Victorious vice, p.19
Victorious Vice, page 19
“Do you think I care? It won’t matter because I have a plan, Mario. A plan that lets you and Serena live out your golden years in peace…while I bring this fucking madness to an end.”
His eyes bore into mine, the flicker of desperation replaced with a hardened resolve. He leans forward and rests his hands on the desk. “And what if it costs you everything? What if it costs you Raven?”
I swallow hard at the mention of her name, my heart pounding. “I’m aware of the risks.” I manage to keep my voice steady and my tone firm. “But I won’t let anyone else suffer. Not like Serena had to.”
Mario is silent for a moment. Then he slowly nods, perhaps seeing something in my determination that he respects or understands.
“You’re more like me than you realize,” he finally says.
I’m not sure whether it’s a compliment or an insult.
“There’s one difference between us.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms. “I won’t allow my love for Raven to be her downfall.”
Mario nods. “Then it’s time you learned the truth about her father.”
“I’m way ahead of you,” I tell him. “I know Bellamy isn’t the saint he’s cracked up to be. But he won’t harm his children. Especially not Raven.”
“You are aware, aren’t you, that he was instrumental in his son serving time?”
“I’ve come to that conclusion, yes. I just don’t know why.”
“It’s a long story. One only he can tell you in its entirety.”
“I’ve been pushing.”
“Push harder.”
“I will,” I respond firmly. But my thoughts are whirling. How deep does Bellamy’s treachery go? And why does it involve his own flesh and blood?
“I have much to make amends for,” Mario says, dragging me back. “Starting with you.”
“You can’t undo the past,” I say, my voice colder than I intend it to be.
“No, but I can attempt to rectify some of its consequences.” He meets my gaze squarely. “I understand if you hate me for what I’ve done.”
“Hate is a strong word, Mario,” I reply evenly, swallowing back my emotions. “It’s also a wasteful one. I’d rather spend my energy ensuring that the cycle ends with me.”
35
RAVEN
After dinner, I find myself thinking about ways to sneak out of my parents’ home. Get a car. Drive to Austin to see Vinnie.
But he’s told me to stay away.
Besides, he’s married now.
I don’t for a moment believe he loves Daniela. In fact, I believe him when he says they haven’t consummated the marriage.
My thoughts go to Belinda, the lovely little girl who Vinnie is supposed to marry when she turns eighteen. The little girl who is pleading for help.
I wish I could do something for her.
But here I am, trapped.
Though I beat cancer, and I’m no longer trapped in the hospital, I am no less trapped.
Jared, of course, is hovering.
My mother’s out on the deck having a glass of wine. Robin has left to go to her own home.
I decide to go outside and sit with my mother.
Jared follows me, of course.
I turn to him. “I’d really like to talk to my mother alone.”
He nods. “I’ll go out of earshot.” He walks off the deck, toward the pool house, where he takes a seat on one of the Adirondack chairs near the entrance to the pool.
And he watches.
“He’s driving me slowly into madness,” I say to my mother.
Mom reaches over to my shoulder and squeezes it. “That doesn’t matter, Raven. What matters is that you’re safe. And Falcon, Leif, and your father believe you need Jared.”
“Yes, I know.”
She takes a sip of her wine. “I’ve seen one of my children go to prison. Another nearly lose her battle to cancer. And now this.” She shakily takes another sip. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”
I sigh. Then I stand, walk over to the outdoor bar, and pour myself a glass of the red wine my mother’s drinking. Yes, I’m still on medication.
And I don’t fucking care.
I take a sip.
And it’s delicious.
It’s nothing fancy, just a Côtes du Rhône from France, but it’s been so long since I let myself have a drink of wine. I return and sit next to my mother.
“You shouldn’t be drinking,” she says.
“Maybe not,” I say. “But one glass of wine isn’t going to change anything. You remember our trip to wine country?”
She nods. “Yes. I was supposed to go with Falcon.”
I gaze out toward the pool. “And you got stuck with me.”
“Oh, Ray. That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Yes, you’re right. I shouldn’t be so defensive. I’m just so tired of all of this.” I scoff. “I went and fell in love with a fucking gangster.”
“You wouldn’t fall in love with someone who isn’t a good man.”
