31. Nic

31

NIC

I 'm strapped into a seat on my father's private jet, flanked by two of his most ruthless men, Paulie and TJ. The ache in my head from their earlier blow still throbs, but it doesn’t erase the thoughts of Bella. How did my father find her? Who betrayed us?

I can’t worry about that right now. I need a plan to get us out of this. I’ll admit, I doubt myself at this point. I’d been so sure my plan to kill my father was foolproof, and I failed. But Bella and our child need me, as do Gia and her kids, so I need to come up with something.

I scan the cabin of the jet. Paulie is reading on his tablet. TJ is scarfing down a sandwich as he looks out over the New York landscape.

"Need to take a piss," I announce, shifting in my seat.

Paulie sneers. "Hold it."

"Unless you want me to piss myself on your boss's leather seats…" I let the threat hang.

Paulie nods at TJ. "Let him go. What's he gonna do at thirty thousand feet?"

TJ grunts and unlocks my cuffs. As I stand, I notice his phone clipped to his belt. In one fluid motion, I bump into him, palming the device as I stumble toward the bathroom.

"Watch it," Paulie barks.

“Sorry. Foot fell asleep.” Inside the tiny bathroom, I pull out the phone. My fingers fly across the keys, typing a message to Max. It’s a riskier plan than the one I thought was foolproof, but I’m desperate.

Max sends a symbol that lets me know he’s received it. I delete the message from the Sent folder and palm the phone again. When I exit, I stumble against Paulie again, deftly returning the phone to his belt clip.

“Jesus, you drunk?” TJ sneers. "Sit down.” He shoves me back into my seat.

I comply, letting him recuff me while I pray this works.

The flight is just over an hour, and it’s nearly another hour through the city to my father’s mansion. Two men flank me as we enter the house and head down to my father’s den of debauchery and sin. The idea of Bella being in that room with him makes me sick and fills me with a rage. No matter what happens, he’s dead today. I’ll make sure of it.

The men knock and then push me into the room. My heart stops when I see Bella. She's dressed in a provocative slinky dress, her face painted with makeup, hair styled like a doll’s. The sight of her being forced to dress up for my father's sick fantasies sends my rage into full out fury.

I surge against my captors, every muscle straining to reach her, to tear my father limb from limb. "I'll fucking kill you.”

My father sits in an antique chair like some perverted king on his throne. He finds amusement in my reaction. I know I’ve just given away that Bella means something to me. He’ll enjoy using that against me.

Bella's eyes meet mine, wide with fear but blazing with defiance. Even now, she refuses to be broken. Her strength only fuels my courage. I wrench against the cuffs. I don't care if I have to chew through my own hands. I'm going to end my father.

"Such passion. And here I thought you were incapable of feeling anything, Niccolo." The old bastard rises from his chair, moving toward Bella. He nods to the men. “Uncuff him but stay close.” He looks at me. “Perhaps you’ll want to join in.”

“Fucking pervert,” I spit.

"I must say, I'm disappointed. All these years of careful planning, building our empire, and you throw it away for some teenage pussy?"

"I'm going to kill you," I growl, each word a promise. "Slowly. Painfully. You'll beg for death before I'm done."

He throws his head back and laughs. "Such fire! But we both know you won't get the chance." His hand strokes Bella's cheek, and I lunge forward, only to be held back. "Don't worry about your little whore, though. She's young, beautiful. I'm sure she'll find another man quickly enough after you’re dead and I’m done with her. Maybe even tonight at my party."

The room goes red. Every cell in my body screams for his blood. I've killed men before, but never with this primal need for violence. "Touch her again and I'll tear your fucking throat out."

"Language, Niccolo." He clicks his tongue. "Is that any way to speak to your father? Though I suppose I failed in raising you properly. Too soft, like your mother." His fingers trail down Bella's neck. “I did my best to raise you right. All this could have been yours. An inheritance, but you got greedy?—”

“You tried to kill me.”

He shrugs. “I knew when you were a teenager that you would turn on me. I kept thinking you’d change, but alas… it was time for me to be proactive.”

The piercing wail of the fire alarm shatters the tension. My father's head snaps toward the sound, his predatory focus broken for a split second. It's all I need. It’s what I planned.

I break free, and my men release me. Leo, who killed Paulie at the airport, tosses me a gun.

"Surprise, old man," I snarl, leveling the weapon at his chest. "I hope you won’t miss Paulie and TJ too much.” Relief settles in my chest. Finally, I have the upper hand.

At the airport, when Max came through and sent Leo and Eddie to meet us, taking out Paulie and TJ, I thanked God the first part of the plan worked. But until I saved Bella, I wouldn’t feel fully okay. But now, holding the gun on my father, power surges through me.

The sound of gunfire echoes from upstairs and I know my other men are taking care of the rest of my father's security. When this is over, I’ll owe Max big time.

"You really thought I'd come here without backup?" I advance on him. "That I'd leave anything to chance when it comes to protecting what's mine?"

Leo moves to Bella, working to free her from her restraints while keeping his own weapon trained on my father.

My father's hand whips out, producing a gun from his jacket. The barrel aims at my chest, his finger tightening on the trigger.

“Checkmate, Son.”

I have a moment to think, Oh, fuck, he’s got me again.

“No!” Bella cries out. A pillow flies through the air, striking his face. In that split second of distraction, I knock his gun out of his hand and then crash him against the wall. He fights against me, but he’s no match for my size and strength. Not anymore.

Eddie picks up my father’s gun.

"Get Bella out of here," I command, nodding to Leo.

