Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Dario

If you hadn't interfered, Valentino and Dario would be dead by now.

It's the next morning and still my gut churns as I remember those words from Alessio's lips. He said them right before Valentino and I entered his hospital room. He didn't realize we were there. Is that why he spoke freely? Is that why he was honest? I thought Alessio and I had bonded. I thought he felt differently toward me now. But those heinous words flew so easily off his tongue.

He still wants me dead.

I'd love to block that fact from my brain. But not even Carlo's screams of agony can drown those hurtful words from repeating over and over in my mind. I feel like a fool. I would die for Alessio. I'd have happily laid down my life for him. Apparently he'd be only happy for me to do that. It's hard not to feel like a sucker. I thought he'd grown to trust me. I'd stupidly thought after all we'd been through, he'd realized we belong together.

I was wrong.

Obviously.

I distractedly observe that Carlo has passed out. Valentino has been torturing him since we brought him here yesterday afternoon. I'm hoping Valentino will just kill him and get it over with. But when Valentino really hates someone, he takes his time killing them. Ultimate suffering is his goal. Valentino has already severed two of Carlo's fingers. I just don't have the stomach for this today. I've got a lot of shit on my mind concerning Alessio. I don't have the energy to sit here and watch Carlo die.

The dim basement is now silent except for the methodical scrape of metal on stone as Valentino sharpens his blade. Carlo jerks awake again, eyes wide. His breaths are ragged as he watches Valentino, his eyes fixed on the sharpened blade's edge. He strains against the ropes binding him to the chair, the fibers digging into his skin.

Valentino lifts his gaze, dark eyes boring into Carlo"s. "Betrayal can't be tolerated." His voice was a low rumble that reverberates through the empty room. "You need to pay for what you've done."

Carlo"s pulse visibly throbs as Valentino circles behind him. The musky scent of sweat and fear permeate the air of the basement. "Please," he whimpers. "Show me mercy."

"Mercy?" Valentino laughs. "Why would I?"

"We've known each other a long time." Carlo swallows hard. "We weren't always at odds."

"No. We weren't. But I'm afraid your betrayal leaves a foul taste in my mouth." Valentino scowls. "Plus, I never really liked you. You always rubbed me the wrong way."

"Please," snivels Carlo. "Spare me."

Valentino sighs. "It would have been best if you'd just disappeared. You were foolish to come after Alessio. But then, you always were an arrogant asshole." As he finishes speaking he slides the blade down Carlo's cheek.

Carlo inhales sharply, clenching his fists as blood trickles down his cheek. His nostrils flare and he cries out. "Please."

"You'd have shown no mercy to Alessio. You were about to gut him when Dario and I arrived on the scene." Valentino"s tone is smooth but laced with venom. "Why would you deserve mercy?"

"Because I… I have a wife. What about my daughter? Would you rob my baby girl of her father?" Carlo says, bottom lip trembling.

Valentino laughs. "You mean the wife you cheat on with any omega who'll have you?"

Carlo winces. "I can be a better alpha. Just let me prove that to you."

"I don't really care if you can be better. I don't want you around anymore. You're a threat. You want to take down the Black Knives. There's literally nothing that would make me spare you, Carlo."

Carlo starts sobbing. "Please."

Valentino rolls his eyes. "Can't you even die like a man?"

I watch Carlo feeling nothing. There's no pity in me for him. He's ruthless. He would have killed his own cousin for money. He's the lowest of low for turning on Alessio. I honestly think he'd trade his daughter's life for his own if he thought Valentino would take that offer.

I grunt when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I tug my phone from my suit and frown at the screen. The call is coming from Los Demonios General Hospital. Fear that Alessio has taken a turn for the worse jolts through me. "Hello?" I answer, moving up the stairs of the basement.

"Dario?" Alessio's voice comes over the line.

Relief floods me, but it's quickly replaced by resentment. I'm afraid to speak incase I blurt out how angry I am at him. I don't want him knowing he hurt me. I don't want him knowing I care about him enough for that to even be possible.

When I don't speak, Alessio says, "They're releasing me in an hour."

"Oh." I close the door to the basement so that Carlo's cries can't be heard over the phone. "I'll send someone to pick you up."

There's an awkward silence. "Can't you come to get me?"

"I'm busy," I say curtly.

"You're too busy?" He gives a confused laugh.

