14. Bella

14

BELLA

I sit in the living room, a book open on my lap, but my attention is focused entirely on the muffled conversation coming from the kitchen. Nic's voice, tinged with tension, carries through the thin walls. I strain to hear every word, which I know is rude, but too bad for him. My life is in his hands, hands I don’t know that I can trust. How weird to be so attracted to him when I don’t know him and he can be such a jerk.

Besides, if he didn’t want me to overhear his conversation, he shouldn’t have put it on speakerphone.

“Any idea on the hit attempt?” Nic asks his friend Max.

“Your father is blaming Rinella.”

That doesn’t make any sense to me. Do I think my father does terrible things that could hurt me? Yes. But I know he wanted this deal with Don Nardone. He wouldn’t do anything to ruin that.

“I don’t see Rinella coming after me. He wanted this deal,” Nic confirms my assessment.

"I know," Max agrees. "But Gino's convinced that Rinella double-crossed him. He's demanding the Outfit do something about it."

Don Nardone is bold and brazen to make demands of The Outfit. I’m not privy to the details of Mafia business, but I know The Outfit isn’t an organization to mess with.

“Rinella seemed genuinely shocked when Gino accused him. Apparently, the D’Amato family is demanding answers from him as well."

I roll my eyes. My father and D’Amatos are always squabbling about something.

"Has my father presented any evidence?" Nic asks.

"Nothing concrete, but you know how he is. He doesn't need evidence to start a war."

War?

“Nic, there’s something off about all this.” Max’s comment pulls my thoughts away from the idea of a war.

"What makes you say that?"

“I think the real reason Gino wanted me back in New York was to keep me close. He knows we're tight. He probably figured you'd reach out to me for help if you were in trouble."

Nic lets out a bitter laugh. "Like he really cares. He'd be happy with me dead."

There's a pause before Max speaks again, his voice low and serious. "That may be the point."

Is he saying Don Nardone wants his son dead? Is he the one who tried to kill us?

“What about Gia and the kids?” I hear tension in Nic’s voice.

"Gia's okay for now. But when I visited her, she told me Gino had also come by, asking about you.”

“But she’s okay?”

“Physically, yes, but… Christ, Nic, she said Gino threatened to take your niece, Daniella, away from her if she lied about hearing from you. He implied that he’d sell her."

My heart stops. Don Nardone was going to sell his grandchild? My mind whirls. Who is this man Nic is supposed to take me to?

The next bit of conversation I notice is Nic saying, “I don’t give a shit. He’s not selling my four-year-old niece to those fucking perverts in his Society.”

The blood drains from my face. The man I'm supposed to marry will sell a four-year old to “perverts”? His own flesh and blood.

The information about Don Nardone isn't an exaggerated rumor. It’s all true. His wives have died or disappeared, and I’m next. He might be old, but he’s still powerful and clearly a monster. I’ve been so na?ve to think he’d be too old to pay me much attention, to think my life in New York would be easier than my life with my father.

Nic, the man I’ve nursed back to health… the one I kissed earlier… the one I felt safe sleeping next to… he’s going to bring me to Don Nardone. I’m such a fool.

I can’t stay here. I can’t let Nic deliver me to a man filled with such vile cruelty and depravity. I push myself up from the chair, standing on wobbly legs. Nic's voice still drifts from the kitchen, engrossed in his conversation with Max. Good. That'll buy me some time.

I creep toward the bedroom, my heart pounding so loudly I'm afraid he'll hear it. Every creak of the floorboards makes me wince, but I press on. I have to get out of here.

In the bedroom, I spot my suitcase and quickly realize it’s too big for me to escape with. I search the closet and find an old gym bag. I grab it and start shoving in only the essentials. Warm clothes, my wallet. Too bad I lent Nic the phone, as I hate to leave without it, but I don’t have a choice.

As I pack, I strain my ears to listen for any sign that Nic's conversation is ending. So far, his muffled voice continues uninterrupted. Fear and determination spur me to move faster.

I zip up the bag and take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I can do this. I have to.

With one last glance around the room, I hoist the bag onto my shoulder. It's now or never.

