Page 65 of Their Deviant Love
My dad pulls me in next. I missed him too, but not as much as my mom. I haven’t seen her since I left home.
After greeting everyone, I stop and take my time introducing myself to Sebastian, Orlando’s cute-as-pie little baby. The kid is so adorable he almost makes me change my mind about having children. Maybe they’re not so bad?
“Okay, everyone, sit your asses down. We’re eating,” my Nonno says. And when he speaks, people listen. “Weapons out.” He points to the huge-ass basket in the middle of the table. I smile and wait for my turn.
Once everyone is done emptying their bodies of their chosen weapons, Zio Theo looks at me with a grimace. “Okay, Aurora, let’s have it.”
With the biggest smile on my face, I push up from my seat, reach behind my back, and remove the gold-plated, diamond-encrusted forty-five I stashed in my waistband and place it in the basket. “Anyone touches it, I’ll cut your fingers off,” I warn.
“Who the fuck gave you a gun?” my dad growls.
“It was a gift. And I like it,” I tell him.
“I’m going to fucking kill him…” My father’s knuckles turn white as he grips the butter knife in his hand.
“No, you’re not. Besides, I haven’t even killed anyone with it yet.” I shrug. “It sure does look pretty though.”
The rest of the lunch goes off without a hitch, surprisingly. I hate to admit it, but Kayleigh doesn’t seem all that bad. I can see why my brother likes her. I still wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.
She’s brave coming here, considering she was trying to lock all these guys up and now she’s what? Family?
I hug my mom extra tight and promise to come home and see her with Connor before we leave again. And not long after that, I’m headed back to the O’Malley estate.
He’s still not home when I return. It’s really weird being here without him, so I just head up to his bedroom and sit on the bed. All the dark thoughts start creeping in. It happens when it’s quiet, and when I’m alone. I try to focus on my breathing.
I’m okay. I’m not there. I’m safe.I repeat the mantra in my head and try to erase the memories of being trapped in that dark basement, the beatings, the brutality of it all.
I get up and start flicking on every light in the room, including the desk lamp. I then open the closet door, turn that light on, and then do the same with the bathroom. I need light. I need to not be in the dark.
Chapter Thirty
Afew months ago, I felt a very small slice of guilt for what I did to the Albanians. Blaming them for Kenny’s death in order to protect Aurora, which resulted in two of their heirs being brutally murdered on their wedding night. And I know it was brutal, because my father made me watch.
But sitting across the table from their leader now, I don’t feel a single ounce of guilt. These fuckers are out to eradicate a wholedamn family. My wife. And for that, they’re going to be sorry they ever breathed the named Valentino.
“I hear you’ve found yourself in some trouble of late,” I state.
The old man glowers at me. “Who you’d hear that from, boy?”
I’m on my feet in seconds. The gun that was sitting loosely in my hand under the table is now pointed squarely at his head. “I’m not your fucking boy. Show some fucking respect or this meeting is over.” I click the safety off and sit back down. “I’m sure the Italians would pay double what you’re offering me.”
“Then why are you here?” the old man asks.
“Because my father started this deal. I’m just here to honor it. As soon as I see the wire transfer, I’ll hand over the vial,” I tell him.
The old man nods his head and waves his fingers at the henchman behind him. I’m then shown the screen of his phone with the transfer being wired across. Once it’s sent, I pull the little vial out of my pocket and hand it over.
“Pleasure doing business with you. Let’s not do it again.” I push to my feet, ready to walk away.
“Not so fast. We need to test this first,” he says.
“Yeah? How you planning on doing that?” I lift a brow at him. And then my attention is drawn to someone being dragged into the room. An unconscious someone. Fucking Dante Valentino.
How the fuck did this idiot let these other idiots get the drop on him?
Fuck me. Now I have to get myselfand himout of here. Not that it’ll be hard. I didn’t come alone. And these guys aren’t the best criminals. They haven’t even figured out that I’m married to a Valentino. How that hasn’t come across their radar, I have no idea.
“You took an heir?” I ask them.