“I know that. And I know he loves me. That’s why he left me. He doesn’t want me in danger. Yet here I am in danger anyway. With a bodyguard. Being forced to stay with my parents.” I let out a sarcastic laugh.
Mom takes another sip of her wine. “I can’t lose you, Raven.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Mom.”
And damn it, I mean those words with all my heart. I didn’t let cancer get me, and I’m certainly not going to let some mafia hit get me.
“But I am going to live my life,” I add.
“I know. You’ve lost too much of it already.” She pats my hand gently. “You and Falcon had years of your life stolen through no fault of your own.”
“So you never thought Falcon was guilty.”
Mom steels her face. “I know he wasn’t. Falcon’s one of the good men. He and Leif were supposed to join the Navy SEALs together after college. They’d been talking about it for a good decade, since they were teens. He was twenty-two years old. He knew how to handle a gun better than your father did. And that’s saying a lot because your father’s an excellent shot. So am I, for the record, so I know what I’m talking about. I’ve watched all of you learn to shoot a gun, and I know which one of you is the best at it. Falcon. My oldest. And there was no way he would’ve accidentally shot anyone. He was too careful for that.”
“So you’ve always known.”
“That he was protecting someone? Yes, I have. He was protecting Hawk.”
“Hawk?”
“Yes, he and Hawk were outside doing target practice. Who else could it have been? Who else might’ve been using Falcon’s gun?”
I take another sip of my wine. Do I tell my mother the truth?
“He had to take the blame for it,” Mom continues. “You know Hawk. His sense of justice. He couldn’t have handled being labeled a criminal. What I don’t understand is why Hawk didn’t confess. His conscience should have made him.”
Funny how my mother can’t see the truth in front of her eyes. If Hawk had shot that cop, he would have confessed. That’s who Hawk is.
“Mom,” I say, “Hawk is as good a shot as Falcon is. And Robin and I are pretty good as well. The one who never took to it…was Eagle.”
Mom blinks. “Eagle is good with a gun.”
“I’m not saying he’s not. I’m just saying he’s not as good as the rest of us. And…he’s the most erratic of the five of us.”
Mom says nothing.
Until, “Eagle wasn’t there, Raven. Only Hawk. So it must’ve been Hawk who Falcon was protecting.”
Oh God. My mother really doesn’t know what’s going on. But I’m not going to be the one to tell her. I can’t be the one to tell her that her baby—my baby—is the one who shot an innocent young police officer.
“Falcon swears it was him,” I say, robotically.
“Yes, I know.” She lays a hand over her heart. “But a mother knows.”
She’s right about one thing. Falcon didn’t shoot the police officer. But neither did Hawk. So a mother really doesn’t know. Maybe she’s just fixing the scenario in her mind in the way that makes sense to her.
“Did you know your father taught me how to shoot?” she says.
“No, you never said that.”
“I was a natural. But I grew up the daughter of Mexican-American immigrants. They didn’t believe in guns. They’d seen enough of them during their childhood in Mexico. When I married your father, though, he insisted that I know how to defend myself.”
“And you are okay with that?”
“I was more than okay with that. My parents’ philosophy never made sense to me. If they came from somewhere dangerous, why wouldn’t they want to exercise their right to defend themselves?”
I nod.
“So I let him teach me. He was a good and fair teacher.”
“I know. He taught me.”
“He and I both felt that all of you kids should know how to defend yourselves. We also taught you gun safety.”
“Yes. You did.”
“But the lessons seemed to fall short with Hawk.”
I regard the woman who gave me life. She can’t really think what she’s thinking about her second son. Hawk is one of the best men I know, and an excellent shot.
“Whatever happened, it was an accident.”
“Yes, I suppose—”
I jerk.
No!
A gunshot.
We’re talking about guns and a fucking gunshot!
Jared jumps up from his chair in the distance.
Mom is gasping, screaming.
I turn toward the door.
The sound came from inside the house.
36
VINNIE
“Why did you bring her here?” Mario asks.
“She was suffering.”
“Yes, but you hate me. You knew bringing her here would make me happy.” He looks into my eyes—really looks into them. “So I’m asking you, Vincent. Why?”
Clearly I was mistaken about why he sent me to Colombia. So I’ll use this to my advantage. “She’s a gift. And I’ll ask for a gift in return.”
“And what is that?”