I glance out the window. The snowfall has stopped for the moment. On the ground, the snow is deep, but not impossible. Surely, the roads are plowed. If I can make it there, I can seek help. A good Samaritan will let me use their phone, and I can call Ava. She’ll help me.

I creep back down the hall to the living room to exit through the front door. Nic's voice still drifts from the kitchen, engrossed in his conversation with Max.

Quietly, I approach the front door, my hand trembling as I reach for the knob. I pull the door open, and a gust of frigid air hits me like a slap to the face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Before I can react, Nic’s hand slams the door shut, the bang echoing through the cabin. I'm trapped between his body and the door.

Panic fills me. I don’t want to die, but if I’m going to, I’d rather it not be because of Don Nardone.

I whirl around to face Nic, hoping I look fierce, not afraid. “I won’t let you take me to him.”

Nic’s brows pull together. “What are you talking about?”

“You know what sort of man your father is and yet you still plan on handing me over to him.” I feel like I might throw up. I hope it’s on him and he gags.

“You knew what you were signing up for. This isn't news to you."

His words ignite a fresh wave of fury within me. "I didn't sign up for anything!" I shout, my hands clenching into fists at my sides, wanting desperately to beat him to a pulp. "You jerk, you know I didn’t. What’s wrong with you?”

“You need to calm down?—”

"Don't tell me to calm down. I took care of you. I trusted you…” Tears fill my eyes, and I hate that he’s seeing how scared and hurt I am. He won’t care. “It was all a ruse, I guess. If you make me trust you, I’ll be easier to manage, is that it? You’re a monster, just like him.” I desperately reach for the door handle again, my fingers barely grazing it before Nic's strong hands grab me. He spins me around, pinning me against the door with his body. I'm trapped, my back pressed against the cold wood, Nic's face inches from mine.

"Stop, Bella.” His voice is low and intense. "You're not going anywhere."

I struggle against his grip, wishing I could hit him on his wound to hurt him and make him release me. But he’s too strong, and I'm too panicked to think clearly.

"Let me go!”

“It’s not safe.”

I glare up at Nic. "I'd rather take my chances out there than be handed over to your depraved father.”

Nic's jaw clenches, but he remains silent. I take advantage of his hesitation to press on.

"I swear to you, Nic, I'll kill myself before I let you send me to Gino. If I'm going to die, it'll be on my terms. Not at the hands of that… that monster. I won't be tortured or humiliated by him. If that's the fate you're sending me to, I'd rather end it myself."

Nic's grip on me loosens slightly, his touch almost gentle and soothing. "I'm not taking you back to my father.”

I freeze, confusion momentarily overriding my fear. "What?”

“I’m not going to bring you to my father.”

“But… how can you stop it? You're just an underboss, aren't you? Don't you have to follow his orders?"

His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch. "I'm going to kill him.”

Before I can fully grasp the weight of his declaration, Nic's lips crash against mine. The kiss is urgent, desperate, filled with a passion that catches me off guard. Despite everything I've just learned, despite my anger and fear, I find myself responding. I sink into the kiss, my body betraying my mind's doubts. Nic's hands slide from my arms to my waist, pulling me closer. I should push him away, I know I should. Doubt and confusion swirl in my mind. Can I trust him? After everything I've heard, everything I've learned about his world, how can I be sure this isn't just another manipulation?

I want to believe him. God, I want to believe him so badly. But I’d be an idiot to do so.

As reality crashes back, I push him away forcefully, stumbling back a step. "No. You don't get to do that.”

Nic reaches for me, but I hold up a hand to stop him.

"Don't. You've known who your father is all this time. You know what kind of monster he is, what he's capable of. But you didn't do anything about it, did you?"

Nic’s jaw tightens.

"He threatened your sister, your niece. He's hurt countless people. But you didn't think to stop him then, did you? No, it's only now, when he's tried to kill you, that you suddenly decide to take action. What about me, Nic? Did you ever think about protecting me from him?"

Nic opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "Of course not. I’m just a pawn in your and your father’s sick game.”

“I decided to kill him for you.”