Page 69 of Doll's Eye
As soon as we pull up to my family’s estate, I practically throw my door open and jump out. I don’t bother waiting for Massimo as I saunter up to the door and let myself in and head right back towards the office. Ready for battle and hyped up for war.
Santino, Armando, Paolo, and Jino are all hovering right outside the door with penitent faces and can barely make eye contact with me. Whatever is going on, they’re all bracing themselves for my reaction, which means I’m at the center of this.
The fucking coward I was obligated to marry didn’t have the fuckingcoglionesto tell me himself. He needed backup from my brothers. Good fucking ridden then. Butfuckdoes it hurt.
Entering the room, Tullio is sitting behind the desk per usual and the door closes behind me. Glancing back, I see Jino standing on one side of it and Vinny stationed on the other. Why do I feel like I’m about to be accused of a crime and then proscribed and banished? My perception may not compare to these men, but I know premature remorse when I see it. Especially when Tullio isn’t even trying to hide it. If he thinks his puppy dog eyes will help mitigate the blow he’s about to deliver,he’s sorely mistaken. My anger is already simmering, and I’m still in the dark about what’s coming.
I sit down without having to be told and Massimo takes the chair next to me. “How are you,piccolina?” Tullio asks.
“Cut to the fucking chase, Tullio. What the fuck is this about?”
He hesitates for a moment. “I need to ask you to hand over your piece.”
“Fuck off. I’m not handing over shit until you tell me what’s going on.”
He takes my hostility in stride, knowing it’s merely a prelude to the storm his forthcoming words will unleash. “I figured you’d say that,” he mutters, and Massimo remains silent next to me. “You know I love you so fucking much. I—”
“Just stop, Tullio,” I choke out, not able to hear any of this shit. “Please. Just get it over with.”
“You’re leaving” He finally rips it off like a bandage. “You, Gemma, Mamma, Lesina, and Alba. It isn’t safe for you all right now. Not until we have dealt with the Russians and whoever they are connected with.”
“The only place I’m leaving is the De Luca estate to come home,” I state.
“Not an option, Alessia.” The gravity in his tone is solid.
“Fuck it’s not! You cannot tell me what to do!”
He slams his hand down on the desk making me jump a little in my seat. “I can tell you what to do as head of this family.”
“Why?” I say just above a whisper. “Why are you sending me away? I get wanting to send Gemma, Mamma, Lesina, and Alba away, but why me? You know I can take care of myself.”
“Because we love you, that’s why.”
“No.” I swallow hard. “You’re dismissing me.” He doesn’t say anything. “What about Paolo and Armando and Santino and even,fuck,Salvatore! What about your son?! Oh, wait. Because he’s a male!”
“It’s not about you being a female,” he says evenly.
“Cazzata! Yes, it is!” I lean forward waving my hands everywhere. “I’m just as much a part of this family as any of you! I have the same blood running through my veins! This isn’t fucking fair!”
“You had to kill almost a dozen men, Alessia! That’s what you want for yourself? To have to take on a small army and kill people? You made it out alive this time, but what about the next time?”
“It’s the life I signed on for! I haven’t been hiding under a fucking rock!” I turn on Massimo. “Andyou,” I seethe, and he turns his head to me. His eyes dead as they glare back. “Every promise, every vow, everywordyou’ve ever fed me. It was all bullshit, wasn’t it?”
“Not all of it, but things have changed.”
My heart sinks. “Like your feelings for me.” The bastard doesn’t answer. “Or are you pretending not to care to make me go away?”
“I do care for you, but I need to put my empire first.”
“Enlighten me.”
“You’re a liability. I have enough enemies as it is, with the Russians coming after your family, it puts a hit on mine for our association.”
“Ourassociation,” I repeat, and the word dries up on my tongue leaving a sour taste in my mouth. “That’s how you sum up everything we were.” I shake my head in utter disappointment. The rancor inside of me growing and building up more momentum.
I jump to my feet and both my betrayers slowly rise to theirs. “You are such a fucking liar and a fucking coward.”His love isn’t fickle? Once he loves, it’s for life?I pry the engagement ring that feels heavier than ever from my finger and chuck it at him as hard as I can. He dodges it by calmly stepping to the side. ThenI reach up to the rose gold chain around my neck, a necklace he had gotten me, and give it one good yank. It easy snaps, and I fling that at him too. He turns his head to dodge it, but part of the chain grazes his cheek. He ignores the blood trickling down his face as his eyes firmly meet mine again. It feels good to see him shed blood because I know he won’t be shedding any tears for me.
I pull out my .22 and aim it at his head. Two other guns cock back and then a third. Vinny pointing one at my head, Jino and Tullio pointing one at Vinny. Massimo just stands there like a statue not evincing a single emotion. Everything from the inside out made of stone. “You.” Then I point my gun to my brother. “And you. Both of you.Deadto me.”
