Chapter 48

48

Elsa

"Thank you." I push open the door of the car I called earlier using the phone that Seb gave me. The phone that Seb gave me because he trusts me. And I betrayed his trust. Again. But it's for a good reason this time. This is the only way to put an end to the nightmare that's been dogging my heels for the past couple of years. This is the only way to get my life back, and to get my daughter back, without hurting anyone else in the process.

I step onto the driveway that leads up to Fabio's house. Bastard's an insomniac. Bet he's still awake, plotting more ways to make my life miserable. The car that drove me here pulls away. Its engine fades into the distance, and then there's only me and the still, dark night around me.

I hummed to Avery until she fell asleep again, then sat with her while her breathing deepened. The little mite lay on her back, arms and legs stretched out in that starfish shape she often assumes when she's exhausted. Her little chest rose and fell, her features flushed, tracks of tears drying on her cheeks. I reached over and wiped away the moisture, then kissed her forehead.

As I padded out of her room and toward Seb's room, I felt too wired to sleep. I walked into Seb's room and found him fast asleep, one arm flung out on the mattress, as if he were reaching for me in his sleep. The covers were twisted around his waist, the bandage over his shoulder a stark contrast with the rest of his body. His chest barely moved; he was sleeping that deeply. No doubt, he was worn out from his injury. Not to mention, the way he'd exerted himself when he'd fucked me. Like I'd done with Avery, I watched him for a few more seconds, then bent down and brushed my lips over his. He didn't move.

I straightened, then walked out of his room and back to mine, where I changed. I waited until the security guard at the back door dozed off. Then I slipped past him and down to the beach that runs parallel to the property. Seb has security cameras on the doorway, but by the time he or his guards notice, hopefully I'll be gone. I walked down the beach, keeping to the shadows until three houses down. Then, I located the path that ran from the beach up to the main road, something I'd noticed on one of my infrequent walks when I first moved in here. I walked onto the road, and finally, called for a pick-up. My mind was made up, so I hadn't had time to be nervous, not until the car dropped me off here.

Now, I walk up the driveway toward the silent house, then take the steps one at a time, until I'm at the main door. I stare at it. There's time; you can turn around and leave. You don't have to do this. If you let Seb, he'll take care of it for you. But that's the thing. I don't want to be dependent on a man who's my husband again. This time, I'm going to take care of things in my own way. All I have to do is look Fabio in the eye and tell him to back off. I can't be afraid of him. He's a bully; he thrives on fear. If I show him I'm no longer afraid of him, he'll leave me alone.

The phone in my jeans' pocket buzzes. I pull it out.

Alphahole calling.

Of course it is. He must have woken up and missed me. I hesitate, then decline the call. It starts to vibrate again almost instantly with a call from him again. I decline the call again, then switch the ringer and the buzzer off and slide it into my jacket pocket.

I raise my hand to rap on the door, and am not surprised when it's wrenched open.

Fabio stands there, wearing a pair of pants and no shirt. The house is still dark, but the silvery moonlight is bright enough that I can make out his features. His chest is smooth... unmarked. A wave of disgust slithers under my skin. How had I ever thought of him as attractive?

"Elsa." His face breaks into a smile. I'd almost believe he's happy to see me, except for the fact that his smile never reaches those dark eyes of his. He watches me with that unblinking gaze I've come to expect. I used to think it was because he likes to give me his undivided focus. Now, I know it's because he's watching me for any sign of weakness. He's waiting to trip me up, so he can reinforce the sense that something is wrong with me. It took me a while to figure out that, behind that charming fa?ade lies a snake. One who loves to use my insecurities against me. And I'm not going to give him that opportunity again.

"I knew you'd come." His voice drips with satisfaction.

"Did you?" I tip my chin up.

"You missed me, didn't you? Missed what only I can give you. Face it, my darling wife, you want the kind of satisfaction that comes from being beaten to within an inch of your life."

"What? No." I take a step back. "And I am not your wife anymore. You lost the right to call me that a long time ago."

"I'm still the father of your child." He chuckles.

"Not for much longer," I say through gritted teeth.

"What do you mean?" He seems taken aback enough that he blinks. A first.

I draw myself up through the length of my spine. "You are not going to bother me again, Fabio."

"I'm not?"

I shake my head. "You're going to leave me and Avery alone. You're not going to come near us. You're done scaring me with your browbeating. You're not going to petition the court for sole custody of our daughter. You don't want her anyway. You know it's best if she stays with me. You don't love her; not like I do. You will walk away from us, and not come near us again, do you her me?"

