Page 76 of Veil of Vengeance

My face wrinkles in disgust at the absolute audacity of this man who considers himself a fucking Camorrista. He laughs, shaking his head before turning to the door.

“Just don’t forget yourself as Capo, and we’ll all be with you in all the decisions you make.” A knowing look passes over his face before he nods once and slips outside. Instead of staying in my office, I head to my room to talk to Val. ?

The door to my living room opens without a sound, and I step in. The silence is deafening, as if there isn’t anyone in here. As I step inside, I scan the room. Nothing seems out of place, but I know in my gut that it’s too empty and she’s not here.

I reach my room door in three strides and pause in front of the door before twisting the knob and flinging it open. Empty. I don’t know where the fuck she went, and I really don’t understand why she isn’t in here. Unless… No, fuck no. She’s been desperate to go home for the last couple of days, as if she’s a psych patient. And she did try to run the first time, but this time, she won’t be able to get away. There are guards everywhere, surrounding the perimeter, so if she tries to even leave through an exit, they’ll bring her back to me.

I sigh and close my bedroom door behind me. This is for the best. She can stay wherever the fuck she is, and I’ll stay the fuck away until it’s time to give her back to the Outfit. I head into the bathroom, my clothes hitting the floor on my way to the shower.

The steam from the shower slowly fills the bathroom and the boiling water pummels against my back. I stare off at the tiles as I wash my hair. I close my eyes as I imagine what would happen if…if I don’t go through with the revenge.

I’d keep Valentina, we’d get married here in the back garden. I can see her walking down a pale green carpet, wearing a simple white dress, holding a colorful bouquet with the most gorgeous smile on her face.

Romiro, Dom, and my brothers stand beside me, while my sister, Alessia, and Ma stand on the opposite side. Everyone’s eyes are on Val as she floats like an apparition down the aisle.

Then, after we marry, we’ll go on a honeymoon somewhere she’ll love. And a couple of years down the line, maybe a family of our own. Val, me, and our kids, a dream.

A knot finds its way in my throat as the vision slowly fades.

* * *

The last twodays passed in a blur as I’d hurried myself in getting everything ready to move everyone back to New York. Valentina and I had managed to avoid each other. She’d spend time with my family during breakfast, lunch, and dinner and spend the rest of her time in my ma’s guest room. Today’s going to be a different routine, however. Because today is the day we’ll be completing the plan. The knot that had wiggled its way in my throat a couple of days ago has only managed to get bigger with every minute that passes. ?

I find Valentina, Mara, and my ma all sitting together in the living room, making something. I ignore the curiosity at what they’re doing. Rounding the back of the couch, I come to a stop beside Mara, who’s next to Valentina. Mara looks up and narrows her eyes before deciding she’s tired of fighting and gives me a small smile. The girl has always reminded me of a ray of sunshine, even when she’s pissed. Valentina ignores me as she concentrates on the task in her hands. I clear my throat, but only Ma and Mara are the ones who look at me.

“Valentina,” I say. She slowly turns her head around, and she has her best poker face on, but her expressive eyes betray her. She’s upset. Upset and pissed. I ignore the voice begging me to comfort her. “Get up, we're leaving,” I order. She presses her lips into a tight line, her eyes wandering to the side before they flicker to my sister and ma.

She gives them both a weak smile and hugs them tight. They hug her back, Mara and Ma giving her a squeeze and whispering something in her ear before letting her go.

The room is quiet and something heavy settles over us as Valentina steps away to come with me. Ma gives me a look that tells me she knows about what’s transpired over the past couple days. I ignore it and walk ahead of Valentina, listening to her quiet steps behind me.

She’s wearing another pair of sweats, this time a pair of purple sweatpants with a purple hoodie. We head toward the hallway she was staying in when she first got here. I open a door and step in, holding it open and waiting for her to walk in. As she does, she avoids looking at me. It irks me, but I leave it alone, not wanting to argue with her. Especially not when this will be the last time I’ll see her.

I’ll never see her again.

My throat tightens at the thought, but I ignore it.

There’s a large table in the middle of the room with six chairs around it. On the table, there’s a box placed on the edge closest to us. We both stay quiet as I open it. A replica of the dress she was wearing on the night of her kidnapping is in the box. Her eyes flicker with recognition when I hold it up, and her jaw clenches as I extend it toward her.

“Change in here, I’ll be out there. Be quick,” I tell her.

She snatches it out of my hand, and I don’t wait for a reply as I slam the door.

CHAPTER 20

VALENTINA

Today I’ll be going back to my family. I should be happy, thrilled, and I try to trick myself into believing that I am. But my insides feel hollow. I watch Emiliano’s retreating back, and I flinch when he slams the door behind him. Swallowing down the hurt and blinking away the burning tears, my hands become slick with anticipation. I try to swallow again, but my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. I don’t know how the fuck I’m going to be able to explain my lack of virginity when I go back, because as soon as Nicholas realizes that I am not a virgin, I’m sure he’ll do something in retaliation.

I look down at the dress. It’s an exact match to the one that I was wearing the night I was taken. I clench my fists, trying to stop myself from shaking. Placing the dress on the table, I push down my joggers, then pull my hoodie over my head, my arms and legs prickling as the cold air cools my warm body. I step into the dress, sliding my arms through the straps, but when I reach behind me to try zip it up, I only manage to get halfway, even after struggling with it for a couple of minutes. Opening the door, I find Emiliano standing against the opposite wall, his eyes on his phone screen.

“Are you done?” he asks. I narrow my eyes. I guess we’re both not looking each other in the eye.

“Umm.” I don’t know what to say. His eyes snap to my face, and he scans me from head to toe, confusion crossing his gaze before he shuts it down. “I need help zipping the dress up.”

He dips his head once. “Turn around.”

I move my hair to the side as I turn, and he takes a step closer. His breath fans the top of my head and his warm fingertips ghost over my back. I feel his finger and thumb trap the zipper, his thumb caressing my skin as it ascends. My chest moves slightly faster than it should, and it feels like it’s taking too much effort to breathe.

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