"That's right. We're dealing with Carlo. Speaking of which, I need to go. I'll send someone to get you. Just be ready so you don't keep them waiting."

Alessio sighs. "Dario, what's wrong? Why are you being so offhand?"

"I just told you what's going on. I have my hands full at the moment."

"No, I mean, why are you being like this all of a sudden? You're being so cold." His voice wobbles. "You left the hospital yesterday without even seeing if I was okay. What kind of alpha does that?"

I press my lips tight. He wants me dead, but he has the audacity to be pissed off that I didn't hang around to dote on him? He's miffed that I won't drop everything to go pick him up? He's unbelievable. He's an entitled, spoiled brat. "Your ride will be there in an hour. Be ready." I hang up.

I text one of my men about picking Alessio up. My hands tremble as I type. Just hearing Alessio's voice has my body aching. Yearning to go to him. What the hell am I going to do? I've fallen for an omega who wants me dead. This is an impossible situation.

I can't help but feel dumb. I allowed myself to believe he actually had feelings for me. Now I suspect he's been secretly waiting for his chance to murder me. Am I supposed to marry him, knowing he wants me dead? That doesn't exactly sound like a recipe for happiness. He could slit my throat while I sleep.

I should cancel the wedding. But then Valentino would be mad at me for fucking up his perfect little merger. I could always enter into the marriage with the understanding it truly is one of convenience. We could have separate rooms. Do I have it in me to suck it up and go through with the marriage for the sake of the merger? I worry my feelings for Alessio might make me too vulnerable.

Feeling muddled, I go back down into the basement. I'm extremely relieved when I find that Valentino has finally finished Carlo off. Two men come downstairs to carry Carlo's body out of the basement. As they pass me, Carlo's limp arm falls out from under the blanket that covers him. The gold band on his ring finger gleams, and I have a brief moment of pity for Carlo's wife and daughter. Even if he was a bastard, they'll grieve his death. They probably loved him.

As Valentino pulls off his gloves, he watches me. "You didn't seem into it today."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

He shrugs. "I thought you'd enjoy watching Carlo get his comeuppance. Instead, you looked distracted the entire time. It almost took the fun out of it for me."

"Sorry." I grimace. "But, to be fair, you really strung this one out. I got bored." I avoid his gaze as I begin wiping down the chair Carlo had been sitting in. I spray disinfectant on the metal folding chair, and crouch down with a clean rag in hand. I give great attention to the little nooks and crannies of the seat, hoping Valentino will move on to another subject.

He doesn't.

"We spent three full days on that mobster from Detroit who was accused of molesting children," murmurs Valentino. "I don't recall you getting bored then."

"That was different. He was an especially despicable character. We could have taken ten days with him and I wouldn't have lost interest." I stand and toss the dirty rag into the trash can where we burn things.

Valentino throws his gloves into the same refuse container. "I'm willing to listen if you need to… you know… talk."

Surprised, I blink at him. "I don't need to talk."

"I don't know, old pal. You were a hundred percent in with Alessio only hours ago. Now you're moping around like your pet goldfish died."

"I don't have a pet goldfish."

"Right. Because that was my point," Valentino says under his breath.

I run a hand through my hair, feeling agitated. "I've been thinking." I clear my throat. "With Alessio having surgery and all, we should probably postpone the wedding."

Valentino grunts. "I don't think so."

I pin him with my irritable gaze. "It's my wedding."

"Kind of." Valentino laughs. "You're only marrying the kid because I want you to."

I stuff down my annoyance. "I'm still the one getting hitched. What's the harm in giving it a week?"

"Because I want to get things moving. The sooner the better." He moves to the stairs, and I follow. "Are you getting cold feet?"

"When did I ever have warm feet?"

We reach the room above the basement. The space above the basement is a fully furnished gathering area where Valentino sometimes holds meetings for his capos. Valentino's grandfather had the basement built for the express purpose of bringing people here when they needed to be punished. The apartment and basement are soundproofed, and not on the original blueprints of the house. Nobody but the most trusted members of the Black Knives know of its existence.

There's a fridge in one corner where beverages are kept. Valentino goes to the fridge and returns to hand me a cold beer. He sits on one of the tan sofas, and watches me as I take a seat across from him.

"We've known each other a long time, Dario. You should be able to tell me what's bugging you." He drums his fingers on the arm of the couch.

