Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 83: Chapter 83

TERZO
I dropped Dani at the apartment and told her to check her boxes if she wanted to take some things to Italy. She didn’t ask why we were flying back to the US without proper plans of our itinerary. Time was crucial for my plan to work.
“Do you trust me?” I stroked her cheek with my thumb.
My question made her instantly worried. She looked right into my eyes, searching for the truth. “Yes, but I don’t like it when you ask me that. I feel like you’re going on a covert mission.”
I traced my thumb on her bottom lip. God, this woman. I didn’t know what to do if I lost her. I might just take my own life so that we could be together like fucking Romeo and Juliet. I had never ever thought that I would say something like that even in my head.
“Stay here, please? Wait for me to come back.”
“On a scale of one to ten. How dangerous is it?”
“Don’t do that. I’ll be fine.”
“I thought so.” She smiled but didn’t reach her eyes. “Okay. I promise unless your kitchen is caught on fire.”
I groaned. “Be serious, please?”
“Kidding. I promise, okay? I learned from my mistake.” She wrapped her arms around me.
“You mean, mistakes?”
“Fine. Mistakes, Mr. Perfect Mafia.” She sighed heavily. “Just be careful out there. I’d be so pissed if you won’t come back, and I will sell your cars and break all your wines in the cellar.”
“You’re upset I haven’t taken you down to the cellar.” I hugged her tight and inhaled the sweet floral scent of her shampoo.
“I’m not upset. There’s the right time for that.”
“I have to go.” I pressed my lips on top of her head one more time. “Marco will stay with you. If you need anything, just tell him.” She looked so small and fragile in my arms, but she also had fire in her. She had a strong character and spoke her own mind.
When I looked at her beautiful eyes again that held me captive, something frightening and overwhelming flashed in my head. Despite my world full of danger, violence, blood, and deaths, she chose to be with me when she had every chance to run away. But my Dani, my wife stayed.
Dani knew what we had was more than just a contract marriage or stopping the war between families. What we had was more than air-consuming sexual tensions and heat or deep dark chemistry. It was our hearts that beat as one.
“Oh, fuck.” I cupped the back of head and slanted my mouth over hers and devoured her hard and hungrily.
She gasped into my mouth, hands gripping my arms, and kissing me back with the same intensity. We kissed like it was a goodbye but we both knew it was not. We kissed as a promise. We kissed because there was a continuation after this and because it made us feel alive.
We both breathed hard when we pulled apart.
“We’ll continue this later.”
Her cheeks turned red. “Then come home quickly.”
“I should go.” I glanced at her one more time before I left.
I never thought a certain betrayal could sway people into doing something reckless, like revenge, for example. But what was sickening was when that betrayal was all for money. It was disgusting how she could betray me and my family for money.
I watched her walk out of the hotel lobby and wait for her driver. I dialed her number. I could even feel the vibration of her phone from her bag.
She fished it out. I couldn’t see her eyes from the sunglasses she was wearing, but her face and smile told otherwise.
She was thrilled to see my name popping up from her phone screen. “Hey, stranger.”
“Hey.” I closed my eyes briefly to switch to the old smug Terzo, the man that she used to know. Yes, I’d changed. I wasn’t the same man anymore. I’d become ruthless and unforgiving. If I was the same man she once knew, I would have given her the chance knowing our history.
“Is everything okay?”
“No.”
“Trouble in paradise?” She sounded happy, even relieved.
“Something like that.” I paused as if hesitating. “Do you happen to be in town? New York. I could use an old friend’s advice.”
She chuckled. Her car just arrived. “Well, aren’t you lucky? When do you wanna meet?”
“Meet me in an hour. Old place.”
“Sure. Make sure to order my favorite wine.”
“See you later.” I hung up the call.
My anger had been bottled up for more than twenty-four hours since I found out she’d been working with Francesco all this time. And it was about to explode. Why didn’t I suspect her? Why didn’t I suspect that my enemy was right on my nose all this time?
I had a huge respect for her and I trusted her for old time’s sake, yet this was what I got in return.
“Are you okay, boss?” Tristan asked behind the wheel.
“I’m fine, but I’ll be more than fine when this is over. Let’s go.”
He revved the engine towards the hotel where I used to meet her. It was already booked. Everything was prepared the way she liked it.
I dialed someone I knew would never betray me. “Just checking out.”
She whispered, “I’m on the location, settled, and just waiting for him to show up.”
“Good. Don’t disappoint me. Give me an update once it’s done.”
“When did I ever disappoint you? I won’t miss it, I promise.”
“That’s why you’re on the job.” Because she was the best, and I couldn’t be in two places at the same time.
Forty-five minutes later, I was already in the hotel room that screamed romance and sex. I took a seat on the chair at the corner beside the window where it had the perfect view of the city. Beside me was the table where I hid my handgun with silencer under the fashion magazine.
My heart started to warm up, racing out of the urge for revenge. I was done giving people a chance. I tried it, and it almost killed the woman I loved. No more second chances. Just like Moses said to me, not everyone deserved it.
“She’s here,” Gio said to the comm in my ear. “Alone.”
“Watch your backs. She did not come alone. She always has backups. Check for the men that stood out of the crowd, and Tristan.” I knew he was listening, too. “Rules of engagement. Try not shooting everyone to avoid mass casualty.”
The door was already unlocked. I watched the doorknob twist. Her black high heel was the first thing I noticed.