“You and Serena take off. I’ll get you new IDs, a wonderful place to live out your final years. In return, you turn control of everything over to me.”
His jaw tightens. “So that’s what this is about.”
“I would’ve rescued Serena no matter what,” I say. “Because I have empathy. I have feelings. I don’t think anyone should be held against their will, especially not a woman in her eighties.”
“I see.”
“The only difference is I wouldn’t have told you about it. I would’ve taken care of her, made sure she lived out her last years in comfort and riches.”
He wrinkles his forehead. “So why involve me at all?”
“You know why. You wanted me to take over eventually anyway. You were just waiting to see whether you could trust me. I’ve done everything you’ve asked, Mario, other than complete the negotiations with Agudelo. I thought getting Serena out of there was more important, and I think you agree with me. Now it’s your turn. I’ve earned the right to take over this family, to run it the way I see fit.”
He scowls. “You’ll run it into the ground.”
“And what if I do? Would it matter? You’ll be with the love of your life. If you’re lucky, you’ve got ten years left, and you’ll get to spend them safe and sound with Serena. Without watching over your shoulder all the time. Without knowing that in an instant, it could all be over if you piss off the wrong person.”
“I’ve pissed off many people in my life.” He crosses his arms defiantly. “No one’s taken me out yet. I have the best security in the business.”
“And wouldn’t it be nice not to have that? Wouldn’t it be nice to live alone, somewhere tropical maybe, only you and Serena?”
He sighs. Pauses a moment. Then, “I don’t know that she wants that.”
I have to stop myself from laughing. Is Mario Bianchi actually concerning himself with what another person might want?
He really does love her. He never stopped loving her. As hardened as he became, as many horrible things as he did, inside he always loved Serena.
“She should be given a choice,” he continues, his voice barely a whisper. “She deserves that much.”
My God, who is this man? He never gave me a fucking choice. He never gave my mother a choice. Not Mikey either. Savannah’s the only one who got a choice, and I had to return so she could have it.
I think the original version of “blood is thick than water” is making sense to Mario now.
I look into the eyes that are so like mine. God, I’m a dead ringer for him. This is what I’ll look like in fifty years.
Where before I saw only malice, now I see fear. It’s an emotion that Mario Bianchi has never allowed himself to show, not even to his own family. But it’s there now, swirling in his eyes. Fear of losing control. Fear of losing Serena. Fear of the future he thinks I might build, one that could erase every trace of his rule.
I’ll be damned.
This man, the terrifying patriarch of our family, is afraid of me. It’s a sobering thought, but also an empowering one.
“Mario,” I tell him firmly. “This isn’t about my power or your fear. This is about Serena and what’s best for her. You know as well as I do that she belongs with you. She always did.”
He scowls at my sentiment, not bothering to respond. An uncomfortable silence settles between us. In the stillness, I see the gears in his mind turning, indecision pawing at him like a stray cat at a closed door.
Very quietly, so quiet that I can barely hear him, Mario murmurs, “And if she doesn’t want me?”
I raise an eyebrow. I didn’t expect this question from him. “What?”
“If she doesn’t choose me, what then?” He’s looking down now, his gaze fixed on the floor.
His vulnerability is palpable and shakes me to my core. This is not the man I’ve known and feared my entire life. This is someone else. Someone I don’t recognize.
I pause before replying, considering my words carefully. “If she doesn’t choose you,” I begin, my voice somber but steady, “you’ll walk away. You’ll give her the freedom to live her remaining years as she sees fit. I swear to you she’ll be well cared for.”
Mario doesn’t answer immediately. He sits there for what feels like an eternity, immobile except for the rise and fall of his chest. His gaze remains fixed on the floor.
Eventually, he looks up at me, age evident in his weary eyes. The years of ruling our family with iron fists seem to have caught up with him in this single moment.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I am not proud of,” he begins, his voice hoarse with emotion. “But losing Serena was and always has been my biggest regret.”
His words hang in the air.
His biggest regret?
Not his violation of me? Of Mikey? Of our mother?
Not all the merciless killings?
But at least he’s showing some emotion.
I swallow down my bitterness and manage a nod. “Then don’t make the same mistake again. If she chooses you, you’ll both get your happily-ever-after in some tropical paradise. If not, then at least you gave her the respect of a choice.”
