Page 5 of Dangerous Games of Trust
“I’m serious, Harley. You’re strong, and this will not beat you. I want to hear you say it.”
“I’m strong, and this won’t beat me,” I whisper the words, but they feel heavy in my throat as doubt fills my mind. I’ve never felt so vulnerable, like a delicate ceramic doll in a world of hulks.
His dark eyes narrow in on me, and he moves my face so I’m forced to look at myself. “Louder. Say it like you mean it.”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I lock eyes with him, finding the last bit of fight I have in me. “I’m strong, and this won’t beat me,” I say with a look of determination in my eyes that even makes me believe my words.
When I wake up, I’m alone. The side of the bed where I expected to find Geovani sleeping hasn’t been touched. As soon as I climbed into bed, he excused himself, claiming he had work to sort out, and disappeared into the night.
I wonder what work even means for him. If the Moretti boys spend their days running their clubs and helping Enzo keep Ravens Hollow in check, what does Geovani do? I know he has his gym, the one the two of us trained in, but does he spend the rest of his time running jobs for his pa?
I throw my legs over the edge of the bed, finding a pair of knee-high fur-lined boots waiting for me, so I pull them on. They feel heavenly on my tender feet. I grab an oversized hoodie that was left on the end of the bed and pull it over my head, concealing the black tank top and most of the yoga pants I had thrown on before going to sleep last night.
As I run a hand through my tangled curls, I take in the huge bedroom in front of me. This place feels like a prison, but not in the same way being trapped with the Moretti boys did. I make my way over to the window, staring out at the traffic below. A lineup of cars moves toward the main part of the city, horns honking and engines roaring in their battle against the morning rush. I sigh heavily, longing to be out there with them. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to be driving my own little car on my way to work right now. I’m so desperate for my freedom it’s making me feel crazy. But something tells me escaping this place will be just as difficult as the boys’. Last night we came right up to the top floor in that elevator, and my guess is that’s the only way out as well.
Is that what I want? To run for it right now? There might not be bars on the window, but this is all just an illusion. I’m sure Geovani wants me to feel safe, just like I did in his arms last time. But I’m not safe. Not here, not anywhere anymore. If I’m here with the D’Amicos, then the Morettis will be searching for me. After what I witnessed last night, with those masked men weaving their way through that fight shooting people as they went, I know they already are. They were the same masks they wore Christmas Eve when they broke into my papa’shouse. I would recognize those shadowy figures anywhere—it was definitely Ricky and Alessandro. Probably there to rescue Maddox and put a stop to the madness that was taking place on center stage. I wonder how he is now. My chest aches when I think of how badly he was hurt.
Resigned to the reality where I’m stuck here with Geovani for the distant future, I open the bedroom door, leaving the security of the room. I’m not sure what to expect, but I deserve answers, and Geovani’s damn well going to give them to me this morning. Marco and Dani too if they’re still here. I’m sick of being kept in the dark.
I may have felt weak last night, but this morning, I have a newfound determination to finish what I started. Geovani might just be the man to help me do it. The Moretti boys might not have had the kind of involvement in destroying my life as I originally thought, but Enzo did. He is the one who needs to pay for what he did to my family. He’s the reason my ma was taken from me when I was only a girl, the reason my papa was caught up in this fucked-up world, and he’s the reason my brother is trapped now, forced to play by his rules in this ridiculous game. But I won’t. I refuse to. I don’t know where Geovani stands, but I know one thing for sure; when it comes to me, he’s protective and kind. I could use that to my advantage and get him to help me seek out my revenge.
Outside the room, I find the stairs we came up last night and wander down them in search of the muffled voices that find my ears. In the light of day, I can see how modern the apartment is. It’s all concrete, wood, and hard shiny surfaces, giving it an industrial feel. I glance into the kitchen, finding it empty, but the faint scent of coffee lingers in the air, making my tummy grumble. But I ignore it, walking further through the apartment. From the other end of the hall, I hear Dani’s laugh, so I continuetoward the sound. I stop dead in my tracks when I see who’s sharing a living room with Geovani.
“Hey, girl, glad you’re awake.” Dani sprints toward me, her arms outstretched, and she pulls me into a tight embrace. “Sorry bout the whole drugging you thing,” she says like it was nothing. Today, she seems to be brimming with life and enthusiasm again. I guess she’s over the craziness of yesterday.