He gapes a little. "Let me get this right. You want me to turn my back on you and my daughter, and let you get on with your life with your new husband. Is that what you want?"

I nod.

"That's why you came to my house? To tell me to leave you alone?"

"You don't want Avery. You never wanted me or my daughter. I was merely a pawn for you. Someone you intimidate and control because it feeds your ego. It's the only reason you keep me around."

"Now that you mention it—" He rubs his chin. "You're probably right."

"I know I am. You married me, not because you loved me, but because you wanted someone you could push around. It made you feel good to have me dependent on you, and then when I had Avery, you had someone you could threaten me with. You used her to make me feel even more helpless."

"When you lay it all out that way, I can see how badly I've treated you. I did you an injustice by keeping you away from Avery. You're her mother, after all. She needs you more than anyone. You've made your case with such passion, I have no choice but to accept that you're right. You don't need to bring Avery back to me after this weekend. You can have sole custody of her."

Hope buoys me, and a flush rises under my skin. I did it. I stood up to Fabio and told him off. I knew if I faced him, he would back off. I knew it.

"Thank you." I dip my chin at him. "I'm going to leave now."

I pivot on my heels when I hear, "Where are you going?" His voice follows me.

I turn around to face him. "I need to get back home before Avery wakes up."

"Why don't you come in, have something to drink before you leave?"

"No thanks." I take a step back. "I think it's best I leave now."

I sense him move, know what he's going to do, even before he reaches for my wrist. I evade him, then reach into my purse and pull out the handgun Cass sourced for me. I point it at him.

He freezes, and his gaze widens. He glances from the gun to my face, then back to the gun. "Now, let's not be hasty," he cajoles, "you know I was only trying to be hospitable."

"Were you?" I cock the gun and the sound seems to blast through the quiet night. "Put your hands up," I snap.

"Come on, Elsa, honey?—"

"Don't you ‘honey' me, you bastard."

"Elsa, sweetheart, do you even know how to use that?" He takes a step forward, and adrenaline spikes my blood. My heart collides with my ribcage. I depress the trigger.

Despite the silencer, the sound of the shot slaps me in the face, and ricochets around my ears, but I hold firm.

"Fuck," Fabio curses. Droplets of blood dot his side. It's only a graze, but still! I shot him. I fucking shot him. Something like exhilaration fills my chest. I toss my handbag to the ground, then grip the fingers of both of my hands around the weapon. So, this is why men prefer to shoot first and ask questions later. The power, the absolute certainty that you have the upper hand, it's as if the most addictive drug has been injected into my brain.

"Put your goddamn hands up, you motherfucker," I snap.

Asshole seems shaken, but this time, he complies.

"Good." I wave the gun in the direction of the front room. "Get the fuck inside. Now."

He sidles back.

I keep the gun trained on him. "Further back, you piece of shit."

He stumbles back a step, then another, and another. When he pauses, I wave the gun at him, and he moves all the way into the room until the back of his legs touch a chair.

"Sit the fuck down."

"Now, Elsa, be reasonable, I?—"

"Say another word and I swear I'll shoot you again." He firms his lips, and I allow mine to curve. "Good. Now, where were we?" I tilt my head. "You will not come near me or my daughter, or my husband, or anyone in my extended family again, you get me?"

He jerks his chin. "Anything you say; whatever you want. Now, will you lower the gun?"

"Why should I?" I narrow my gaze on him. "I like the feeling of having control over you for a change. How do you like it?" I don't wait for him to answer. "I like having control over my own destiny, something which you denied me for so long. I realize now, I never should have given you my power. I should have claimed it for myself."

"Like you are doing now?" he interjects.

"Stop trying to talk down to me. I thought your life should be spared because you're Avery's father. Now, I know that I was wrong. You add nothing of value to her life. You're more like a cancer that should be cut out of our lives. I should have killed you much sooner. I should have?—"

The skin around his eyes tightens, and his shoulders flex. I squeeze down on the trigger, but he's already grabbed my arm and pushed it up. The bullet hits the ceiling and bits of plaster rain down on us.

"Let me go." I try to pull free of his grasp, but he tightens his grip around my arm. Pain whips through my brain, and spots of black race across my line of sight. My fingers go numb, and then he's snatched the gun.

He points it at me. "You thought you could point a gun at me with no repercussions? You thought you could shoot me? You don't think I'm letting you leave without paying a price, do you?" he growls.

My heartbeat booms with such force, it brushes my throat. My stomach churns, bile coats my tongue, and I'm sure I am going to throw up.

"You're not going to shoot me," I say in a hard voice.

