Page 53 of Rotten Men

I take my seatbelt off and get out of the car as fast as I can to try and talk some sense into him.

“Jude!”

“I have to go,Mammà. I promised I’d take Mrs. Henderson’s dogs for a walk when I got back from school,” he yells, his back to me, already heading to our sixty-year-old neighbor’s front yard.

“Okay. Go and then come back to help me with dinner, okay? We need to talk about this,” I yell, but he’s too far gone to hear a word. I think that was probably his intention anyway.

Between him and James, I’m not sure who is more determined to see me rescind my decision to leave Nashville behind. If their concerns were only because they don’t want to leave our home, I could have understood. But they’re not. They’re clinging to the hope I will choose the men I love and return home, where they think I belong. They just can’t comprehend that those bridges are burnt to the ground, especially now that Vincent knows I kept our son away from him. If I step one foot in Chicago, he’ll be the one wanting my head, not my father.

I open my front door, hoping that perhaps making Jude’s favorite lasagna will brighten his spirits—a lie I tell myself as I walk into the hallway and place my bag and keys on one of the tables.

“James?” I call out, wondering where he might be.

I saw his bike outside, but the absence of country music and the TV switched off makes me think he might have taken a nap while I picked Jude up from school. Of course, when I walk into our living room, I see my assumptions were very far off the mark—terrifyingly off.

“Bella rosa, so happy to see you again.” Ciro’s melodic tone vibrates through my body, instantly causing my skin to buzz with petrifying fear.

My worst nightmare is sitting comfortably in my living room, while pointing a gun at James’ head, making it seem the most mundane thing in the world. “I must say, I was getting a bit anxious for your arrival. Please have a seat,” he insists evenly.

My feet are frozen in place, but when he tilts his gun closer to James, they move on their own accord, only stopping when I’ve sat down on my couch, inches away from my savior and my tormentor.

“Now isn’t this cozy,” he adds, his ocean-blue eyes taking in every inch of my home.

My heart beats madly in my chest, as I discreetly reach out for James’ hand beside me. As usual, Ciro sees everything, so my gesture doesn’t go unnoticed, making his sinister, slanted grin becoming far too pronounced for my liking.

“Yes, very cozy indeed,” he sneers.

“What do you want?” James questions dryly.

“So many things. But right now I’ll settle for a small talk with your wife,” he hums, and his harsh, vicious grin only widens, churning my stomach into knots.

“How did you find me?” I ask, although at this point it really doesn’t matter.

The psychopath I had run from has found me at last, and I’m certain today is the day I die for my rebellion. He stands from his seat, and I look up at the monster before me. Still as beautiful as ever, with his almond-shaped, blue eyes, and cleft jaw. Such a gorgeous package concealing a hideous interior. James squeezes my hand reassuringly, as Ciro kneels in front of me, his gun’s aim never once leaving the cherished friend at my side.

“Anyone can be found if you’re determined enough, but you didn’t make it easy on me,rosa. I searched the world for you and you just disappeared without a trace. I always knew you to be clever, but I never thought you’d outsmart me,” he hushes, pushing an errant strand of hair behind my ear.

I try to keep my revulsion at bay when he touches me, but his bright eyes harden at my poor attempt. He rises once more to his feet, making his tall predatory frame that much more intimidating.

“In the end, it was your bleeding heart which led me to you,” he announces plainly.

I furrow my brow, confused as to how that was possible.

“Your mother’s funeral,bella rosa. Unlike the other men in your life, I knew for certain you wouldn’t be able to stay away without saying your goodbyes to her. I had my men stay out of sight, but they kept an eye out for you. I was prepared to have that cemetery watched till the end of my days, but thankfully, you didn’t disappoint and showed up sooner than I thought,” he explains smoothly.

“That was months ago,” James interjects, just as confused as I am as to why Ciro is coming for me only now.

“What can I say? I’ve been busy.” He shrugs. “And I’m a firm believer in delayed gratification. First I needed to see how best to use this new-found knowledge to my advantage. And I have,” he continues ominously, but the faint glimmer of pride that shines through makes me shudder at the thought of what Ciro has been up to all this time.

“How?” I stutter, hoping he’ll tell me what mad new scheme he’s prepared.

“Ah, Selene, I can’t be telling you all my secrets now, can I?” he counters amused. “But the fun is over now. It’s time we end this.”

I close my eyes and send a prayer to my mother, hoping she’s able to look after Jude once Ciro has sent me to the hell that most certainly awaits me.

“It’s time you came home,rosa,” the villain hushes lovingly, and my eyes widen in shock.

“What are you talking about? You’re not going to kill me?” I ask flabbergasted, and my astonishment only seems to amuse him further.

---