirty. His
father, along with Donnie and Luiz’s fathers, had employed someone like Jake’s
father to do all the dirty work.

Tonio didn’t mind killing. It was easy for him to end
a life, and not look back. He’d do it every single day if it meant his loved
ones were taken care of.

“Let’s get one thing straight right now,” Donnie said,
drawing everyone’s attention. All four of them held their enemies within their
grasp. “We are the leaders of The Family. We know everything. It seems there
has been a little breakdown of communication between the ranks, and that ends
tonight.”

“Together, we run The Family. We make sure you sleep
at night, and profit,” Jake said.

“If any of you have a problem with that, speak up
now,” Luiz said. “We want to know who you are.”

“We will kill every single one who defies us, and
remember, we were taught by the best. We’re more ruthless than all of them
combined. They didn’t even do half of what they got us to do. They wanted
killers, and they got it. Only they wanted killers locked in a cage. That
doesn’t work. We’re out, and we’re going to have our way, or no way.”

“Make a choice.”

Slowly, people started to kneel on the floor, showing
not only respect, but also a mark of loyalty.

“You can’t all take us,” one man said, and Luiz fired
his weapon. The man’s brains splattered against the wall. That was the end of
that problem. “Anyone else? Seriously, this was a game to me growing up.”

Another stood up, and one of the soldiers in the room
killed him before they could fire a single weapon. Tonio was bored.

“Time for change is now. Be part of it, or die. It’s a
simple choice,” Donnie said. “The changes we’re going to make are to better
you, not take away from you. Our women, our children can walk the streets
without fear.”

“Do you really think this will work?” Lucien asked.
“You’ve got a lot of enemies out there. A lot of men like the old ways. A slut
for the mistress, and a wife to keep at home, where she fucking belongs.”

“Blood speaks, you piece of shit.” Tonio pressed the
tip of his knife against the bastard’s throat. “Do you really think we wouldn’t
come after you? Do you really think we’re so stupid not to know when shit is
going on behind our backs? We were brought up to know everything.”

“I take it Zara’s pussy is magical. You won’t do it.
You won’t kill me.” Even now Lucien thought they wouldn’t hurt them.

Drawing the knife back, he plunged the blade into Lucien’s
body. Tonio let go of all the pain, all the anger that had been instilled
inside him from a young age. He went at Lucien with a passion that would have
scared many, but to Tonio, it was a battle for the woman he loved.

Finally, Lucien died with over forty-two knife wounds,
all of them inflicted without him being given the chance to defend himself.

Tonio was covered in blood, and he turned to the room.

“You fuck with us, and we will come, find you, and
fucking kill you. We will murder your children, and make you watch before we
end you. However, if you stick with us, and stop trying to fuck this up, we
will be the best damn bosses you could have ever wished for!”

Chapter Twelve

“Holy crap, Tonio, what happened?” Zara asked, opening
the apartment.

He hadn’t changed, and he was covered in blood.
Entering his apartment, he stared at the woman he loved, the woman who owned
his heart. “The world is now safe for you.”

“I don’t care, Tonio. You’re covered in blood. Tell me
none of it is yours.”

“None of it is mine. I went fucking psycho on their
ass.”

“Jesus, Tonio, what have you done?” Zara asked,
leading him toward the bathroom.

“I used to rape and kill growing up,” he said.

“What?”

“My father, in the basement, he told me I was a
worthless piece of shit. I’m nothing. He forced me to go into a room where I
had to perform to a room full of cameras. Sometimes I’d have to fuck women or
girls depending on what was ordered, or they made me fight someone. Sometimes
they were boys my own age. It was a fight to the death, Zara.”

“Oh, God, Tonio,” she said, rushing to him. “Are you
okay?”

“No, I’m really not okay. Why aren’t you leaving?”

“Your father was a piece of shit. Why would I run
away? You’re a good man, Tonio. Did you want to go and rape and kill?” she
asked.

“No, I didn’t. Every time I failed they beat me, and
they made me watch them do something ten times worse. I hated it, Zara. I hated
my life, and I wanted to kill them all.”

She cupped his cheeks, making him look at her.

“I’m a monster, Zara. You deserve better.”

“No, Tonio.”

“I’m nothing.” Tears were falling down his cheeks as
he finally gave way to years of torture and pain. “I’m nothing.”

“Tonio, you’re everything. Your father, he was
nothing. He was fucking scum. You put him to shame, do you hear me?”