He looks me up and down and a crafty look enters his eyes. "You're right. I have other plans for you."

My skin crawls, and the hair on the back of my neck springs up. I am not going to let him touch him. I will not let him touch me.

I rush forward, but he grabs my arm and twists me around so I am pulled up against him. The heat of his body pours over me, and every part of my body shrinks. I can feel my heartbeat in my stomach, feel the blood pound at my temples. My chest feels so tight, it's like a snake has tied itself around me and is squeezing the breath out of me.

"I knew you couldn't stay away from me." He presses his cheek to mine and the sickening-sweet smell of rum, which is the alcohol this bastard favors, clogs my senses.

No, no, no. He's been drinking, something he did far too often when we were married. It means he'll be even more unpredictable than usual. I shouldn't have come. I should have stayed back and... What? Allowed him to find a way to take Avery from me? Given him another chance to hurt Seb? No, I have to do this. I have to see this through.

"Let me go!" I snarl.

"You came here of your own volition, remember?"

"I came here to tell you to leave me and my daughter alone."

"And I heard you out, didn't I? Now it's my turn." His grip around my waist tightens, and flickers of black fleck my vision. I raise my leg and bring my booted heel down on his bare foot.

"Fuck!" he yells. His hold on me loosens, and I dig my teeth into his arm.

"Cazzo di puttana!" he howls, but I don't let go. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth, I still don't let go. My stomach heaves; sweat beads my hairline. I. Still. Don't. Let. Go.

"Fuck," he screams.

The gun slips from his grasp. It hits the floor and skids to the side. He grabs my hair and yanks with such force that I see stars. He flings me aside, and my body arcs through the air. I manage to throw my arm up to shield my face at the last moment before I hit the floor. The breath whooshes out of me, and my entire body trembles. My shoulder screams in agony. I can't feel my fingers or my toes. Avery. Think of Avery. Of Seb. I am not going to die—not like this. The thud-thud-thud of footsteps approaches me, and my heart leaps into my throat. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. I force my eyes open and spot the gun. The gun! I grab it, then push myself up to standing.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't forget, stupida cagna, " he snarls.

I fire at him, miss, fire again. This time, the bullet grazes his other side. "That's for Seb, you monster."

He yells and lurches toward me.

I scream, fire once more, but the shot is wide. I careen back out of his reach and depress the trigger, but an empty click sounds.

"No, no, no, no." I cry out. This can't be happening. Not now. Not when I am so close to being free.

Fabio's mouth seems frozen in a grimace. "I've changed my mind. I'm going to kill you." He stumbles in my direction. I fling the gun at him, then pivot and race toward the doorway, but he rushes forward and grabs my arm. I scream, try to pull away, but he hauls me close to him. Once again, the heat of his body overwhelms me, and my skin crawls. Bile rises up my throat.

"But first... I'm going to teach you a lesson. You will never be rid of me, Elsa; not as long as both of us are alive. I'll never be far from you. I'll always be watching. I'll never let go of you and Avery. Never."

Anger rips through my veins. All the hair on my body stands on end. A current of energy grips me, and adrenaline spikes my blood. "Damn you." I snap my head back and connect with his chin. He yells out, releases me again, and I stumble back. He grabs at my jacket, and I pull away, leaving it behind in his grasp. Anger twists my guts, and fear courses through my veins. I am not going to let him get to me. I'm going to make sure he never has a chance to come near me or Avery, ever again. I leap forward, out of the living room, down a short corridor that leads past a sun room, toward the back of the house. I spot the entrance to a room and dart inside, then slam the door behind me and lock it. Almost instantly, a heavy weight slams into the barrier from the other side, and the entire frame shakes.

My breath catches in my chest. A shiver of fear runs down my spine. I spin around, searching for a weapon, just as his weight hits the door again, and the frame shudders. No, no, no, it's not going to hold.

"Open the goddam door, Elsa, or you're going to regret locking me out even more," he bellows.

Clearly, his housekeeper isn't here; or she'd have made an appearance by now.

I slide my hand inside the pocket of my pants, but there's no phone. Shit, I put it in my jacket pocket. Fear stabs at my chest. My ribcage feels like it's constricting my lungs. Oh, my god! What have I done? How could I have been so stupid? How could I have put myself in danger like this? I walked out of the house without thinking. Without worrying about Avery. I knew Seb would be there with her. I trusted him to take care of her… Or at least, my subconscious did. It didn't even occur to me to think otherwise. I thought I was so clever. Why didn't I stop to think? Why didn't I wake him up and speak to him instead?

