“Massacre is Gambino’s style. Daniel is dead.” With one sharp nod, I grab the glass that sits in front of me on the table. Swallowing the liquid, I savor the slight burn as it goes down.
“Precisely, that's why I need information on the Gambino’s in Italy.” Sitting back in the chair, I can see the inner workings of Luciano’s mind. None of this makes sense to him either. Daniel never had ties to the Gambino’s in Italy from what we knew about him. He always kept whoever was important by his side. He felt he could protect them, but failed them in the end.
“Daniel’s grandfather, Marco Gambino, runs the Italy famiglia.” He pauses before he continues to speak. “Daniel dishonored the family when he was younger. Marco wanted nothing more to do with him. Bernardo Gambino, Daniel’s father wanted his son to be at the top. He gave over his empire to Daniel. Daniel killed his father the same day. He knew that he couldn’t rule with his father so close. The connection here is something I wouldn’t know. Marco banished Daniel.” That’s a story I’ve never heard before. I knew Daniel was low, but I didn’t realize just how low.
“And you have no inclination as to a connection with anyone else in Italy?” Luciano shakes his head before I sigh.
Something is missing in all this shit. Something more than even an old timer like Luciano and Nikolai know.
That realization does little to ease my mind. We left Luciano’s and headed back home.
“It’s a solid deal, Cord.” Pulling my eyes up to meet Nikolai’s, I nod.
“It is. We have soldiers that are willing to move over there as needed. We need information on Gambino. I still don’t understand where Ava comes into play with any of this.” Rubbing my temples, that all too familiar headache creeps its way back in.
“Maybe she doesn’t. Maybe she just didn’t want her father to know where she is.” That’s the obvious assumption. I thought that one over too, but to go completely off anyone’s radar isn’t like her.
“She hasn’t left a trace. No cell phone. No surveillance. That doesn’t seem odd to you?” I need to know that someone else agrees with me and I’m not losing my mind.
“Cordae, may I be blunt with you?” As if that was ever a question before. A slight chuckle rips through me.
“Nikolai. You are the closest person I have. You’ve been by my side every step of the way. You were next to my uncle when he took his place in this family. Never think you have to question that.” The smile that crosses his face is genuine.
“That means everything to me, Cord. My mind wonders what it is you want from Ava. I know she and Amelia brought some kind of peace to your life when they were around. You are a strong man and you keep that front up. The mask only wavered when you were with them.” How could he have seen all that? All this time I tried to keep my emotions under control and here he is, saying he saw right through me.
“I am not a weak man, Nikolai. I know my rightful place. I keep that mask in place to protect my family. I failed that. I let my own hate and rage over-rule me. I lost Amelia due to that distraction.” Hearing myself say it again makes it that much more real. It hurts. Deeply.
“I know you will never listen to me when I say you are not to be faulted. It’s the Vitale blood that runs through your veins. The Vitale men are stronger than any other I’ve come across in all my years. You give more than you take. Vitale men deserve a chance at love just like any other. You are all so stubborn that you can’t see that.” If only his words were true.
I deserve nothing after what I let happen to Amelia. I left her to fend for herself in this cruel world. I was too absorbed in my own darkness, that I never saw hers coming for her.
“Love is my family. That’s the only love that I deserve. I let my own selfish desires take Amelia, and I refuse to let that happen to Ava as well.” Nikolai stares at me for a few minutes. I know what he’s thinking, but I can never have the love he speaks about. It isn’t part of my destiny. This is my destiny. My place as the Boss of the Vitale family is all the love that I need.
“One day you will rethink it, Cord. One day when you see the eyes of an angel, you will know there is love within you.” I gasp at his words. How could he have known about the eyes of an angel?
No one knew about that dream but me.
A harsh reality slaps me across my face.
I had that angel, and I let her walk away.
Chapter 33
Reality is cruel. It’s almost as cruel as the dreams that haunt me. I sent my men to help Luciano with the Russians, making sure we had no threats here first. My demons are unsettled tonight. The only thing they really want is Ava. That’s all they’ve ever wanted. But she isn’t here. And I’m the reason for that. I pushed her away. I didn’t stop until she was gone from this life.
She had to leave, though. She couldn’t be the next victim in the long line that I’m sure to have. She was pure, beautiful. She had more life in her than anyone I’d ever seen before.
“Shit!” Growling as I yank Amber’s hair to expose her neck, I fuck her roughly. She isn’t what I want, though and she never will be. No one will be and that’s just the sad reality of what I have to live with.
“Cord! You’re hurting me!” Does she really think I care? I don’t give a shit about her. She’s nothing more than a common house whore. Every mafia has them. Hell, she’s probably been to a few of them before.
“Shut up! Don’t fucking talk!” Releasing the darkness that eats away at me, I unleash it all on her.
I rotate my hips, slamming deeper into her. Her screams rip through the room but it’s far from me to care. Releasing her hair, I grip her hips in my hands before pounding into her. Her hands grip the sheets in a vice like grip but that doesn’t stop me either. The harder I slam into her, the worse I feel. I don’t know why I’m coming undone, but I am. It’s like that one loose thread on a blanket. You pull it to rip it free, but the rest just unravels with it.
“Cord! Cord! They found her!” Those three little words have me pulling out of Amber. Grabbing my pants off the floor, I pull them on in record time.
“Get out!” Screaming at Amber, I head toward the door. When I throw it open, Jordy is standing there with a giant grin on his face.
“Where is she?” Buttoning up my shirt, I watch his smile fade as Amber moves around from behind me. “Where the fuck is she!” Growling, his attention comes back to mine.
“She’s in Italy.” No. There is no fucking way.
“Italy,” I repeat the word thinking it would make more sense, but it doesn’t. What the hell is she doing in Italy?
“That’s not all.” My chest tightens. The look on his face rips me to shreds.
“She’s not. She can’t be,” I say as I shake my head unable to finish that sentence.
“Oh, look. Cordae Vitale does have feelings after all.” Amber’s words irritate the last nerve I have. I reach over, grabbing her by the hair before jerking her in front of me.
“One more word. That’s all it’s going to take for me to gut you right here in this room.” Her eyes fill with tears, regret of what she just said to me.