Chapter Twenty

 

Antony watched as his parents were pushed into a nondescript morgue truck. After talking with Gino about his plans, he convinced him to not go to the police until he had everything wrapped up. He couldn’t allow another Family to believe he was weak at a time like this. Antony knew his father would agree but all he wanted to do was be alone. He wanted to bury his fucking parents and deal with the bastard who ordered them killed. The door closed on the truck and the finality of his loss hit home, he felt a hand on his shoulders, “Stay with me for a few days son.” Gino said. Antony shook his head, “I’d rather be alone.” Antony said. Gino patted his back. Antony asked a question that had been bothering him, “My father told me that you were the only one I could trust, why would he say that?”

Gino’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears, “Your father and I were like brothers. We grew up together, fought together and became bosses around the same time. Growing up, I was the brains of course, and your father the muscle.” Gino laughed. “But our time was coming to an end one way or another, and we were both preparing for that.” Gino shook his head, “But he didn’t deserve to go like this. Not like this.”

Antony nodded, “I have to go home tonight and I have to go to a benefit tomorrow, but I will come to you after that to discuss the next steps.”

Gino understood, “A quick death isn’t good enough for this scum son. Drag it out, and take pleasure in avenging your family.”

Antony turned away toward his waiting car, “It won’t be and thank you,” he said as he walked away.

***

Torre sat on a chair in the center of his office with Areyanna on her knees giving him a blow job. “Is it done?” He asked his capo.

“Yes, Pio and his wife are dead.”

Torre laughed. “Now, the Belmonte’s and I will finish Antony tomorrow, and I will be the new boss of the Pini Family.” Torre pulled Areyanna off her knees, her breasts exposed to him, and her cheeks red from exertion. He pulled her onto his lap and palmed her breast in front of his capo, “I am going to enjoy seeing Antony’s face before the lights go out on that pretty little bastard.”

“Why do you think he will still show for the party tomorrow? Wouldn’t he want to take care of his parents?” Torre shot his capo an annoyed look for asking a stupid question.

“A boss must not allow any weakness, none, that is the burden of being a boss, anyone you cherish could be used against you, so it’s best you don’t show any tender emotions, unless you want someone to exploit them. He will be there because he is the boss now, at least for the next twenty four hours.”

“So he doesn’t want the other Families to think he is weak?” his capo asked.

“Exactly.” Torre said and yanked Areyanna’s hair back and took her mouth in a selfish and brutal kiss. He pushed her skirt up to palm her bare mound in front of his capo. “Please stop.” Areyanna asked and tried to cover herself.

“You wanted the bad boy, I told you not to pursue me, I warned you. You didn’t stop, you fucked me on the conference room table, now, you have what you want and you are telling me to stop?” Torre pushed her off his lap, she scrambled to pull her clothes together. “Get the fuck out.” Areyanna moved toward the door, “Not you Areyanna, you are spending the night with me. I want to make sure you know I am the one you belong to, and Antony is the one you are playing.” His dick hardened when he saw her shoulders drop.

***

Antony picked up his cufflink and looked at Yvette’s purse. He found it when he came home. Her phone was in there but it hadn’t rung once. He was tempted to look at her phone and see who she had been texting and what they were talking about but every time he felt the urge, he reminded himself that she wasn’t his anymore. He had a duty, one that he couldn’t ignore. He had to unite the Families and keep his last promise to his father. He put on his black bow tie and pulled his black suit coat together. He looked at himself in the mirror, he would find out who killed his parents tonight, he knew it, and he would kill them, slowly.

Antony liked the cold look in his eyes, he gave his hair one last brush, picked up Yvette’s small bag, and left his home. His driver waited for him in the front of his building. He couldn’t see Daemon but he knew he was there. He could see Sal and that was what he wanted. Inside the limo, he pulled his gun out and flipped the safety off. When they pulled up to Areyanna’s house Antony jumped out of the limo. Sal’s car sat idle behind the limo. He rang the doorbell and Areyanna opened it, she looked amazing. She really was a beautiful woman, but she picked the wrong man and she was paying for it. He smiled and put his arm out for her to take. Antony opened the limo door for her and she gracefully folded into the car.