I continue searching for some kind of weapon I can use. I spot the poker near the fire and race toward it, and that's when the door flies open.

With a scream, I leap back, then round the coffee table in the center of the room and put it between me and him. Not that it's going to help. It's one more thing blocking my escape. And I don't have a weapon.

I glance at the poker, then back at him.

He laughs. "Oh, no you don't." Blood stains his shirt and he staggers toward me.

I hold up my hands. "Don't touch me," I snarl.

His gaze falls to the ring on my finger, and his features contort. "You married him. You thought his influence with the Mafia would scare me off. It'll take more than some two-bit criminal to stop me from getting to you."

"He's not a two-bit criminal. His family owns this country, and you know it. Touch me, and the entire Sovrano family will be after you."

"Oh, I'm going to do more than touch you. I'm going to mess you up so much, he's not going to be able to recognize your pretty face again. And then he won't want you anymore. He'll throw you away like the trash you are."

He throws himself over the table. I scream and scramble away again. The chair behind me hits the wall and crashes to the floor. I glance around again for something, anything to defend myself with.

I spot a drawer, pull it open, and find a gun. I snatch it up and point it at him as he straightens. He freezes instantly. It's amazing what a gun in the right hands can do. Just like before, his gaze ping-pongs between the gun and my face.

"Oh, so you're going to try that again?" he asks, his tone so condescending, I instinctively curve my finger around the trigger.

By god, how I want to squeeze down and be done with him. "What I do know is that I have the gun, and you are on the wrong end of the barrel." I wave the gun at him. "Step back, or I promise, I'll shoot you."

"I've seen your shooting," he scoffs.

I look pointedly at the blood staining his side, and he balks. "I'll do it." My chin trembles, and I clamp my lips together. I will not let him see how afraid I am right now.

"No you won't. After all, I'm the father of your child."

"Seb has been more of a father to Avery in the few days he's been with her than you ever have."

His jaw hardens. "You dare compare me to that Mafioso vermin?"

"That man has done more for Avery in a few weeks than you have in all the time you've been her father. You never held her after she was born. You never even looked at her. You never cared about her, or me. She was just another tool you could use to control me."

"What's wrong with that?" He raises a shoulder. "I thought you wanted someone to control you." He smirks. "Everything was working out so well. I encouraged you to be with him so you could get me information that would help me put him and his brothers behind bars. I'm the one who orchestrated the series of events that led to you knocking on his nonna's door and asking for help in the first place."

I pale. "That was you? You were behind the cars that crowded me so I had no choice but to take the road that led to his nonna's house?"

He half bows. "Clever, eh? Knew he wouldn't be able to resist a damsel in distress. All the Sovranos think they're these big bad guys, but they can't pass up the opportunity to play a knight in shining armor."

My pulse thuds at my temples. Sweat beads my brow. "You're the one who shot and killed his nonna?"

"Not me, but one of my men. It wasn't intended, but I have to admit, the payoff from it was much sweeter. Nothing like upping the stakes so emotions run high and make people more vulnerable. It accelerated the chain of events and led to him proposing to you. Even I couldn't have planned it so well."

Anger squeezes my chest with such force that I can't breathe.

He puffs out his chest. "And then, it was my magnanimity that allowed you to marry him so he'd trust you enough to let his guard down with you. But you made the mistake of falling for him."

"Did that make you jealous? Is that why you tried to kill him with the drone attack?"

"Drone?" He chuckles. "I think you've been watching too many movies. If I were going to shoot him, I'd do it the old-fashioned way, a bullet to the back of the head, and preferably, without getting my hands dirty."

Something clicks in my brain. "The shooting at the restaurant. That was you, wasn't it?"

His expression flickers for just a second, but it's enough.

"It was you. Did you put the Camorra up to it?"

"Guilty as charged. Too bad the faccia di merda escaped."

My heart jackhammers in my chest. The pressure builds behind my eyes.

"You tried to kill him. Hell, you could have killed me while you were at it. But I guess you wanted to make enough of a statement so I'd come to you. Well, here I am."

"And now, I'm going to kill you. If I can't have you, no one else will. I'm never letting go of you Elsa. Never."

He reaches for the gun.

I shoot, or at least, try to, but the gun doesn't fire.

His features light up and his eyes gleam. He jumps forward. I yell and dash around the table and toward the door, but he grabs hold of my shirt and pulls. I scream, then turn around and bring the gun down on his head.

I hear the sound of something cracking. He sways, then crumples to the floor. My fingers tremble. The gun slips from my grasp, hits the floor, and bounces once.

"Elsa?"

I turn to find Seb at the door.