"I told you nothing is wrong."

"You're lying. Come on. Spill it."

I groan and lean back in my chair. "Since when do you want to talk about shit, Valentino?"

He lifts one shoulder. "Since I fell in love with Nico. He's shown me sometimes talking stuff out is good."

"Sometimes it just makes things worse."

"True." He sips his beer, looking thoughtful. "We won't know unless you talk which one this is."

I find him hugely annoying, but I know he cares about me so it's impossible to be mad. "You must have heard what Alessio said to Carlo right before we entered his hospital room."

He frowns. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"Alessio flat out admitted if Carlo hadn't ruined his plans, you and I would be dead by now. I suspect he's simply been biding his time. He still wants that to happen."

Valentino shrugs. "I don't think he was saying that."

"Of course he was. He sounded disappointed about the fact we're still alive."

"I didn't take it that way."

I sputter, "How could you not?

"He was just talking. He was about to be stabbed to death by that psycho Carlo. You can't take anything he said seriously."

"Well, you're not the one who has to marry him," I grumble, taking a big gulp of beer. I swallow and add, "I'm not sure I want to marry him now."

Valentino makes an amused sound. "Did he hurt your wittle feelings?"

"Don't mock me," I rumble. "How would you like it if Nico said he wanted you dead?"

"Nico said that about a million times when we first got together." Valentino laughs. "He even said it to my face. He hated my guts when we met. I didn't let it bother me."

"I guess you have a thicker skin. Personally, I don't love the idea that my omega might slit my throat while I sleep."

"You're being silly, Dario. He's obviously crazy about you. He purred like a kitten when you touched him in the SUV." Valentino sets his beer on the side table. "You should go see him at the hospital. I'm sure he's wondering where you are."

"There's no need to visit him. He's coming home."

"Is he?" Valentino arches one dark brow. "When?"

"Now." I avoid his gaze. "I sent Paul to get him." Valentino is quiet, so I sneak a peek at him. He's scowling at me like I'm an idiot. "What?" I ask.

"You sent someone else to pick up your omega after he nearly died?" Valentino shakes his head, and then a little smile appears. "He's going to be mad at you."

"He's been mad at me since we met."

Valentino's amused smile fades. "You're not getting out of this marriage, Dario. Don't even try. Everything is settled."

"How about we unsettle it?"

He scowls. "Why are you fucking things up at the last minute?"

"Excuse me if I don't want to marry an omega who wants me dead."

Valentino's patience seems to evaporate. "You're acting like a child. I'm getting tired of it, Dario. Pull up your big boy pants and go talk to Alessio. You're just skittish. You're looking for a reason to bail on this union."

"I have a reason."

Valentino grits his teeth, but then his expression changes. He purses his lips, looking thoughtful. "Well, in that case, maybe I'll just have to make other plans."

"Now you're talking." I nod.

He gives a sly smile. "I'll have Paolo marry him instead."

I flick my irritable gaze to him. "Excuse me?"

He shrugs. "Plans are already in motion. If you're too scared of Alessio to pull the trigger on the wedding, it still needs to happen. Paolo likes Alessio. He'd probably do it for the family."

"Are you serious?" I grate out. "I gave Alessio my bite. You can't just hand him over to another alpha."

"Says who? He can always have skin grafts to have the bite removed."

"There's more to it than just the bite mark, and you know that," I rumble.

"Is there?" Valentino looks away and I swear he's trying not to laugh. "I have to do something if you don't want him. Drafting Paolo in to close the deal might be the perfect solution. The merge has to happen."

I already had a little insecurity where Paolo was concerned. Him and Alessio seemed to laugh a lot together, and they're the same age. Does Valentino know that I might feel threatened? Is the rat trying to spark my alpha instincts to life? I narrow my eyes. "You're not going to make Paolo do that. I don't believe for one minute you'd make him marry Alessio."

Valentino grins. "Nah."

Relieved, I blow out a harsh breath. "You're such an asshole sometimes, Valentino."

"I know." He smirks. "But it was worth it to see the expression on your face when I implied Paolo could fill your shoes."

My face is warm as I glare at him. "This situation isn't funny. I could very well end up dead if I marry Alessio."

"Or you might end up happy. Imagine that, friend." He shakes his head. "I've seen how lonely you are the last few months. The way you watch Nico and I. You think I haven't noticed, but I have. You're ready for an omega of your own. I don't know why you're fighting this so hard."