But I’m not.
I stand frozen in her grip, feeling the tightness in every fiber of my being, not sure what to do. But Dani is the least of my worries. The other two occupants have my attention. I take a step back from her, not ready to forgive and forget so easily. “What on earth is going on? Marco, Maddox, one of you better start talking right now.” Anger seeps into my words as I growl them out. How did Maddox end up here, of all places?
Chapter 4
From his place leaningagainst the far wall, Maddox grunts a response I don’t make out. It’s pretty damn obvious their fight last night wasn’t fake, his face marked by stitches and deep bruising. I resist the urge to sprint toward him, the magnetic pull I have to him almost impossible to ignore. I’m craving his strong protective arms wrapped around me, telling me it’s all going to be okay. But that would only be accepting more lies. So, I stay where I am, waiting for answers.
Geovani pats the seat beside him, his own face mirroring Maddox’s with purple swelling that looks mighty painful. “Come sit with us, Red,” he suggests.
I look around the cozy space, wondering what I should do. A platter filled with pastries and fresh fruit sits in the center of the coffee table, half-finished mugs of coffee scattered around. I’m utterly starving and would die for some food, but at the same time, I’m too anxious to actually eat anything; it would probably come straight back up if I tried. I cross one arm over the other and stare them down.
Marco and Dani sit together, smiling warmly, trying to encourage me to join them. I’m confused by my brother most of all; how did he jump sides so easily?
“Not until one of you tells me what the fuck that madness was last night and why I’m here.” I glare at them. Why in God’s name would this group of people all be sitting round together having a cute little breakfast? It doesn’t make any sense. Especially after what I saw last night. They looked like they were going to kill each other.
“I couldn’t let you go through with the wedding,” Maddox admits, his voice heavy with regret. I wonder if that’s exactly what he said the first time.
My heart constricts as I meet his desolate gaze. What did he and Marco do for me? “But when they find out it was you who took me…”
“Enzo will make sure we suffer for betraying the family,” Marco ends my sentence for me, our eyes locked in a moment of silent connection. He no longer appears fearful or lost like he did under Enzo’s thumb. Instead, he has a new sense of determination. Even though he’s sitting, his posture is powerful, holding a scary-as-fuck edge to him. He’s not the big brother I remember at all. “But not if we deal with him first,” he utters with a nod toward Geovani, like this was their plan all along.
The two of them are conspiring against Enzo, interesting. He’s the don, a well-respected and adored leader, you can’t just deal with him. But Marco doesn’t look fearful. Maybe my brother has had the same realization I’ve come to. Enzo needs to be taken down a few pegs.
I move to sit on the free armchair, keeping my distance from the lot of them until they have explained. I run my hand through my tangled curls, trying to wrap my head around what my brother is proposing. “I feel like I’ve woken up in the twilight zone,” I mutter to myself, but in truth, I’m pretty sure I wentto sleep in another dimension completely, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Dani moves to take the seat beside me, casually propping her ass on the armrest of the armchair as she places a fresh coffee down on a glass coffee table. “You have, girl. This is all nuts.” I can see she’s trying to reconnect with me, the uncomfortable silence between us obviously getting to her. But she sold me out. She smiles sweetly at me. I sigh heavily, hoping to God I’m missing something. She was my friend, or so I thought. Geovani’s words come back to me from last night.We can’t afford friends in this world.I’m so naïve, they must have been rubbing their hands together when they saw me coming. I stupidly fell for their lies.
“Just the way you like it.” She motions toward the hot beverage.
As I gaze into the frothy mug, the rich aroma fills my senses, tempting me to take a sip. I wonder why she thinks I would take a drink from her ever again after she drugged me. They fooled me once, but I won’t let that happen again. I might be naïve, but I’m not stupid. “No, thank you,” I mutter, my tone just as bitchy as I intend it to be.
Geovani swirls something in his mug then downs it, his eyes not leaving me. He’s been watching me since I entered the room, the heat from his gaze constantly on me. “Red, I would like you to officially meet my business associate, Danielle Brambilla. She’s here to help you in any way you might need over the coming months.” Geovani waves a hand in Dani’s direction. She beams at him like they’re old friends.
