Page 3 of Corrupt Desires

“Of course she will be, James. Matteo and Lorenzo will be staying with her until this blows over. Do you think I hadn’t already thought about that?”

Relieved to hear that Emilia will at least have some sort of protection, I let out a shaky breath. Why do I care so much? It’s not like Emilia would care if something happened to me. She has made her hatred of me very apparent. But, I admit, I don’t hate her back. She captivates me with her stubbornness and her ferocity.

“Good,” I say, “let me know if there is any other way I can be of assistance, you know my price.”

“Yes, a favor for a favor. Understood, James. I’ll be talking to you again soon. Thanks for taking my call at such a late hour.”

After saying goodbye to Francesca, I grab my glass of wine and make my way into my study. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the Bonetti hadn’t taken out one of the Romani sons, but instead someone from their crew. But no… he had to off one of the actual Romani sons and bring war to their doorsteps.

The severed head is a direct threat to the Bonettis, and I’m sure they chose Emilia’s home because they know she is their only child, their princess—the only heir to their entire empire.

It’s both a warning and a promise.

Three

Emilia

The drive home was a long one, and I can’t help but to admit that James was on my mind for the majority of it. For as long as I can remember, I have always hated James. I’m hardly the forgive and forget type of woman, especially when my ego is bruised.

Seven years ago, I had just turned eighteen. My mother and father were talking about their dynasty and how someday I would need to take it over from them. They were discussing my future, debating marrying me off to one of their connections in the upper part of the state or perhaps Matteo. My mother squashed the idea of Matteo, saying we were too much like siblings. My father, ever the businessman, suggested James next.

To say I was livid at the suggestion, would be an understatement. Not only was he twelve years older than me, but I barely knew him. Father told mother how James came from money and would be more than capable of taking care of me. James knew the business well enough. I could continue to run the illegal side of things, and James could still take care of all the legalities in and out of the courtroom.

What made me hate him, was what mother said next. “I agree with you, Robert. I should present the idea to him next time we see him.” My mother actually agreed with my father on this! While I knew it was my father’s suggestion, my mother was the one to nail my coffin shut.

It sealed my fate, and I have since spent every minute of my life hating him. He would be the stealer of my freedom and choice. My jailer in a loveless marriage.

It’s not what I envisioned for myself. I always imagined I would find someone outside of this life, someone with no connections to the Bonettis or any other ruling family in California. I would marry for love and have two or three kids running around the home while I cooked my famous enchiladas. It was a dream that I knew in that moment I would never have.

Ever since my parents brought up James as a potential suitor, he has asked me out for dinner every time we’ve met for one of his favors. It angers me every time because I know the only reason he’s asking is because my parents presented my hand in marriage to him. He must have said no, though, because I was never married off, and I never heard my parents speak about it again. That just made me even more mad, hence my bruised ego.

Did he not find me suitable enough for a wife? Did he not find me attractive? I’ve hated him ever since. I should be happy he didn’t find me suitable, but it just serves to piss me off even more.

Ay dios mio… I will never be rid of him in my mind.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, we pull up to my parent’s house, secluded in the countryside, which seems a little busier than normal. There are cars parked all around the semicircular driveway and more guards than usual standing along the perimeter. It’s still pretty early in the morning, our night-drive taking us into daylight hours. I immediately start to worry about my father’s health. He has been on a slow decline for the past year due to an inoperable cancer that has attacked his colon and surrounding organs. The fact that he’s held on this long is a miracle. My mother has pretty much taken over the family business at this point, and now it’s just a matter of when he finally decides to let go.

Exchanging a look with Matteo, we all get out of the car. I throw the keys to Lorenzo, who has stopped to talk to one of the guards.

Matteo and I make our way up to the house in silence. There is a heaviness in the air, but for what, we don’t know. Pulling open the front door, I am greeted with numerous people milling about the grand entryway, everyone looking sinister and withdrawn.

“What did we miss, Matty? Did something happen while we were gone? Do you think it has to do with my father?!” I rattle off question after question, worry gnawing at my stomach.

“I don’t know, Em. Let’s go see your mother first.”

Perplexed, we both head up the staircase toward my parents en suite. Knocking on the door, we wait for an answer before proceeding into the room.

“Emilia, la mia cara ragazza. Matteo, il mio bel ragazzo,” says my mother, calling me her darling girl and Matteo her handsome boy.

We both take turns and greet her with a peck on the cheek and a hug.

“What is everyone doing here, Mother?” I ask, confusion written clearly on my face as my eyebrows pull together and my lips turn down.

“I have called everyone here for family business, Emilia. We are under attack and need to watch our backs.”

Confused as to what she means by that, I simply look at her, hoping she continues explaining.

“Someone left a severed head on your doorstep yesterday, Emilia. I will not take this threat lightly. No one threatens my little girl.”

---