Once Antony was inside, the limo pulled off the road. Areyanna held up her phone and pointed to the back then the GPS on the screen. She was trying to tell him they put a tracker in her phone. He nodded and said, “You look lovely tonight.” and pointed to his ears silently asking if they had any listening devices. She nodded and pointed to her earrings, “Thank you Antony. You look very good tonight too, maybe we shouldn’t go to this thing tonight, and turn around to spend some quality time at my house,” she said and grabbed his phone from his pocket. She moved her hands like she was texting. Antony understood she wanted to use his phone to pass notes. “I really need to go to this event tonight or otherwise I would.” He grabbed her and gave her an open mouth kiss on her neck. He looked for the listening device. There, on the back of her earring. He moaned, “I like when you do that with your tongue. What else can you wrap that tongue around?” Antony asked then unzipped his pants, he had no intention of letting her suck his dick, he pulled open the small mini fridge in the limo and pulled out a bottle of champagne, and gave it to her, they needed the sucking noise. Her brows furrowed until she understood, she was going to suck the champagne bottle. She rolled her eyes. Antony didn’t care, her mouth wasn’t touching any part of him. She placed the bottle in her mouth and began to suck, between each suck, she added to her note. Antony played his part and said encouraging statements as if he was enjoying her attention. “That’s it, your mouth feels good there.” She passed him the phone, he read the message, “They are going to grab you and take you someplace, Torre will be there. Torre ordered your parents death, I am sorry. I didn’t know until it was over.”

Antony groaned, “Take it deeper, you can fit more in your mouth. How small was the last guy you sucked? You gag so easily.”

Antony sat back in the car and let Areyanna continue sucking off the champagne bottle, he moaned occasionally, his mind was racing. He knew it, he knew Torre had something to do with it. His father must have known it too. “That’s enough baby, I am not going to come this soon, but it felt good.” He bent down and gave her another open mouth kiss on her neck. “Fix your hair babe, and your makeup before we get out.”

They arrived at a stunning mansion. Antony grabbed Areyanna’s hand and guided her out of the limo and up the steps. The windows in the hall were open, and they could hear the soft music of a live band floating in the wind. People chatted quietly around them as they waited their turn to enter the hall. Once at the doorman Antony pulled out two tickets. “I am going to check my shawl,” Areyanna said turning her back toward him, silently asking him to remove it. Antony removed Areyanna’s pearl shawl from her shoulders. He gave her shawl to her and watched her walk away. Her dress was white and black, the top was white and hung off one shoulder, the black started at her small waist and tapered out. “Mr. Carbonaro.” He heard a voice behind him that sounded suspiciously like Daemon. He turned around and saw Daemon in a white blazer, black bow tie with black slacks and on his arm, was Yvette, her curly hair hung down her shoulders, she had on an elaborate necklace and a white dress with sprinkles of copper that matched her necklace. She looked beautiful. They looked beautiful together. Antony’s jaw ticked. “Hello Mr. MacAuthur, what brings you here?” Antony said and pulled his ear and jerked his head toward Areyanna.

“My woman and I are here to give to a worthy cause of course.” Antony did not like the possessive look in Daemon’s eyes when he called Yvette his woman. Antony closed his eyes and exhaled, “Then enjoy yourself.” He turned to walk away from them, but not before he heard.

“We will, right baby.” Antony’s steps faltered when he heard Daemon call Yvette baby, he righted himself and kept walking until he met up with Areyanna. He leaned over to the wide eyed blond cutting her off before she mentioned Yvette’s name. He whispered, “That is Mr. MacAuthur and Ms. Phillips. Have you met them before?” Antony shook his head, “No,” she said. Antony nodded.

***

Yvette played with her silverware, ignoring the conversations around her. Somehow, Daemon got them a seat at Antony’s table, it was a slow torture watching Areyanna preen about Antony, while Antony did his best to ignore Yvette.

Yvette grabbed a glass of champagne off the table, “Oh no, the last time you drank, you did not do so well.” Daemon said taking the drink from her and drinking it.

“What, then why are you drinking? You drove.” Yvette said.

Daemon gave her one of his devil may care grins, “One glass won’t do shit to me, but you on the other hand, are a lightweight.” Yvette pouted prettily.

Antony interrupted. “Daemon, if you drove you should take care not to drink anymore, it won’t do for you to endanger your lady when it can be avoided.”

“Good point Antony, she is mine to care for, so I should do it properly.” Daemon said.

Yvette kicked him under the table, Daemon looked down at her, “What?” he asked.

“Why are you being an ass?” Yvette whispered

Daemon shrugged, “I get the feeling Antony did something to hurt you, and I don’t particularly care for that, and you don’t need that shit either.” Daemon said.

“Can’t say you are wrong there.” Yvette said.

Daemon gave her a smile that told her he was up to no good, he bent down and kissed her. His lips were soft on hers, he grabbed the back of her neck and deepened the kiss, but she didn’t feel anything. She felt awkward, like she was kissing her best friend.

Antony cleared his throat. “Daemon, you are going too far on a day I can’t really be responsible for my actions. Too damn far.”