“What about you, Vinnie?” he asks, dragging his gaze from the floor to meet mine. “What do you get out of it?”
My heart clenches. What do I get? A kingdom built on blood and violence…and the chance to make it into something better.
“I get a chance,” I reply, “to prove that the Bianchi family can be more than its past.”
A slow, reluctant smile tugs at the corners of Mario’s lips. His eyes glimmer with a mixture of pride and resignation.
“I always thought you had potential,” he admits. His gaze never leaves mine, the somber resignation in his eyes slowly replaced by a flicker of hope. “I just hope you’re ready, Vinnie.”
“Ready for what?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
He smirks at me, the ghost of the man I grew up fearing coming back to life in that fleeting smile. “For everything that comes next. You think you can handle it?”
The question hangs in the air between us, heavier than any silence we’ve shared tonight. It’s not just about running the family business anymore. It’s about proving myself, changing decades’ worth of tradition and expectation.
I lift my chin up and meet his challenging gaze with determination. “I can handle it.”
37
RAVEN
Jared rushes toward us, gesturing, his gun in his hand. “You need to stay put,” he commands.
“Austin!” Mom yells.
“Quiet, Mrs. Bellamy,” Jared says. “Just keep your mouth shut. Move out. Move out into the yard. Now!”
I grab Mom’s hand. “Come on. We need to do what Jared says.”
“Austin!” she yells again.
“Mom,” I say. “You heard Jared. Be quiet.” I pull her across the deck, to the stairs, out into the yard. “Let’s go to the pool house. We’ll be safe there.”
But she yanks my hand out of hers and runs back toward the house.
“Mom, no!”
But she’s gone, out of my grasp.
I have no choice but to follow her. I can’t let my mother be in any kind of danger.
She rushes through the French doors and into the house. “Austin!”
I follow her, grabbing her arm. “Mom, please.”
She yanks free again. “Don’t you understand? There’s no one home. No one but us.”
Shit.
She’s right.
Which means…
“Jared!” I yell.
I follow my mother as she frantically searches every room, finally getting to my father’s study.
The door is open, and Jared is standing behind Dad’s desk.
My heart nearly stops.
On the floor…
Seeping into the hardwood…
Redness.
Sticky redness.
I should know.
His eyes bore into mine, the flicker of desperation replaced with a hardened resolve. He leans forward and rests his hands on the desk. “And what if it costs you everything? What if it costs you Raven?”
I swallow hard at the mention of her name, my heart pounding. “I’m aware of the risks.” I manage to keep my voice steady and my tone firm. “But I won’t let anyone else suffer. Not like Serena had to.”
Mario is silent for a moment. Then he slowly nods, perhaps seeing something in my determination that he respects or understands.
“You’re more like me than you realize,” he finally says.
I’m not sure whether it’s a compliment or an insult.
“There’s one difference between us.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms. “I won’t allow my love for Raven to be her downfall.”
Mario nods. “Then it’s time you learned the truth about her father.”
“I’m way ahead of you,” I tell him. “I know Bellamy isn’t the saint he’s cracked up to be. But he won’t harm his children. Especially not Raven.”
“You are aware, aren’t you, that he was instrumental in his son serving time?”
“I’ve come to that conclusion, yes. I just don’t know why.”
“It’s a long story. One only he can tell you in its entirety.”
“I’ve been pushing.”
“Push harder.”
“I will,” I respond firmly. But my thoughts are whirling. How deep does Bellamy’s treachery go? And why does it involve his own flesh and blood?
“I have much to make amends for,” Mario says, dragging me back. “Starting with you.”
“You can’t undo the past,” I say, my voice colder than I intend it to be.
“No, but I can attempt to rectify some of its consequences.” He meets my gaze squarely. “I understand if you hate me for what I’ve done.”
“Hate is a strong word, Mario,” I reply evenly, swallowing back my emotions. “It’s also a wasteful one. I’d rather spend my energy ensuring that the cycle ends with me.”
35
RAVEN
After dinner, I find myself thinking about ways to sneak out of my parents’ home. Get a car. Drive to Austin to see Vinnie.
But he’s told me to stay away.
Besides, he’s married now.
I don’t for a moment believe he loves Daniela. In fact, I believe him when he says they haven’t consummated the marriage.