“No one loves me. I’m a monster.” He sank down to his
knees, and she followed him down.

“
I
love you,
Tonio.” She was crying, too. “I love you so much it hurts. I’ve never been so
afraid of losing someone as I am of losing you.”

“Why?”

“You’re a good man. Do you think I didn’t know you
were cheating? You were always so sad, Tonio. Now, I understand why. Your
father was a monster, and you were a victim.”

“I hurt so many people.”

“Tonio, look at me.” He looked up at her. “We’ll make
it right. We can find them, and make it right.”

“Sometimes they would look at me, and I’d tell them
how sorry I was. I’d try to be gentle. They would nod, and smile, and sometimes
they would fight me back. God, my father would love it when they fought. It was
the perfect show.”

Zara wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Tonio.
You’re a good man. You’re not going to get rid of me. Not now, not ever.”

She held him tighter.

You’re a fucking animal, son.

You fuck and you fight.

You’re nothing.

You piece of shit.

I should have killed you when your mother spat you out.

Fucking vermin.

No good for nothing.

I like my life, Tonio, I won’t run away with you.

Lifting his head, he looked into Zara’s beautiful blue
eyes. “Run away with me?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“I’ll run.”

“I’ll be poor.”

“We’ll be together. I will go with you. I will run
with you, Tonio. Tell me what to do, and I will do it.”

He cupped her cheek, wiping away the tears that were
cascading around her cheeks. “You really do love me?”

“Yes. I love you.” She took his hand, and kissed his
lips. “I was going to kiss your hand, but you’re covered with blood, and that
is really gross.”

He chuckled. “You’re safe now.”

“So, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I don’t want you to go anywhere.”

She pulled him close to her body, holding him tightly.
“Are you okay now?”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“Are we going to run? I’ll start packing.”

“We’re not going to run.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t need to run. The Family, I’ve got a
responsibility here, I can’t run anymore.” He kissed her hair, inhaling her
sweet scent. His woman, the love of his life, he’d finally found her.

****

Zara knelt beside the bath as she washed Tonio. He
stared at the water, which was tinted red.

“Lucien is dead,” he said.

“Good.”

“He was going to rise up against us, and try to take
The Family from us.”

“You don’t have to justify yourself to me.” She rubbed
at his back, taking care of him in the only way she knew how.

The truth he told her only made her sad, and wish that
she could kill the bastard who ruined the man she loved.

“I just wanted you to know that if you wish to leave,
nothing is stopping you.”

She chuckled. “Your cock is a good reason to stay.”
She pulled the plug from the bath, watching the rose tinted water that
surrounded him drain away.

“I’m not clean.”

“I know, but I think we can move onto the shower.” She
stood, moving to the far corner, and turned the shower on. Removing her
clothes, she turned to him, offering her hand. “Come and wash with me.”

He climbed out of the tub and took her hand.

Entering the shower, she soaked her body, and moved
out of the way for Tonio to take most of it. She grabbed the soap, and started
to wash him again until the water ran clear. When he was clean, he turned,
pulling her close. He gripped her ass and took possession of her lips.

“I love you,” he said, kissing down her neck, sucking
on her pulse.

“I love you, too.”

“Marry me.”

“Yes.”

He pressed her against the wall, picking her up, and
sliding his dick deep inside her. The penetration took her by surprise and had
her gasping.

She was wet, and he paused inside her.

“Touch your pretty clit,” he said.

Reaching between them, she stroked her clit, gasping
as his cock seemed to stretch her as he tightened even more.

“God, that feels so good,” he said. “Your pussy is so
tight.”

“I’d run with you, Tonio. You’re not alone anymore. I
love you so damn much.”

He took possession of her lips once again, silencing
her.

Tonio made love to her in the shower with the water
rushing down around them. He stared into her eyes, and she felt completely
taken by him. This man, this boy who she knew growing up, had taken her heart,
and made her fall in love with him. She’d die for this man. He didn’t even know
how good he was, or how precious. All he knew was a lifetime of pain and guilt.

She intended to take every memory and obliterate it
with love and happiness.

That night he came inside her, and when they were
curled up in bed, she had never felt happier.

****

The following morning, Tonio watched as Zara walked
around the kitchen. She wore one of his shirts as she made him pancakes. He’d
already presented her a ring earlier, and she was smiling over at him.

“There’s something else I want to show you.”

He left to his office to grab his father’s laptop, and
the file.

There was a stack of pancakes waiting for him.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Have a look.”