Daemon pulled back, “Why can’t you be responsible for your actions?” Daemon asked. Daemon knew Antony needed to talk about what happened to his family or at least acknowledge that he said something to make Yvette cry herself to sleep last night. Instead, Antony closed down. Daemon watched him, and all night he looked past everyone, he held conversation, but he wasn’t truly engaged. He was keeping his parents murder under close wraps until after tonight, he couldn’t even grieve them. Daemon shook his head. Damn, Antony’s life wasn’t one he envied.

It had to be hard to push down those emotions for the sake of the Family, and he was managing it, but at the risk of losing the woman Daemon knew he loved. Daemon thought it would be good for him to lose it a little, because that was better than no emotion at all.

Antony stood, “Never mind, continue inappropriately kissing at a benefit ball, I am going to go to the restroom. Excuse me Areyanna.” Antony stood and made his way to the restroom, he stopped to talk with a few people as he found his way. Daemon stood and pulled Yvette up with him, “We can kiss and dance, shall we honey.” Yvette looked at Areyanna and said goodbye with her eyes. Areyanna acknowledged her. Daemon and Yvette walked toward the dance floor, one of them kept eyes on Antony’s progress toward the bathroom. Daemon spoke into his cufflink, “Ice, Antony is in the restroom, I don’t have eyes, now would be a good time for someone to take him. Keep a lookout on the outside.”

Yvette wanted to do something, the waiting was nerve wracking, waiting to hear or see Antony be kidnapped, didn’t sit well with her, she wanted to do something, every moment Antony was out of her line of sight, made her feel as if the walls were closing in around her. Then she felt Daemon’s hands move up and down her back, “Easy Archer, our plan is tight, he will be alright.” His soothing voice and touch took the edge off. Daemon turned her and spoke into his cufflink, “Ice, we have pick up coming out of the front door, Antony plus two. We are hot on their tails, call Sal but keep your eyes on the prize.”

Daemon waited for the group to move around the corner then pulled Yvette to the door. They walked outside of the ballroom in time to see Antony being thrown into a black car. Yvette kept eyes on the car, she memorized the license plate number. Ice was there within seconds, Yvette and Daemon jumped into the car, and they sped off after Antony. When they caught up to the car, Yvette was pulling off her shoes and dress. “Keep your eyes toward the front everybody.” Yvette shimmed out of her dress and slipped on a t-shirt and combat pants with tennis shoes, she pulled her gun and holster from the driver’s seat back organizer. She sat back and watched trying not to be a backseat driver, like Daemon was doing, “What are you doing Ice? Get over there, you are too close, damn it, next time, I am driving.” Ice didn’t say anything, he kept a good pace, Yvette imagined Daemon was feeling like her, he knew Antony and if they lost him he wouldn’t be losing a client but friend as well. The car’s phone system rang, Yvette looked on the dash, it was Sal. Ice answered the call, “We are behind you.” Sal said.

“Roger that. It looks like the fucking idiots are taking him to the meatpacking district. If that ain’t the most cliche thing to do.” Daemon said.

Sal grunted, “We are locked and loaded on our end. Remember Antony needs at least one alive.”

Yvette piped up, “We can’t make that promise.” Daemon turned around and looked at her as if they had never met. Ice hung up the phone, “A little bloodthirsty aren’t we kitten?” Ice said and smiled at her through the rear view mirror.

“No, just saying I am shooting to kill.” Yvette said.

“Roger that.” Daemon said.

The car pulled off the highway, they followed. There were a series of turns, then the car Antony was in stopped. Ice rolled past them slowly, Yvette rolled out of the car and into the night. Yvette ducked and rolled, putting her back against the brick wall of the warehouse they passed. She ran catching the door with her foot, before it closed. The pain from the heavy door closing on her foot made her want to cry out, but she held it in and dismissed the pain. She slipped in and used the shadows to hide her presence. She stayed close against the wall.

“So it was you Torre,” Antony said. Yvette heard Torre laugh, then he said, “Not me alone right?” Donato’s voice came through on a speaker phone. “Hello and goodbye Antony you piece of shit. You put me here and took everything away from me. If I weren’t here Sandra wouldn’t have been named the new heir. I have nothing to lose, and killing you will be a balm to all the wrongs I have suffered. This will set the world to rights, just a little.”

“You sound completely insane Donato, has sitting in that cell for the last three months driven you bat shit crazy or were you like this before?” Antony asked.

“Somebody hit this asshole!” the man screamed over the phone. Yvette heard Antony grunt, and cough, they hit him in the stomach. That motherfucker Donato. Things were escalating, she needed to move, Antony would need to hurry up and get his answers, because she didn’t think they were going to stick to just hitting for much longer. She took a quiet breath and moved into position, she had a clear shot to two of the three men, one stood in front of Antony, she couldn’t get a bead on him.

