Page 56 of Merciless Attraction

Casper stands in the distance while I sit beside Gemma to console her, saying, “I can’t believe that asshole with scar is your ex. How the hell did he even find you?”

“He had one of those tracker tags in your car.” Casper volunteers. “After you were fished out of the bay, we got our hands on it, but didn’t have much time before the police confiscated it. I think it’s still in their evidence lot.”

“He spoke to me at Booked and Boozy. It didn’t even sound like him,” she says.

Bash chuckles. “You shot him in the face. There’s no telling what damage that bullet did to him.”

Gemma rests her forehead against her fingertips. “Why would he try to kill me to get back at you, Antonio? And after he gave me that stupid business card to meet him at the restaurant? He can’t get money for blackmailing me if I’m dead.”

“Maybe his plan was always to kill you. An eye for an eye?” Casper suggests.

“What card to what restaurant?” Bash’s anger flashes in his eyes.

I pull it out of my pocket to give to him. “It was in a box in the car when Gemma crashed. I have an idea.”

Bash stares at the card before handing it back to me. I call the number and wait for someone to answer. After a few minutes I get off the phone.

“I told the restaurant to call the person who originally made that reservation and tell them the reservation’s been rescheduled. Steve may not show up to the new reservation, but he should at least be in the area to see who is coming.”

“I’ll make sure he’s fucking dead this time,” Gemma mumbles angrily. Her anger subsides as she pushes herself to her feet and dashes off down the hall. She disappears behind the bathroom door and leaves me alone with Bash and Casper.

“How is she doing?” Bash asks.

“Ready to pick up where we left off. What are we going to do guys? It’s definitive that the scar-faced asshole is her ex back from the dead. Do we have any updates about Verducci and this Frankie situation? I didn’t hear from any of his goons while Gemma was in the hospital.”

Bash grunts and folds his arms across his chest. “I heard from Don Vito. He sold Trips to me to sabotage Verducci. Vito doesn’t like how his second in command is trying to take his place, and said that if I agree to a truce, he’ll remove his backing, financial, police, and otherwise from Verducci.”

“That’s good news. What about those cops who were looking for Frankie and willing to rearrange my body to find him?” I ask.

Bash’s voice is low as he speaks, “Frankie’s death would count as a casualty of stopping this war before it starts. Also, I may have let Vito believe that Verducci sabotaged Gemma’s car after Verducci’s people couldn’t find Frankie. We’re even.”

“Does Verducci know Frankie’s dead?” I ask him and turn to Casper.

They both shrug, but Bash sighs. “It doesn’t matter if he does. He no longer has the endless resources of Vito Dacosta to rely on. We can take him out and end this shit so you and Gemma can end this charade. You guys can go back to your regular lives.”

“Gemma is my life, Bash. It’s not fake for me. If all is well and the war is over, I want to marry her for real.”

Bash pinches the bridge of his nose. “That’s up to her, but you two have my blessing so long as you stay away from this mob shit, Antonio. No more partying at mob fronted nightclubs or patching up new mob bosses.”

“That’s something I have no problem agreeing to.” I tip my head in thanks before he comes over to me with his hand extended. I shake it but he pulls me into an embrace. We’ve always been brothers in a way, but if Gemma will have me, it will be in more ways than one.

Gemma emerges from the bathroom looking paler than I like, but she’s not slowing down. “When do we get to kill Steve before he tries to kill me again?”

Chapter 27: Gemma

Antonio and my brothers don’t want me anywhere near this possible meeting with Steve. It’s clearer now more than ever that blackmail was never the intent. It’s been a mission of revenge and slowly terrorizing me until the very end.

With most of this chaos subsiding, Antonio and I leave my brother’s place to head out to eat. The idea of thinking about our lives beyond this gives me levels of anxiety I never thought were possible. Do I go back to my apartment? Will I continue to live with Antonio?

He loves me, and while I care about him, love is hard for me to say out loud. I know how I feel. I don’t want to lose Antonio and the fact he’s not forcing it on me makes me care about him more. Our feelings for each other run deep and I have no doubt that love is there.

“What day is the meeting with Steve?” I ask Antonio as we drive away from Bash’s place.

“September fourth,” he replies.

“That’s awfully convenient,” I snap. “It just happens to be the same day as my follow up doctor’s appointment. I have physical therapy that day, too.”

“Exactly, Gemma,” Antonio says. His voice is stern, unwavering, and teetering with anger. “You’re not going anywhere near him again. You’ve been through enough and there’s no telling who else this guy’s willing to hurt to get to you.”

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