"You do know why."

Valentino leans forward. "Talk. To. Him. You can't understand what's going on inside that head of his if you don't talk to him. You're jumping to conclusions based on something he said in the heat of the moment. That's silly. Go to your omega. Stop being a pussy."

"I'm not a pussy." I stand, anxiety eating at me. "I'll go talk to him, but you better understand I'm not marrying him if what I suspect is true."

He waves his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Stop yapping and go talk to Alessio."

I scowl and leave the apartment, exiting through the outside door. For security reasons, that's the only way in and out of the basement. I head around to the front of the big house, just in time to see Alessio exiting a black SUV.

The second I see him, I have a physical reaction. Just a glimpse of Alessio, and every cell in my body throbs for him. I hate the universe in that moment. I hate not being in control of my emotions. It's unfair. This need for Alessio is all consuming and illogical. How dare some unseen force bond me to another person without my permission.

Alessio glances over and our eyes meet across the distance.

When he gives me an uncertain smile, my insides turn to goo. My anger and suspicions drain away in an instant. That isn't the look of a person who wants me dead. He's happy to see me. I can see it. I can feel it. Even from this distance, I can sense his relief that I'm near. He's missed me. He needs me. He wants me. I suddenly feel calmer.

Maybe Valentino was right. Maybe I'm just scared. It's a frightening thing to commit to someone. I've never done it before. The only person I've pledged undying loyalty to is Valentino. But romantically, I've never given myself fully over. But as my eyes lock with Alessio's, I know that's what I've already done with him. He's mine and I'm his. Scared or not, I don't see how we can ever go back from that.

I move toward him, feeling breathless. His sweet scent carries on the breeze. He smells like honeysuckle. His aroma brings to mind happiness. Hope. Moving toward him is like moving toward a golden sunrise.

Valentino is right. I have been lonely. I didn't want to acknowledge it. I tried to drown those feelings with sex and booze, but they were always still there in the light of day. Was I unable to find someone because I was destined to be with Alessio?

I reach Alessio and stop in front of him. The old me would have played hard to get, but I can't help slipping my hands around his waist, and tugging him close. His body folds into mine as if we're made from the same mold. It feels so right to hold him again.

A line appears between his blond brows and he grips the front of my shirt. "Where have you been?" he grumbles. "You just left me alone at the hospital."

"You were safe," I say gruffly. "I had things to do."

"You had things to do? I almost died."

"I knew you'd be fine." I lift one shoulder. "As your alpha, I shouldn't have to explain myself to you. If I say I'm busy, then I'm busy."

His mouth thins. "Right." He starts to step away from me, but I grab him tighter, and pull him back against my body. "Let me go, Dario."

"Why?"

"Because I'm mad at you," he admits, frustration glittering in his green eyes. He tries again to get free, but I tighten my grip.

"No," I say quietly.

"I'm not the typical omega. You don't get to talk down to me."

I frown. "I wasn't. I was simply explaining myself."

"I'll need better communication than that. You can't tell me to shut up and accept things because you're my alpha. I'm never going to be okay with that."

I can see I've inadvertently put his back up, so I say quietly, "I'm here now. Okay? Let's not fight. Didn't I protect you from Carlo? Can't you remember the good things I do?"

He swallows hard. "You're confusing me, Dario. One minute you're bossy and the next sweet. What do you expect me to do when you go back and forth so much?"

"I expect you to submit to me when needed, like a good little omega."

He squints. "Oh, really? Since when do I submit to you?"

I smirk. "I can think of at least three occasions."

He starts to pull away again, but I scoop him up into my arms.

Paul laughs from where he's standing on the other side of the SUV. "Get him, boss."

Alessio squeaks, "Put me down."

"You're not going anywhere, Alessio. Now stop fighting me and acknowledge you can't live without me."

"Somebodies full of himself," mumbles Alessio.

"You're not getting away," I rumble. "We've already ordered the wedding cake, and there are no refunds."

"That's why we have to get married?" He arches one brow. "Because there's no refund on the cake?"

"It's one reason." I head for the house. "The other is I'm not letting you go because I don't want to."

At first, Alessio scowls up at me, but then he slips his arms around my neck. "You really are such a Neanderthal, Dario," he mumbles, trying not to smile.