“Luca was his stepson. She was meant to marry him to keep the family name going. Both families were to be joined together.In order for his empire to grow they needed to be wed. Castello and Vasquez together would make them unstoppable. Now that Luca and the Castello family are dead, that only leaves her. He wants her alive to carry on the name. You know what that means, Jared.”
“Fuck the rules! This is Erica we’re talking about!” I shout, and slam my fists on his desk.
“You know the rules, Prez, and you can’t mess with family. Under no circumstances can we do that. She is his, and there’s nothing that can change the fact that her fate has been set.”
“No! I will not allow that for her! She doesn’t want that life, so there has to be a way around this. Screw the mafia law. I don’t give a fuck; I am going to find her and I will kill Antonio myself,” I growl and listen as he spouts nonsense, when all I want to do is tear the fucking town down to get my girl back.
Erica
Deafening silence. I can’t make out a sound. It’s cold where I am, though. I’m shivering and I can just about make out the outline of this room. My eyes blur as I take in the scene around me. Blank walls, hardwood floors, a mattress on the ground which I lay on.
My body feels weak, tired achy bones. He took me; Antonio finally captured me, but for some strange reason I am still alive.
My hands are tied behind my back.
Sitting up I feel dizzy, so I lie back down and let the tears fall. I need help, I don’t feel right. Sweat runs down my back and my head is pounding.
Looking over to my left I see a window, but the window has bars on it.
Clever; looks like he thought of everything.
The one thing he is not getting from me is my obedience and loyalty. Luca is dead, and if I’m not dead already that means he needs me for something. I think that’s a given at this point. So what is it he wants from me?
I hear the door jingle, so I sit up ready for whoever may enter.
“I see you finally woke up.” Antonio saunters into the room like it’s his mission to talk with me.
“I am going to untie you; as long as you behave you will stay untied.” I nod yes in agreement. After he unties me he pulls up a chair and sits down, crossing his legs. He’s dressed like the mob boss he is, in his expensive suit.
“So I reckon you want to know why I have been pursuing you again, Erica.” He raises one eyebrow and looks me straight in the eye.
“Aside from the fact you were supposed to be wed to my stepson that your boyfriend killed, let me tell you the real reason you’re here. Your mother… she was a beautiful woman, you know. Inside and out. Your father, on the other hand, was a piece of shit. He was trash that stole from me in more ways than one. He made me do things I’ve ultimately regretted, but had no choice in the matter.”
“What are you saying?” My voice sounds hoarse.
“Do you remember when you were a little girl, and your mother and I were together?” he queries, and my eyes must bulge out of my head. “Of course you don’t, because you were a baby.” I gasp at his admission.
“You dated my mother?” I say in disgust.
“I did indeed. We had an affair. Your father was livid, and rightfully so. There was just something about her I couldn’t resist.” He smiles like he’s remembering a moment they shared.
I internally gag when I think of my mother with this evil, vile, vindictive man.
“So why did you kill her? If you liked her so much, why would you hurt her?” I exclaim, and his face drops.
“Your mother defied me! She went against everything I am, and she was a conniving whore! She knew all along you were my child, but she failed to tell you so!” My mouth opens then closes. I have no idea what to think of this. There’s no way.
I shake my head back and forth.
“She would have told me! There’s no way she would keep something like that from me!” I shout, and he holds one hand out to stop me.
“She deserved what happened to her, and so did your fake father. They took what was mine and they did it without remorse. They thought they were protecting you, that you had a better shot at life without me in it, but he was just as bad! He was the scum of the earth. There are things he did that you couldn’t even fathom hearing.”
My shoulders start to shake. I will not show weakness with this man. My real dad is a mob boss. A high-level walking killing machine. And then there’s me, who had no clue my mother had such horrible taste in men.
“All I wanted was to get to know you, and I’m sorry my men got a little handsy in the process. I’m also sorry I had to hurt you, but you gave me no choice. As for my men, trust me when I tell you they paid for that.”
“I don’t need or want you in my life; I have been fine without you thus far.” My voice cracks and I’m on the verge of a complete meltdown.