She took the file from him, chewing on some pancake
and syrup, flicking the file open. “College?”

“I want you to have everything that was taken from
you.”

“Tonio?”

“No, I don’t want you to make excuses. This is your
life as much as it’s mine.”

“This is over six hours away?”

“There’s an online college that is just as good. No
travel, and you work from home.”

“Really?”

He handed her another college. “You can do whatever
you want.”

“I can’t exactly get married to you being six hours
away. What if I need sex? A husband has duties you know?”

Tonio laughed.

His cell phone went off, interrupting them.

“Tonio here,” he said.

“Man, you’ve got to get to the hospital. Paige just
went into labor, and Donnie’s not in a good place.”

“Shit.” Hanging up the phone, he took one pancake
stuffing it into his mouth. “We’ve got to go. Paige is in labor, and Donnie
needs me.”

She didn’t need asking twice. Within minutes they were
in his car, driving toward the hospital that Jake had told him.

Entering the hospital, he followed the signs to the
labor ward.

Jake, Luiz, and Charlene with little Darla were there.
Donnie was pacing up and down the length of the waiting room.

“You made it,” Luiz said.

“I can’t believe it. She was laughing at some joke on
the television, and then she was clutching her stomach. Fuck, I can’t lose
her.”

“What’s the problem?” Tonio said.

“She wasn’t properly dilated. They may have to give
her a C-section.”

“Why are you here instead of in the room with her?”
Zara asked.

“He was tearing up the fucking place, causing
trouble,” Luiz said. “Paige asked him to be calm, and he didn’t. He lost his
shit.”

“My woman is in that room, and she may die.”

“Don’t think like that,” Tonio said. “All you know is
your baby is on the way. You need to make sure you’re with her.” He stepped up
to his friend. “We’re out here for you. Paige, she loves you, and she needs the
guy who promised to protect her. You’re not helping her out here.”

“Fuck, you’re right. Fuck!” Donnie ran a hand down his
face. “She’ll fucking kill me if I don’t get in there.”

“Then get in there.”

Seconds later Donnie was knocking on the door.

“Are you ready to be with her now, Mr. Martinez?”

“Yes, I am.”

Tonio watched his friend leave to go to his woman.

“If you do something so stupid, I’m going to hurt you
when I get out of the hospital,” Zara said.

“Why would I do anything to hurt you?” he asked.

“Giving birth is a big deal. Us women, we have to lose
our perfect vaginas to give birth.”

They took a seat, and he wrapped his arm around her
shoulders, pulling her in close.

“That’s a pretty nice ring,” Jake said.

“She’s agreed to be my wife.”

“Congratulations.” They all spoke at once.

Zara’s face was bright red, and he smiled down at her.
“I thought we’d wait until after we know what is going on with Paige.”

“What’s wrong with giving them the good news?”

“Nothing I guess.” She smiled snuggling in. “I love
you, crazy man.”

“Love you, too.”

He took hold of her hand, squeezing her, and she
squeezed him back. This was what made Zara special to him. She wasn’t afraid of
giving back as good as she took. She was a special kind of woman.

“Can you believe one of us is going to be a dad?” Jake
asked.

“I think it being Donnie, it’s funny as fuck,” Luiz
said, chuckling.

“Why is it funny?” Zara asked.

“He made a vow to never have kids. None of us wanted
to bring our kids into this way of life. Donnie, especially, and Tonio was the
same,” Luiz said. “Paige entered Donnie’s life, and all bets were off. He
fucking adored her, loved her, and she fought him. She wanted nothing to do
with him.”

“It was like a magical love story at school,” Zara
said.

Tonio kissed the top of her head.

“That kid is going to be spoilt.”

“Do they know the sex of it?” Zara asked.

“No. It’s going to be one hell of a surprise today,”
Tonio said.

The time passed slowly. Jake and Luiz took turns going
and getting coffee.

After what felt like hours, Donnie came out of a set
of doors looking like a half crazed loon.

“I want to introduce you to my daughter, Petal Martinez,”
he said. “Petal, here are all your uncles and your aunt.”

Tonio stepped up close to see the little girl. She was
asleep, but the cuteness couldn’t be denied.

“How is Paige?” Zara asked.

“Wishing she could be out here with us all. I said I’d
bring her to show you all. I’m going to take her back so she doesn’t miss her
mommy.”

Tonio stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
“Congrats, man.”

“Thank you. It would be an honor if you would be a
godfather, Tonio.”