“Alyssa,” he screams.
That's when I hang up and look at Ricardo.
“You still have one more phone call to make.”
I see his adam's apple bob and it's the first time I've ever seen Ricardo look nervous.
He puts the phone up to his ear. “Yeah, it's me.”
I hear some murmuring on the other line.
“I know you're busy. But something's come up.”
Just knowing that it's DeLuca on the other line makes me want to vomit. I have to force myself to breathe and not pass out.
“I'm being held hostage,” Ricardo says before he adds, “I know you don't care.”
Uh-oh. This is not the way I saw this going. I counted on Ricardo being my advantage.
“Tell him who's holding you hostage and tell him he better be unarmed when he shows up or I'll kill you.”
I wish I could see the look on his face when he hears that it's me behind all this.
Ricardo looks at me before he says, “Listen, you need to meet us at the docks near Jersey. Alyssa Tanner's holding a gun to my fucking face.”
There's more mumbling on the other line.
Ricardo closes his eyes and lets out a frustrated sigh. When he opens them, he gives me that murderous look before he screams, “I know you don't give a fuck about me, Babbo...but she's got Lucianna! And she will kill her. Make sure you come unarmed!”
There's silence on the other line and my stomach lurches. My plan is going downhill, fast.
“Okay. I'll be there...unarmed. Make sure that bitch doesn't touch a hair on Lucianna's head or I'll be bashing hers in just like her father's,” DeLuca's gritty voice shouts before he hangs up.
I look over at Lou-Lou in shock. And to think, I almost didn't want to drag her into this. I was only holding her hostage as a way to get Ricardo to cooperate. I was going to have her drive us to the docks and let her go.
She's the last person I ever expected to be DeLuca's soft spot.
“Damn, Lou-Lou. I sure as fuck underestimated you.”
She looks up and gives me a wink. “Yes you did, bitch. And if you want DeLuca brought to his knees, I'll be glad to help you do it. But if you hurt Ricardo; trust me—I'll make your life even more of a living hell than it already was.”
I'm not sure if I have a newfound respect for her...or if she's just managed to scare the crap out of me.
“Noted, now start driving.”
I adjust myself in the passenger seat of Lou-Lou's car. I have one gun pointed at her head and one gun pointed at Ricardo in the backseat. “Either one of you try and pull something, I'll be reenacting my own version of Romeo and Juliet, got it?
They both nod and I gesture between them with my guns. “So, what's the story between you two? I gotta hear this.”
Ricardo lifts his chin and glares at me. “None of your fucking business,” he grits through his teeth.
I crinkle my nose at him. “Well, seeing as I'm the one holding a gun to your face, call me crazy but I'd say it was.”
“Oh, I'm calling you crazy alright,” he mumbles.
“Seriously,” Lou-Lou chimes in. “You got a set of cajones, Alyssa. I'm impressed.”
“Thanks, I think. But I'm not crazy,” I say softly. “I'm just protecting Jackson and getting my revenge.”
We stay in silence for the better part of an hour. And all I can think is—what makes Lou-Lou so important to DeLuca? Even more important than his own son?
She can't be his daughter. That would make Ricardo and Lou-Lou's relationship beyond twisted, especially if it was mostly based on sex.
Unless? Well, I'll be damned.
“Are you guys like step-brother and step-sister or something?” I wiggle my eyebrows. “I'm not judging, that's kinda hot.”
“Fuck off,” Ricardo barks.
“He's not my step-brother,” Lou-Lou whispers.
“Why are you so important to DeLuca?” I ask. She grips the steering wheel and winces. “Probably the same reason you're so important to Ford.”
I have no idea what she means by that, but I have to put it on the back burner because we start pulling up to the docks.
My eyes automatically look at the spot where my father died and I start dry heaving. For a moment, I feel just like that little girl trapped in the car who watched it all happen.
Surprisingly, both Ricardo and Lou-Lou put a hand on my shoulder. “Breathe, Alyssa. DeLuca will be here any minute; if he's not here already and you'll make one hell of an easy target if you're passed out. Then all of this will be for nothing,” Ricardo says.
“It's true,” Lou-Lou whispers. “It's time to get your payback. DeLuca deserves everything that's coming to him,” she says before she gets out of the car.
Ricardo looks in her direction before he closes his eyes and sighs. “Go big or go home, right?”
“I don't think I can do it out here. Not in the same place my father died. It just feels...wrong.”
“I get it.” He gestures his head to a small run-down building. “There's a warehouse over there.”
When we get out of the car he says, “By the way, I'm not letting DeLuca kill you. So, just know that whatever happens, I got your back.”
I guess Ricardo's been armed the whole time after all.
We begin walking toward the warehouse and I place both my guns to their heads again and have them walk in front of me.
Seeing as I didn't notice DeLuca's car anywhere, I almost piss my pants when I look down and see a pair of metal tipped shoes.
“Back the fuck up,” I command in his direction, surprising myself.
He takes a few steps back and the look he gives me could burn through glass. I take in his jagged scar, which still hasn't faded much over the years and his evil eyes and my stomach recoils.
How can a single person be the source of every nightmare? I can't help it, I start sweating and breathing erratically.
Before I can say another word, he looks at Lou-Lou. “Are you okay, Bambina? Has she hurt you?”
Clearly, he really doesn't give a fuck about Ricardo.
“I'm fine,” she replies icily.
“Don't take that tone with me,” he barks, almost causing me to jump. “You know I worry about you, Lucianna.”
Lou-Lou looks up at him and it's like she transforms into a servant right before my very eyes. “I'm so sorry, mio amore. It's been a long day.”
I see Ricardo's entire body tense in front of me and I gotta say, my heart goes out to him.
I haven't taken much Italian...but I do know what 'mio amore' means- 'my love.'
It's obvious DeLuca and Lou-Lou are in a relationship of some kind.
Wow. That's just...holy shit balls.
Not to mention...odd and kinda gross.
Lou-Lou's my age. DeLuca's in his late 50's, at least. Not that I should really be one to judge. But now her statement about me and Ford makes perfect sense.
Poor Ricardo.
I can't focus on that right now, though. I have a bastard to kill first.
“Sit over there,” I tell them, motioning to the wall.
They do as I say, but I don't miss the look in Ricardo's eye, telling me to get this over with.