Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

DANI
I felt like a strip dancer in my very revealing white mini dress. Why did Maverick purchase this? No wonder she didn’t even wear it. I just cut off the price tag earlier before I put it on. But in fairness, it was fit for the occasion. It was an open back with thin functional ties that secured the bust line. It had golden trim at neckline, and it pissed off Terzo.
If I didn’t get bored at home alone while Terzo was having fun at the club with all the women trying to catch his attention and taste a piece of him, I might just stay and watch Netflix.
“Keep your eyes on my wife. If someone comes to her or even flirts with her, break his nose,” Terzo warned Tristan and Sandro, while Magnus didn’t seem to care.
“Wow. So much violence in your bones. What made you think it’s he? Maybe I attract girls, too.”
“Don’t challenge me, mia bella.” He gave an impressive and disapproving look at my dress. “I hate that fucking dress.”
“I actually love it,” I lied and smirked as I crossed my legs over the other's on the couch in an open private lounge at the upper deck that everyone could still see us. “Maybe you can rip it off my body later?”
His eyes narrowed and darkened as he inhaled a deep breath. “I can do it right now. I know just a place—”
“Shush.” I pressed my finger against his lips. “I’m not doing it with you in the bathroom or somewhere in the office. It’s gross.”
He kissed my finger and leaned even closer so that I could see the anticipation in his eyes, almost primal. “You did it before?”
“No. Ew.”
He then kissed me on the lips until Celestina groaned, “Geez, guys. Get a room or do it in your house. Single here, remember?”
I looked at her. “Sorry. Maybe you should find some random guys to hook up with. Have fun, Cee. You’re still young and hot.”
“Fuck no,” Terzo instantly disagreed, narrowing his disapproval eyes at his sister.
“She’s an adult, Terzo. You can’t control her life anymore. Besides, we’re here to have fun. Aren’t we?”
He stood up and buttoned his suit. “I’ll be right back.” Of course, we were here for business. I should have known better.
I grabbed the Gin and tonic and sipped it.
Terzo nodded at Magnus before he walked away with Marco and Gio following him like puppies.
“We should go down and dance,” Celestina suggested.
“Yup.” I stood up and looked down at Magnus. “Maggie, how about you? Care to join us, or are you also meeting somebody here?”
“I’ll stay here. Go ahead and have fun.”
We went down and danced. The club reminded me of Fantasy, always full and crowded. Celestina loosened up a little around me, and I felt like I had just fulfilled something as a friend and as a sister-in-law.
She was really beautiful with long, dark hair and tantalizing big brown eyes. She reminded me of a classic, iconic actress in her prime.
Some guys came to join us, then in the next seconds they were gone.
“Get used to it,” Celestina said. “Especially when they know who you came with.”
“Does this club belong to your family?”
“No, but Terzo invests in it.”
“And he’s here to collect the share?”
“No.” She laughed. “He’s meeting someone. Let’s not talk about business, okay? Let him deal with it. Let’s dance.”
I laughed. “Sorry. I’m just trying to learn how things work around here. Thanks, by the way. You’re a cool sister-in-law.”
“Oh, I’m not always like this. Well, until I broke free.”
“Glad you did, Cee. There’s a life for you out there. Don’t miss the fun while you’re still young.” I swayed my lips and raised my arms in the air.
The DJ knew his music, and I loved it.
“I know, right? One day, I’ll travel the world.”
“Not one day. Do it, Cee. And maybe meet someone? You’re not dating right now, right? Don’t worry, I can keep secrets.”
“Nope, I’m not, but I’m not gonna die single.” She laughed out loud.
“Oh, please, don’t. It’s fun to have someone in your life who treasures you and worships you.”
“Is that what my brother is doing?” Her lips curved into a meaningful smile.
“Your brother has two personalities. I like them both. He can be uptight and controlling, but there’s something about him that I like very much. He’s charming, loyal, and selfless, even if he literally owns my life now.”
“He can be ruthless, but he respects you as a wife, not his property. And I think you’re falling for my brother. That’s a good sign, Dani.”
“What?” I stopped dancing, shaking my head, denying my feelings. No doubt I cared a lot about him. I couldn’t even get mad at him even longer after what he did to my brother, especially after finding out what got him killed.
Watching him getting those punches and knowing we were both going to be dead, something triggered inside me, and it wasn’t just out of sympathy or regret.
I didn’t want him to die without knowing that I forgave him. I didn’t want him to die because he was my husband and I deeply cared, but because at that time, my feelings for him were growing deeper. And behind that tough guy bravado exterior, he had a soft side, a warm heart towards his family.
It should have sickened me because he killed my brother, and I was falling for him, and my feelings were out of my control. It was twisted on so many levels, and the fact that he was also my husband.
“Hey.” Celestina shook me, smiling. “Where did you go?”
“Your brother is a good man, Cee.”
A single fire rang, making me freeze. The crowd yelped. Despite the music being too loud, it caught everyone’s attention.
“Oh, my God.” I ducked, protecting my head. My heart was in my throat. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin as I realized what was happening.
Everyone started screaming, panicking, and running everywhere.
Another shot fired, and then three more.
Cee’s eyes filled with terror as she and I shared a look before she grabbed me by the hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
Fear ignited inside me. My body was stiff, and my breathing was fast and shallow.
But how? Everyone went in the same direction— the exit and the main entrance.
“Signora, signorina, follow me.” Sandro came, gesturing to Tristan at the opposite side.
“What about Terzo? Where is he?”
“He’s gonna be fine,” Sandro said, grabbing me on the wrist, shielding me from being exposed.
“That’s not good enough.” I pulled my hand back and stopped.
“His order is to keep our eyes on you. Let us do our job to protect you both, or we’re as good as dead,” Sandro explained while being vigilant. He seemed like he knew what he was doing. When he pulled his gun out from under his jacket, I sucked in a breath.
“Dani, Terzo is with MarcoGi.”
“Who?” I gaped at her. My pulse lurched. Though I knew who she was referring to, I still asked while Sandro was dragging me and her out through the narrow, dark path towards the back exit.
I yelped again as the single gunshot echoed, too close, it rang in my ears. I did not carry my gun. I thought it wouldn’t be necessary when there were guys to protect me. I then realized it came from behind me. Tristan just shot someone a couple of steps before us.
My legs started to shake. My insides turned to ice. I froze again and panted. I couldn’t walk as dread and fear crawled my skin and seeped through my bones.
I couldn’t breathe as if it brought me to somewhere unfamiliar horrific place that smelled blood and death, and then it brought me back to that slaughterhouse as I sat there defenseless and tied to a chair.
“Signora, I got you.” Those words faded in the background— the chaos, the screaming, the fear, the tension— they were all gone.
I felt I was scooped up, lifted off the ground, while pressed against a hard body. It happened so fast, or was it too slow? I didn’t know what was going on.
Things blurred around me. All I could hear was the thrashing of my rapid pounding heart rate in my ears before everything went black.