My thoughts go to Belinda, the lovely little girl who Vinnie is supposed to marry when she turns eighteen. The little girl who is pleading for help.
I wish I could do something for her.
But here I am, trapped.
Though I beat cancer, and I’m no longer trapped in the hospital, I am no less trapped.
Jared, of course, is hovering.
My mother’s out on the deck having a glass of wine. Robin has left to go to her own home.
I decide to go outside and sit with my mother.
Jared follows me, of course.
I turn to him. “I’d really like to talk to my mother alone.”
He nods. “I’ll go out of earshot.” He walks off the deck, toward the pool house, where he takes a seat on one of the Adirondack chairs near the entrance to the pool.
And he watches.
“He’s driving me slowly into madness,” I say to my mother.
Mom reaches over to my shoulder and squeezes it. “That doesn’t matter, Raven. What matters is that you’re safe. And Falcon, Leif, and your father believe you need Jared.”
“Yes, I know.”
She takes a sip of her wine. “I’ve seen one of my children go to prison. Another nearly lose her battle to cancer. And now this.” She shakily takes another sip. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”
I sigh. Then I stand, walk over to the outdoor bar, and pour myself a glass of the red wine my mother’s drinking. Yes, I’m still on medication.
And I don’t fucking care.
I take a sip.
And it’s delicious.
It’s nothing fancy, just a Côtes du Rhône from France, but it’s been so long since I let myself have a drink of wine. I return and sit next to my mother.
“You shouldn’t be drinking,” she says.
“Maybe not,” I say. “But one glass of wine isn’t going to change anything. You remember our trip to wine country?”
She nods. “Yes. I was supposed to go with Falcon.”
I gaze out toward the pool. “And you got stuck with me.”
“Oh, Ray. That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Yes, you’re right. I shouldn’t be so defensive. I’m just so tired of all of this.” I scoff. “I went and fell in love with a fucking gangster.”
“You wouldn’t fall in love with someone who isn’t a good man.”
“I know that. And I know he loves me. That’s why he left me. He doesn’t want me in danger. Yet here I am in danger anyway. With a bodyguard. Being forced to stay with my parents.” I let out a sarcastic laugh.
Mom takes another sip of her wine. “I can’t lose you, Raven.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Mom.”
And damn it, I mean those words with all my heart. I didn’t let cancer get me, and I’m certainly not going to let some mafia hit get me.
“But I am going to live my life,” I add.
“I know. You’ve lost too much of it already.” She pats my hand gently. “You and Falcon had years of your life stolen through no fault of your own.”
“So you never thought Falcon was guilty.”
Mom steels her face. “I know he wasn’t. Falcon’s one of the good men. He and Leif were supposed to join the Navy SEALs together after college. They’d been talking about it for a good decade, since they were teens. He was twenty-two years old. He knew how to handle a gun better than your father did. And that’s saying a lot because your father’s an excellent shot. So am I, for the record, so I know what I’m talking about. I’ve watched all of you learn to shoot a gun, and I know which one of you is the best at it. Falcon. My oldest. And there was no way he would’ve accidentally shot anyone. He was too careful for that.”
“So you’ve always known.”
“That he was protecting someone? Yes, I have. He was protecting Hawk.”
“Hawk?”
“Yes, he and Hawk were outside doing target practice. Who else could it have been? Who else might’ve been using Falcon’s gun?”
I take another sip of my wine. Do I tell my mother the truth?
“He had to take the blame for it,” Mom continues. “You know Hawk. His sense of justice. He couldn’t have handled being labeled a criminal. What I don’t understand is why Hawk didn’t confess. His conscience should have made him.”
Funny how my mother can’t see the truth in front of her eyes. If Hawk had shot that cop, he would have confessed. That’s who Hawk is.
“Mom,” I say, “Hawk is as good a shot as Falcon is. And Robin and I are pretty good as well. The one who never took to it…was Eagle.”
Mom blinks. “Eagle is good with a gun.”
“I’m not saying he’s not. I’m just saying he’s not as good as the rest of us. And…he’s the most erratic of the five of us.”
Mom says nothing.
Until, “Eagle wasn’t there, Raven. Only Hawk. So it must’ve been Hawk who Falcon was protecting.”
