I have no doubt it’s traumatizing to see your mother’s brains cover your sofa and the wall behind her. I was traumatized that my mother was shot in the middle of the street while I was at school and I didn’t even see it happen.
“She was a liability,” I state. Gallo nods his head a couple of times. “This happens again and I will not hesitate to make another example out of someone else in your family. Honest to fuck, I like you, Gallo. I did not want it to come down to this, but I had no choice.”
“You didn’t,” he rasps as he nods his head a few times.
Crouching down in front of him on my own haunches, I look at him straight in the eye. “We good, Gallo?” I ask.
He nods his head quickly.
“We gonna have any more problems like this?”
He shakes his head, his eyes focused on mine and not moving.
“Good. I’ll be watching. Don’t worry about the body or the mess. I’ll have it all cleaned up. Her body will be delivered to the mortuary so that you can have a proper burial. Don’t make me come and do this again, next time, I think my message will be delivered in a completely different manner,” I state before I shift my gaze over to the girl, then back to him so that he knows exactly who my intentions will include next time.
Without another word, my point clearly made, I stand to my feet, cracking my knuckles. Jerking my chin toward Brando, I walk away from the house. “You got this?” I call out to Luca on my way out.
“Got you, Boss,” he replies.
Once we’re outside, I notice that there are already a couple of black cars parked down the street. Lifting my hand toward them, I wave them in. Clean-up crew. Best in the fucking business is what they are, because they’ve been trained to be. Fucking machines is what they are.
Brando and I walk together in silence. “You give me a ride back to my hotel?” I ask.
He nods his head, clearing his throat. “I’ll take you back to your wife,” he murmurs with a small laugh.
“Shit night to do all of this,” I say as I sink into the passenger seat of his car.
He groans as he sinks into his own seat before he starts the car. “No shit, man. Sorry it came down to this.”
“Knew I would have to teach some lessons when my boss raised the collection percentage. Hoped it could have waited until after my wedding weekend,” I admit with a sigh.
I give him the name of the hotel, then lean back and close my eyes for a moment, opening them back up on a long sigh. Brando nods his head as he drives toward the hotel. The ride to the hotel is quiet. As soon as the car comes to a stop, I don’t jump out right away.
“You good?” I ask Brando, turning my head to face him.
I watch as he grips the steering wheel tightly, his fists turning white. He inhales deeply through his nose, then lets it out of his mouth. He shakes his head once, then nods before he turns to face me.
“I’m good. It’s not something that I ever want to happen, but she knew what she was doing,” he says.
“Want you to keep an eye on their movements for me. Update me if I need to be updated.”
Reaching for the handle, I open the car door, unfolding from the seat before I turn and dip my chin, looking down at him.
“I’ll take care of it, Massimo.”
“You’re invaluable to me, Brando,” I say. “I’ll be rewarding you for your quick action.”
I don’t wait for a response. Instead, I straighten and head toward the front doors of the hotel. My wife is waiting for me upstairs and since the sun is now out and it’s officially daylight, I’m thinking that I may not be able to just slip in beside her.
PIPPA
I sit up with a gasp. Looking around the bedroom, I notice that I’m alone in the big fluffy bed. I wonder not only how I got in bed, but also where Massimo is. The last thing I remember, I was resting against his chest in the bathtub.
Tugging the sheet up my chest, I see that the room is bathed in the dawn of the new morning. Frowning, I can’t help the doubt that crawls up my throat and threatens to choke me. Where does a man go on his wedding night?
I stay where I am, naked in bed, the sheet pulled up to my neck for far longer than I should. Unable to stay sitting in bed for another moment, I decide that I’m going to get dressed and if I’m going to be alone, then I’m going to do it out on the gorgeous deck of this fancy room.
Throwing the covers back, I stand and whimper at the pain that throbs between my legs. It hurts so fucking bad. Pinching my eyes closed, I shake the pain away and head toward the bathroom.
It doesn’t take me long to use the facilities, brush my teeth and hair. I don’t bother putting on any makeup before I throw my hair up in a messy bun. Walking back into the bedroom, I look out the windows and grin at the sight of the pool and hot tub on the deck.
Making my way back into the bedroom, I open the dresser drawer and reach for my bikini. Lenora and the girls insisted I need a new bikini in case we went on an actual honeymoon.
I told them that I probably wouldn’t be going anywhere, and I was right. But since there is a hot tub, I’m going to take full advantage of the amenities. Grabbing a white fluffy towel from the bathroom, I make my way outside.
Chapter Thirteen
MASSIMO
Rushing upstairs, I freeze at the sight in front of me. Pippa isn’t in the bed, the bathroom door is open and I don’t hear a fucking sound. Turning around slowly, I look around for any clue that she’s gone somewhere, that she’s left the hotel.
The wedding dress is still hanging in front of the closet door, the high heels still on the floor next to it. Slowly, I turn around and look out the windows. The water of the East River looks calm, even surprisingly pretty from this distance. Then something catches the corner of my eye.
Turning my head, I see her. She’s lying back in the hot tub. Her breasts are floating in the water, her hair is up and the sun is shining down on her face. She looks fucking enchanting. My feet carry me toward her, unable to stop myself, she fucking lures me to her like a goddamn siren.
Quietly, I make my way outside, not wishing to disturb her. I stand to the side beneath the shade of the small patio roofing.
“Do I even want to know where you were?” she asks, not moving an inch of her body.
Clearing my throat, I make my way toward her side, sinking down to the lounge chair next to the hot tub. I pick up her towel, then set it back down, trying to come up with some kind of excuse that she would buy.
I have none. I can’t tell her the truth, but I don’t have a lie to give her either. I’ve never had to do this before. I’ve never had to think of another person’s feelings. I didn’t think that I would give a fuck about hers either, not until this exact moment.
“Probably not,” I say, lifting my gaze from the towel to her eyes.
She’s turned her head to the side and her eyes are on me. Those big blue eyes are so fucking beautiful, so wide and so innocent and yet, they aren’t that innocent.
I watch as she sucks her lips in and lowers her lids. “Was it another woman? I know I have no right to ask, but I’m asking.”
“Look at me,” I softly demand.