Page 36 of Ludovico's Vengeance

“If I didn't know that the people you were dropping around the city were involved in the drug ring that popped up a few years ago, this would be a different conversation.” The mayor explains.

“My family never condoned this type of shit in our town. I'm still trying to piece together what happened, but we're working to get the last of them out.” I admit, “I will do my best to clean up the mess that was made, so long as you keep the police off my ass while I still have work to do.”

Laughter echoes around the room as Mayor Ricci doubles over in a fit of giggles. I stand to check on her, but she waves me away. It takes a few moments before the woman is able to speak. Her eyes crinkle in the corner as she smiles up at me.

“If it means you rid this town of corrupt assholes, I'll make sure anything you do is piled onto the person behind the drug ring.” She shrugs. “Does that make me corrupt? Maybe. But if it's going to keep my town safe, it's worth the risk.” She admits with a wink.

The crazy woman is still laughing at herself as I stand to leave her office. My hand is wrapped around the door knob when I turn to face her again.

“Excuse me, Mayor.” She glances up at me with an amused grin on her face. “I'll be in touch, but do me a favor. Keep an eye on Peter, he was a big problem in school and from what I can tell, things haven't changed much.”

Danny Boy and I match each other's quick pace as we walk through the building back to the parking garage. I groan when I remember just how awful he drove before. My eyes land on him, and I silently hold my open hand out for the keys.

“No way! I'll behave. I love this car, Milo never lets me drive it. Please!” His plea amuses me and saying no isn't an option, so I shake my head with a laugh and let myself into the back seat. The kid is giddy when he gets behind the seat and starts the engine.

I pull my phone from my jacket pocket and press my contact for Michael. After a few rings, the line connects and I hear Milo in the background before Michael can even say hello. I spend the next few minutes explaining what was discussed between the Mayor and I. As I open my mouth to expand, my body is riddled with pain as a sudden impact jolts me forward.

Shots ring out, just as I feel something wet splatter onto my face and my vision goes dark.

“I can’t believe just how far you’ve come in such a short amount of time.” Abel announces as he opens the door to the back of the SUV. While I've become used to being chauffeured around, I look forward to the day I can come here without bodyguards. Although, given Giovanni’s lifestyle, it’s unlikely to happen.

My lips twist into a genuine smile as I take in the man who has become so much like what I would assume is a big brother. He offers me a hand to help me out of the car. It feels like a long time, but in reality, I’ve only been with the Ludovico family for six months, maybe a little less. So much has happened, and yet, some days it feels like my life has still just begun.

Rand steps in front of Abel and me as he leads us into the coffee shop. The delicious scent of freshly roasted coffee beans makes my mouth water while we wait in line. I’ve only started to drink coffee after Giovanni insisted on waking me up with either his face or dick between my thighs every morning. It’s been the only way I can get through the day. Granted, the man dicks me down so good that I’m not complaining. However, if I'm coming to hang out with Brittany while she’s working, it’s been requested that the guys bring me here to get us all caffeine.

The space that surrounds me is so fun, it makes me wish I felt comfortable enough to spend time here. Unfortunately, for my own lack of sanity, there is usually a crowd. I’m not quite ready for that yet. The large wall covered by fake ivy and greenery brightens up the grey brick walls around the rest of the space. Sleek wooden dining tables and chairs fill up most of the space, but my favorite thing about the design of this shop is the center; there are two huge, oversized leather couches facing one another. Four short stools cage in two coffee tables which are sandwiched between the couches. All of that, plus they roast their own beans on the premises, which is just an added bonus.

Abel nudges me with his shoulder as the man behind the counter motions for us. My cheeks heat when I realize I was daydreaming and not paying any attention to my surroundings. Oops.

It's been a tad on the slow side today, so Brittany and I have been having debates over the books she’s introduced me to since we’ve met.

“Wait a minute here, you think that he is better than Wolf?” I stare at my friend with my jaw on the ground. I have a love for the book she introduced me to by Tess Watters, that her declaration that anyone could hold a candle to that man makes me clutch my imaginary pearls.

“Wait, what about the guy that named a restaurant after the eyeball lady?” An unexpected voice chimes in from behind us.

Brittany and I stop what we’re doing and turn to face Rand whose cheeks are the rosiest I've ever seen. We exchange a look and burst into a fit of giggles.

“Rand! You read romance? Why didn’t you tell us?” Brittany asks.

“You make me come in here nearly every day. You can’t blame a guy for getting curious.” The man who hardly speaks shrugs his shoulders and chuckles shyly. We’re lost in the middle of a discussion on what Rand has read when the front door crashes open a few moments later.

My eyes go wide with fear and confusion when Michael and Milo rush in the store. No one speaks as they form a protective shield around Brittany and me while ushering us into separate cars. The drive back to the house seems to drag on forever, while my questions and pleas for answers are ignored. Frustration grows as my mind becomes a whirlwind of chaos and confusion unsure of what the hell could have caused this scenario.

When Brittany and I are reunited in the house, I cling to her. My heart beats like a snare drum in my chest with worry when I see the two women who have become sort of maternal figures to me rush to meet us in the foyer. I remove one of my hands from my friend to grab Vanna’s hand. Abel runs off into the house on his own.

“What is going on? Where is Giovanni?” I beg once again for an answer which only becomes another plea ignored. After several moments and at Abel’s return, we’re ushered into the living room. It’s impossible not to notice that every single window in the room has been covered by some security measure. I’m not sure what it is, but everything is blacked out. The only source of light is from the lamps illuminating the space.

Milo hasn’t made eye contact with anyone since we’ve been home. Vanna must have noticed it too because she’s the one that calls for him.

“Milo, look at me.” This is the first time I’ve heard her confidence falter. “Amore Mio, please.” She whispers on a shaky breath. His reluctance to move has Vanna stepping closer until she’s standing in front of him with her hands cupping his cheeks. When she sees his face, a pained sob escapes her chest, and she collapses against him. Milo’s hands dart out and catch her before she hits the floor. The pain in his expression when I get a glimpse of his face nearly breaks me.

My eyes dart to Michael as I feel Brittany and Jade’s hands on me as they guide me to the couch. I feel Jade’s shoulders shake while I stare emotionless at Michael who folds himself in half to sit on the coffee table in front of me.

“He called us an hour before we got there. We heard a crash and gunshots.” The admission makes my stomach lurch in my gut. “We went to the scene and found Danny’s body; Johnny is missing.”

My vision is a blurred haze of red, anger vibrates through me while I help Brittany and Mrs. D. get Nina into her and Johnny’s room. I scoff internally at the thought,Johnny –when will the kid realize he hasn’t been Johnny since he returned home. Nina is so tiny in my arms that she really does resemble Tinkerbell, or Tink, as Brittany calls her. As soon as they have the door open, I cross the room in a few long strides and gently place Nina on the bed. Her cat, Pinhead, hisses at me until he realizes I’m not a threat. His loud purr echoes through the room as he curls up next to his human. My eyes land on Mrs. D, the woman who helped raise Johnny. They say it takes a village, and in this life that couldn’t be more true. I was young when the kid was born, but I took him under my wing the best I could. Knowing that he’s out there on his own with a man who held his own blood captive and used her as a punching bag for years only serves to piss me off more.

I spin on my heel without a word toward the same way we came. My feet move with purpose as my mind reels with the list of things we have to do to fix this chaos. I hear Brittany’s voice behind me talking to Mrs. D, but I don’t register what she says until it’s too late. The compact stick of dynamite that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since she first called meDaddybounds across the room and stands in front of me.The door latch clicks in place when it’s pulled closed, leaving us alone in the hallway.

---