On her call Daemon, Ice, Sal and his men would come running in to extract Antony, but she wanted to give him time to get the truth he needed.

“So you and Donato have been working together all this time?” Antony asked.

“Of course, how do you think Sandra got into our operations? Dumb luck? How do you think Jim and Peter’s dealings were hidden from your father for so long? Because they were smart? No, I did that, but your father was smart enough to figure out someone helped them. He started investigating and asking questions, I tried to throw him off the path, then Sandra blew your car up and I thought for sure that would take the heat off me, but it didn’t. Your father was like a dog with a bone when he thought he was being handled. I had to kill him, I couldn’t let him kill me first. Now, I have to kill you, but I am actually going to enjoy killing you. Donato, I will call you back when this piece of business is over.”

Torre raised his gun toward Antony, “Antony move!” Yvette said and fired off three shots, one going wide the other two head shots to the men that were holding Antony. Yvette was running toward Antony. She continued firing the entire time, she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder then it felt on fire, she couldn’t stop to see what happened. She had to cover Antony so he could move. Shots fired from behind her, Daemon and Ice arrived, Torre ran further into the warehouse. She felt Ice and Daemon pass her to pursue Torre and she ran toward Antony. Yvette bent down on one knee keeping her weapon drawn and alert. They must have beat him in the car. He had blood dripping down his mouth and his eyes were swollen and red. “Are you okay?” Yvette asked. She looked down at him quickly assessing his injuries. He was beat up but otherwise uninjured, Yvette pulled him toward the wall behind a crate, so they had cover. She laid on top of him. “What the fuck are you doing?” Antony whispered. “What you paid us to do, protect you.” Yvette whispered back.

“Antony!” Sal had arrived relief rolled off her in waves.

“Over here Sal!” Yvette yelled, she rolled off Antony and felt the pain that radiated from her shoulder.

“Shit, Antony, she’s been shot.” Sal said.

Yvette peered at the wound, “Only a flesh wound.” Daemon taught her the difference, and field training to take care of it, but apparently Antony didn’t care.

“Sal let’s go, we need to get her to an hospital.” Antony said.

“But what about finishing up here?” Sal asked.

“Daemon knows what to do, he won’t kill Torre, that is for me to do, now, help me get her to the fucking car.” Antony said.

Antony gently lay Yvette on the seat and ran around to the passenger side. He closed the door and placed her head on his lap. “Get the fuck out of here Sal.”

Antony ran a hand over Yvette’s head gently petting her, “I am fine, it is only a flesh wound Antony, nothing to get worked up over.”

“Don’t fucking move Yvette, you were shot, whether you want to take that seriously or not doesn’t fucking matter to me, but I do.”

“That’s rare coming from you. Didn’t you call me a bitch and tell me to fuck off yesterday? Now today you care about whether or not I survive a fucking flesh wound.”

“Close your mouth Yvette.” Antony said through clenched teeth.

“No, fuck you Antony. You always get the last say. You said some pretty fucked up shit yesterday, and I get that you are grieving, I know where you are, I. Have. Been. There, remember, I am alone in this world. My family wasn’t murdered but they are dead just the same. I want to be there for you, I had nobody to go through that pain with me, I made it, but look at the woman I was when you met me. I was a bumbling idiot that was scared of her own shadow. It took some fucked up shit to make me see my own potential, sure, I didn’t turn into something everyone would be proud of, but I am proud of myself. But it took years to turn into this woman, I don’t want that for you. I don’t want you to become paranoid, believing everyone is out to kill you and isolate yourself. Let me help you.”

Antony sighed, this woman, this strong fierce woman, who took a bullet for him and wanted nothing more than to be with every part of him, was laying in his arms bleeding and begging to help him. But he couldn’t accept it. He couldn’t be with her and he didn’t want to see her and know that something so wonderful, and precious, was forever out of his reach. He reached for his cufflink only to realize one of those bastards had stolen them. “I can’t let you be next to me because I am engaged to someone.” Not exactly, Antony thought but that was the intended outcome of the agreement between Pio and Gino.

“What, say that again.” Yvette said.

“I am engaged to Gino Bonello’s daughter.” Antony said slowly.

“You fucking bastard. When did this happen?” Yvette asked.

“My father set it up before he died and asked me to promise him that I would marry her, it was the last thing he said to me before he died, and I promised.”

Yvette stayed silent. “You promised even after the night we shared?”

Antony nodded.

“It meant that little to you?”

“No, it meant a lot to me, but the Family means the world to me.”

“Boss we are here.” Sal interrupted from the driver’s seat.

Yvette sat up. Antony moved to get out. Yvette lifted her good arm, “Stay in the car Antony, we end here.”

 

The End until Release Me