“I don’t understand,” she cried. “What about Caitlin? We need to—”
“Go,” I nudged her into Jay’s waiting arms. “I’ll see you soon.”
I dipped my head, silently indicating for him to take her. Her shrieks pierced the air but slowly tapered out as they moved further out of the room.
Seconds ticked by, each longer than the last. Until Nicco’s cell phone eventually pinged, and he let out a long breath. “They’re safe.”
“Despite what you might think, Mr. Marchetti. I am no monster.”
My eyes involuntarily flicked to Caitlin. I was sure she would have something to say about that, but I managed to swallow the words.
Bella was safe. Jay would be taking her far away from here and Lombardi’s grip.
I could finally breathe a little easier.
Nicco wasted no time getting down to business. “You had your men approach Zander DiMarco, but I can’t work out your true motivation. Was it only to get to Erin, or was it to make inroads into our territory?”
All while he spoke, I watched Caitlin, gauging her reaction. But she gave nothing away, her green eyes devoid of emotion.
Fuck, Tink, what did he do to you?
“I’ll admit, I have searched a long time for Erin. It wasn’t until a few months ago her mother finally confessed that she had the means to contact her.” Lombardi sat back in his chair, crossing one ankle over his knee. “Of course, I didn’t expect to find her under the protection of someone like DiMarco. But I quickly realized that I could use that to my advantage. For weeks, I watched that spineless creature obsess over her. It was pathetic really. But love is a man’s only weakness, and I knew that in his own way, DiMarco loved my firefly.”
My firefly.
He had a pet name for her.
I was going to puke.
Staring straight ahead, I tried to rein in the storm of emotions battering my insides.
“My plan was to use his feelings for Erin to leverage my organization’s foothold in Providence. But then he almost killed her.”
Lombardi’s whole demeanor shifted. Gone was the amiable businessman, replaced with a deadly monster. His hand curved around the arm of the chair, gripping it so tightly the blood drained from his knuckles.
“I couldn’t believe it when we lost her again. Gone, from right under our noses. Until we picked up security footage of you.” He pinned me with a hard look. “Leaving the hospital with her.”
Fuck.
All this time we were worried that Zander would discover the truth, but we had been worrying about the wrong person.
“You’re not an easy bunch to track down,” Lombardi shifted on his chair. “But nothing is impossible to find, you just have to know where to look. And I have always been intrigued by the Marchetti and their stronghold in Verona County.”
“And here we are,” Nicco said.
“Here we are indeed.”
“What do you want, Lombardi?”
“I want what you have, Niccolò. Power. Legitimate business revenue. We both know you’re going to put a bullet between DiMarco’s eyes for trying to cross you.” His eyes locked on mine again. “And for… hurting her. The way I see it, you’ll need a new partner to run things in Providence and I want to be considered for the job.”
“And what makes you think I would ever consider doing business with the man who kidnapped my cousin?”
“You’re a reasonable man, Niccolò. I took a risk with Arabella, yes. But I needed to get your attention. Would you have considered sitting down with me otherwise?”
No, he wouldn’t.
Because Massimo Lombardi was scum. His lack of morals and values made him a dangerous man to work with. And he knew it.
The faint smile touching his mouth told us as much.
“My reputation leaves little to be desired.” I snorted at that, and he added, “Okay, very little to be desired, which is why I’m looking to clean things up. Times are changing and we have to change with them.”
“What’s in it for us?” Nicco asked.
I shot forward in my chair. “You cannot be serious,” I shrieked. “He’s a sleazeball. You can’t trust him as far—”
“Matt.” Nicco glared at me. “If you can’t keep your opinion to yourself, you’ll have to leave.”
I slumped down with defeat, flicking my eyes to Caitlin again.
Erin. Her name is Erin.
She stared at me, but I didn’t attempt to decipher any of what I saw there, dropping my gaze instead.
“One of my top guys, Dominic Cabrioles, knows a thing or two about business, especially running a successful string of clubs. We can provide security, a high caliber of girls, and investment. You help me clean up my reputation, and he’ll make your family a lot of money. I can also take care of DiMarco.”
“He’s mine,” I snarled.
“Easy there, Bellatoni. That kind of rage isn’t healthy for a guy like you. But I can’t blame you for wanting to defend Erin’s honor.” He glanced over at her. “She really is something special.”
This asshole made my skin crawl and I wanted nothing more than to lunge for him and wipe that smirk off his face.
“It would seem we have much to discuss,” Nicco said.
“I’m glad you think so.” Lombardi exhaled a steady breath, his eyes flicking to the door. “Once Dominic arrives, we can iron out the details.”
“And what of… Erin?” Nicco asked.
“She’ll remain under my protection, of course. I’m sure since discovering her true identity, you don’t want her to remain with you?”
Me.
He was asking me that question.
“I…” Nicco shot me a hard look, and I choked out, “you’re welcome to her. Whatever I thought we had, it’s over.”
“Excellent.” Lombardi clapped his hands on his knees. “I think this relationship could be very lucrative for both of us.”
“Indeed.” Nicco nodded, while I sat there, numb.
Chapter 29
Caitlin
It’s over.
The words echoed through my skull, over and over.
Matteo couldn’t even look at me. And I didn’t blame him. Everything he thought he knew about me was a lie. I’d lied. I’d led him down a path that didn’t exist, because the woman he fell for, the woman he met all those months ago, she didn’t exist.
I was Erin Walsh. Daughter of an abusive drug addict and pawn in her boyfriend’s sick games.
I’d spent most of high school doing Massimo’s bidding, entertaining his friends. He’d drag me around New Haven, to bars and clubs and seedy back rooms, and have me perform. My life wasn’t my own, my body wasn’t my own.
One night, things had gotten out of control. One of his associates had tried to touch me. I’d managed to fight him off, but he’d roughed me up pretty bad.
I was sixteen. Ostracized by my classmates at school for being Liv Walsh’s daughter and Massimo Lombardi’s pet. That’s what they’d called me. His pet. Teachers were too scared to report it to child protective services, and no one cared enough to ask me if I was okay.