"No." Bella steps toward me. "I won't leave you alone with him."

I keep my father pressed against the wall as I tell her, "I need you safe. Leo and Eddie are going to take you to Gia’s. Max is there. You’ll be safe until I come get you.”

“I want to stay?—”

“Please.”

Her eyes are soft, sweet. “Okay.” It makes me wonder about all the times we butted heads when I tried to get her safe. Maybe I should have just said please.

I turn to Leo and Eddie. "Make sure she gets to Gia's safely. And for Christ’s sake, put a coat on her." I know Gia will find her something else to wear, but until then, I don’t want Bella to be forced to leave in such revealing clothes.

"You got it, Boss." Leo gently guides Bella toward the door.

She looks back at me once more. "I love you."

God, how I want to hold her, to let her words, her love, wrap around me. But I can’t. Not until this is over.

“I’ll see you soon.”

I watch until the door closes behind them, knowing she's in good hands. Max and Gia will keep her safe while I deal with the monster who tried to destroy everything I hold dear.

"Love?" Gino spits out. "You don't know shit about love."

"There was a time I believed that. But I have loved. Mom. Gia's mom." I shake my head. "Did you think I wouldn't figure it out? About Mom?" My voice comes out as a growl. "I was twelve, not stupid. Those treatments she never got…" I hit him with the gun, letting my anger fly.

His head snaps, but he quickly brings it back to me, sneering. "Your mother was weak?—”

I hit him again. “What were you saying?”

“You won’t survive this.”

I shrug. “Gia and the kids will. Bella will. That’s all that matters.” I shake my head. “You’re the one who’s weak and stupid. Gia’s mother loved you.” She loved me too. I’ll never forget her kindness, how she looked after me when my mother died. She didn’t deserve what happened to her, and taking care of Gia is the only way I can pay back her support.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask, genuinely curious. Sure, men in my world can be heartless. But my father’s depravity, his level of cruelty, knows no bounds. He has no values. No honor. He’s led by his baser impulses, all of which are violent.

“Fuck you?—”

I grip him by the throat, pushing him back into the wall. "Did you enjoy it? Watching us suffer? Or were you too busy breaking in your next victim?"

"Everything I did…" He wheezes. "Was to build our empire."

Did he say our ? "No." I squeeze my fingers tighter. "Everything you did was to feed your sick desires. The business was just your cover for being a monster."

"You think you've won?" Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth. "Everything you are, I made you. The strength, the ruthlessness—that's my blood in your veins."

I lean in close, letting him see the darkness he’s bragging about creating. "You didn't make me. You just showed me what true evil looks like. And now?" My lips curl into a cold smile. "Now I'm going to become the monster you always wanted me to be."

I press the barrel of my gun under his chin. "What I’d really like is to make you experience every torture, every humiliation you’ve inflicted on others. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the stomach for it. You should thank me that you won’t have to endure too much pain.”

His eyes widen slightly. It’s the first genuine fear I've seen from him. He knows I'm not bluffing.

"You wanted a son who could be as cruel as you?" My voice drops to a whisper. "Congratulations. You're about to meet him."

I tighten my grip on my father's throat, feeling the full weight of what I'm about to do. His facade finally cracks and real fear bleeds through as he realizes I’m capable of murder.

“You do this, you’re no better than me,” he says.

I stare him straight in his dark, soulless eyes. “I’ll take my chances.” I bring the gun to his forehead. My hand trembles slightly, not from doubt but from the magnitude of crossing this line. Killing in business is one thing. Killing your own father…

But this isn't murder. This is justice, self-defense against a lifetime of abuse and loss. Protection for those I love, Bella, our unborn child, Gia and her twins.

He tries to speak again, but I cut off his air. No more words. No more manipulation. No more chances to hurt anyone else.

“Say hello to Lucifer for me.”

My father's eyes widen, a final plea forming on his lips. I don't let him speak.

I pull the trigger.

The gun bucks in my hand. Blood and brain matter spray across my face, hot and sticky. His body goes limp in my grip. I let him fall.

The sound of the gunshot still rings in my ears as I stare at what remains of the monster who shaped my life. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him and not had a moment to fear him.

I wipe his blood from my face .

“Want me to take care of the trash?” Eddie asks from the doorway.

I shake my head. “Leave him. Let’s burn it down.”

His eyes widen. “The room?”

I shake my head. “The whole thing.” I look over at him. “Any leads on who betrayed me?”

“Max says he talked to Mickey who has since dispatched Carlo.”

“Are we sure Mickey?—”

“Carlo was one of your dad’s.”

“Good. Work with Mickey to pin this on Carlo and whoever else wants to stay loyal to my father.”

“Will do.”

If Carlo is already dead, we’ll need to be creative to pin this on him, but I trust my men to manipulate and pay off anyone we need to.

I move to exit the room. “Bella got off okay?”

“Leo delivered her personally. Max has extra men around your sister’s place in case there’s any retaliation. Oh… and Mickey has sent some of his old friends to help. He wants to make sure you don’t think he had anything to do with Carlo and your father.”

“Thanks, Eddie.” I’ll be sure to reward him and Leo handsomely for their loyalty.

I leave the room and head to my penthouse. I haven’t been there in forever. It almost doesn’t feel like home. I know when I get Bella there, she’ll turn it into a home, a thought that makes me smile.

Before I can bring her here, though, I need to change my clothes and shower my father off me. A ceremonial washing away of his vile filth. Then I can go to Bella, clean and ready to be the man she needs.