Oh God. My mother really doesn’t know what’s going on. But I’m not going to be the one to tell her. I can’t be the one to tell her that her baby—my baby—is the one who shot an innocent young police officer.
“Falcon swears it was him,” I say, robotically.
“Yes, I know.” She lays a hand over her heart. “But a mother knows.”
She’s right about one thing. Falcon didn’t shoot the police officer. But neither did Hawk. So a mother really doesn’t know. Maybe she’s just fixing the scenario in her mind in the way that makes sense to her.
“Did you know your father taught me how to shoot?” she says.
“No, you never said that.”
“I was a natural. But I grew up the daughter of Mexican-American immigrants. They didn’t believe in guns. They’d seen enough of them during their childhood in Mexico. When I married your father, though, he insisted that I know how to defend myself.”
“And you are okay with that?”
“I was more than okay with that. My parents’ philosophy never made sense to me. If they came from somewhere dangerous, why wouldn’t they want to exercise their right to defend themselves?”
I nod.
“So I let him teach me. He was a good and fair teacher.”
“I know. He taught me.”
“He and I both felt that all of you kids should know how to defend yourselves. We also taught you gun safety.”
“Yes. You did.”
“But the lessons seemed to fall short with Hawk.”
I regard the woman who gave me life. She can’t really think what she’s thinking about her second son. Hawk is one of the best men I know, and an excellent shot.
“Whatever happened, it was an accident.”
“Yes, I suppose—”
I jerk.
No!
A gunshot.
We’re talking about guns and a fucking gunshot!
Jared jumps up from his chair in the distance.
Mom is gasping, screaming.
I turn toward the door.
The sound came from inside the house.
36
VINNIE
“Why did you bring her here?” Mario asks.
“She was suffering.”
“Yes, but you hate me. You knew bringing her here would make me happy.” He looks into my eyes—really looks into them. “So I’m asking you, Vincent. Why?”
Clearly I was mistaken about why he sent me to Colombia. So I’ll use this to my advantage. “She’s a gift. And I’ll ask for a gift in return.”
“And what is that?”
“You and Serena take off. I’ll get you new IDs, a wonderful place to live out your final years. In return, you turn control of everything over to me.”
His jaw tightens. “So that’s what this is about.”
“I would’ve rescued Serena no matter what,” I say. “Because I have empathy. I have feelings. I don’t think anyone should be held against their will, especially not a woman in her eighties.”
“I see.”
“The only difference is I wouldn’t have told you about it. I would’ve taken care of her, made sure she lived out her last years in comfort and riches.”
He wrinkles his forehead. “So why involve me at all?”
“You know why. You wanted me to take over eventually anyway. You were just waiting to see whether you could trust me. I’ve done everything you’ve asked, Mario, other than complete the negotiations with Agudelo. I thought getting Serena out of there was more important, and I think you agree with me. Now it’s your turn. I’ve earned the right to take over this family, to run it the way I see fit.”
He scowls. “You’ll run it into the ground.”
“And what if I do? Would it matter? You’ll be with the love of your life. If you’re lucky, you’ve got ten years left, and you’ll get to spend them safe and sound with Serena. Without watching over your shoulder all the time. Without knowing that in an instant, it could all be over if you piss off the wrong person.”
“I’ve pissed off many people in my life.” He crosses his arms defiantly. “No one’s taken me out yet. I have the best security in the business.”
“And wouldn’t it be nice not to have that? Wouldn’t it be nice to live alone, somewhere tropical maybe, only you and Serena?”
He sighs. Pauses a moment. Then, “I don’t know that she wants that.”
I have to stop myself from laughing. Is Mario Bianchi actually concerning himself with what another person might want?
He really does love her. He never stopped loving her. As hardened as he became, as many horrible things as he did, inside he always loved Serena.
“She should be given a choice,” he continues, his voice barely a whisper. “She deserves that much.”
My God, who is this man? He never gave me a fucking choice. He never gave my mother a choice. Not Mikey either. Savannah’s the only one who got a choice, and I had to return so she could have it.
I think the original version of “blood is thick than water” is making sense to Mario now.
I look into the eyes that are so like mine. God, I’m a dead ringer for him. This is what I’ll look like in fifty years.
