“He said I killed my wife and his eldest son. As you see, they’re both breathing. But not because of him,” said Klaus. “Lastra was determined to kill Isabella in an effort to make me look weak. He only dug his own grave. The man doesn’t deserve to live.”
“Look what got delivered to me. What say you?” Lastra held up Mario’s severed finger in a baggie. He hoped to appeal to the Boss, but it only made him look pathetic.
“If Mario is the future of the Lastra family, I feel their shame. That boy would have sold his own mother to save himself a little pain.” Renzo held up his hand. His pinky was missing. “They took this from me when I was only eighteen.”
“And he was quiet as a mouse,” said Marcel.
They all remembered that day long ago. The Accardi men could take a lot of punishment. Klaus had thought about Renzo’s ordeal when he’d taken Mario’s finger.
The Boss’s men ordered everyone out while they deliberated. He held Isabella’s hand as they stepped out into the massive foyer.
“What do you think will happen?” she whispered.
“I don’t know. What I want is your father’s head. It’s owed to me.” He knew these deliberations could take days, weeks, or longer. They’d have to carry on as normal until they got word. Acting against the orders of Aldo Vitcorio would be a sure death sentence. At least Isabella would be safe. Even her own father wouldn’t dare take action during this fragile time.
“What now?” asked Renzo once they were back at the parked cars.
“He has his kid back. Everything’s in the open about Bella. Now we just wait.”
His father adjusted his jacket. “They’ll vote in your favor. If they don’t, they’ll set a dangerous precedent.”
Regardless, he was going to move on and live his life with his wife. The outfit would see through Lastra, no doubt about it. As soon as he got word, he’d enjoy ending that son of a bitch.
He drove home alone with Bella. Renzo left with their father.
The interior of the car felt tense, like the calm before a storm. What could he even say to comfort Bella? She was in the middle of all this.
“You okay?” he finally asked.
When she didn’t answer, he looked to the side. She nodded, but her eyes looked so damn sad.
“Talk to me, baby.”
“I know they’ll vote in your favor. I’m not worried about that,” she said. “I guess I feel guilty for caring about a man who thinks nothing of me.”
“He’s still your father. I understand what you’re going through, or at least I’m trying to.”
Isabella put her hand over his as he drove. “But I’m not a fool. I understand how all this works. I know what has to be done.”
Yes, he’d have to kill her father. It was either him or her. If Klaus didn’t take advantage of his window once the okay was given, her father would turn on them. No Accardi would be safe.
“Let’s not think about it. It’s only a matter of time until this is over. We know you’re safe while they’re officially deliberating, so don’t make yourself sick, baby.”
“You’re right. I need to put it out of my mind. All of it.” When they came to a red light, he turned and saw the intention in her eyes. She wanted him to help her forget it all.
“We don’t have to go home tonight,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll never be as safe as we are right now. No one would dare touch a hair on our heads. We can do anything we want.” Klaus beckoned her closer and he kissed her lips. “Let’s get a room. Just the two of us.”
She smiled, a mix of happiness and sadness. Tonight, he only wanted his wife happy. He wanted to fuck her so deep and hard that she forgot her own name.
He planned to take her to one of the most luxurious hotels in the city tonight. First, he needed to clear the slate. Klaus drove off the main road, turning left and right in the maze of city streets. He finally slowed the car down in an abandoned alleyway.
“Where are we?”
“Don’t worry, Bella, this isn’t the hotel. But I do need you to get out of the car.”
She raised a questioning eyebrow.
He got out of the driver’s seat and headed to the front of the car, waiting for Bella to join him. She looked cautious, looking over at the dumpsters not far off. His girl wasn’t used to slumming it.
“Take off your panties.” She was wearing a sexy-as-fuck dress, her shoulders bare. Her hair was loose now, falling down her back. Bella was absolutely stunning.
“Klaus, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
He heard footsteps in the distance behind him. Two punks had rounded the corner. Klaus pulled his 9mm from his waistband and aimed it at the men. They put their hands up and backed off with haste.