Where before I saw only malice, now I see fear. It’s an emotion that Mario Bianchi has never allowed himself to show, not even to his own family. But it’s there now, swirling in his eyes. Fear of losing control. Fear of losing Serena. Fear of the future he thinks I might build, one that could erase every trace of his rule.
I’ll be damned.
This man, the terrifying patriarch of our family, is afraid of me. It’s a sobering thought, but also an empowering one.
“Mario,” I tell him firmly. “This isn’t about my power or your fear. This is about Serena and what’s best for her. You know as well as I do that she belongs with you. She always did.”
He scowls at my sentiment, not bothering to respond. An uncomfortable silence settles between us. In the stillness, I see the gears in his mind turning, indecision pawing at him like a stray cat at a closed door.
Very quietly, so quiet that I can barely hear him, Mario murmurs, “And if she doesn’t want me?”
I raise an eyebrow. I didn’t expect this question from him. “What?”
“If she doesn’t choose me, what then?” He’s looking down now, his gaze fixed on the floor.
His vulnerability is palpable and shakes me to my core. This is not the man I’ve known and feared my entire life. This is someone else. Someone I don’t recognize.
I pause before replying, considering my words carefully. “If she doesn’t choose you,” I begin, my voice somber but steady, “you’ll walk away. You’ll give her the freedom to live her remaining years as she sees fit. I swear to you she’ll be well cared for.”
Mario doesn’t answer immediately. He sits there for what feels like an eternity, immobile except for the rise and fall of his chest. His gaze remains fixed on the floor.
Eventually, he looks up at me, age evident in his weary eyes. The years of ruling our family with iron fists seem to have caught up with him in this single moment.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I am not proud of,” he begins, his voice hoarse with emotion. “But losing Serena was and always has been my biggest regret.”
His words hang in the air.
His biggest regret?
Not his violation of me? Of Mikey? Of our mother?
Not all the merciless killings?
But at least he’s showing some emotion.
I swallow down my bitterness and manage a nod. “Then don’t make the same mistake again. If she chooses you, you’ll both get your happily-ever-after in some tropical paradise. If not, then at least you gave her the respect of a choice.”
“What about you, Vinnie?” he asks, dragging his gaze from the floor to meet mine. “What do you get out of it?”
My heart clenches. What do I get? A kingdom built on blood and violence…and the chance to make it into something better.
“I get a chance,” I reply, “to prove that the Bianchi family can be more than its past.”
A slow, reluctant smile tugs at the corners of Mario’s lips. His eyes glimmer with a mixture of pride and resignation.
“I always thought you had potential,” he admits. His gaze never leaves mine, the somber resignation in his eyes slowly replaced by a flicker of hope. “I just hope you’re ready, Vinnie.”
“Ready for what?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.
He smirks at me, the ghost of the man I grew up fearing coming back to life in that fleeting smile. “For everything that comes next. You think you can handle it?”
The question hangs in the air between us, heavier than any silence we’ve shared tonight. It’s not just about running the family business anymore. It’s about proving myself, changing decades’ worth of tradition and expectation.
I lift my chin up and meet his challenging gaze with determination. “I can handle it.”
37
RAVEN
Jared rushes toward us, gesturing, his gun in his hand. “You need to stay put,” he commands.
“Austin!” Mom yells.
“Quiet, Mrs. Bellamy,” Jared says. “Just keep your mouth shut. Move out. Move out into the yard. Now!”
I grab Mom’s hand. “Come on. We need to do what Jared says.”
“Austin!” she yells again.
“Mom,” I say. “You heard Jared. Be quiet.” I pull her across the deck, to the stairs, out into the yard. “Let’s go to the pool house. We’ll be safe there.”
But she yanks my hand out of hers and runs back toward the house.
“Mom, no!”
But she’s gone, out of my grasp.
I have no choice but to follow her. I can’t let my mother be in any kind of danger.
She rushes through the French doors and into the house. “Austin!”
I follow her, grabbing her arm. “Mom, please.”
She yanks free again. “Don’t you understand? There’s no one home. No one but us.”
Shit.
She’s right.
Which means…
“Jared!” I yell.
I follow my mother as she frantically searches every room, finally getting to my father’s study.
The door is open, and Jared is standing behind Dad’s desk.
My heart nearly stops.
On the floor…
Seeping into the hardwood…
Redness.
Sticky redness.
I should know.
