Devious Little Lies (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

Sage Aprea’s shindig was less than four days away and Rena had to admit, the closer it got to the night of her infamous ball, the more she was starting to look forward to it. Nothing like planning to upstage the hostess at her own event. There was a difference between a real mob wife and a cheap whore who hoodwinked her way into marriage. Sage was going to learn the hard way.

Besides, Rena needed a little excitement in her life. The phone calls and flowers from her husband hadn’t stopped. Tony was wasting a lot of unnecessary time and money because she’d not yet forgiven him. Let him suffer a little longer. After all, wasn’t that what they’d been doing more than half of their married life? She pushed thoughts of her husband away as she heard her cell phone ring. She wondered if it was Tricia calling. Hurrying upstairs to her bedroom, Rena grabbed the phone on the last ring and answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Rena.”

Her heart leaped in her throat and she eased herself down to sit on the side of her bed.

“Shane.”

“Glad to know you recognize my voice. How are you, Rena?”

“How did you get this number?”

“Tricia gave it to me.”

“Well my daughter made a mistake, so please don’t call me again,” she said preparing to hang up.

Shane laughed. “I never pictured you for a coward, Rena.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“I’m not afraid of anything, I assure you.”

“Except me.”

Now it was her turn to laugh. “And why would I be afraid of you?”

“Because I’m the first man in a long time to make you feel something and that scares you to death.”

A smile crept to her face as she lay back on the bed. “Feel something, huh? Maybe I feel a little lust, but that’s it. That’s all it will ever be.”

“Denial sounds so good on your lips.”

“It’s not denial when it’s the truth. You’re a very handsome…young man, Shane. Even an old broad like me can I appreciate that.”

“The only thing old about you, Rena, is all the pain you’ve carried with you. Maybe it’s time you let someone take that away.”

“And who might that someone be…you?”

“Yes.”

One simple word, but even though they weren’t even in the same room she could feel the depth of emotion behind it. He was getting to her and she didn’t like it one bit.

“I’m married. I don’t have time for games and besides that, didn’t you just dump my daughter? I’d say that makes you enemy number one.”

“Tricia made the decision to end our relationship.”

“And after everything you told me about how you felt about my daughter, you just went along with it?”

“I tried to talk her out of it initially, but after I took some time and thought about it, I realized letting her go was the right decision.”

“And why is that? She’s the perfect girl. Tricia’s going to make a wonderful wife and mother.”

“Yes she is…for some lucky man out there, but that man is not going to be me. Fate made that abundantly clear to me a little while ago, but I was too stubborn to see it.”

A derisive snort escaped her lips. “And what exactly did Fate do?”

“It put you in my life and ever since that day nothing has been the same.”

“That line may work on those foolish young girls batting their eyelashes at you, but it’s not going to work on me, Shane. I’ve heard and ignored more lines than you could begin to even count.”

“It’s not a line, Rena, whether you want to admit it or not. There was something between Tricia and me, but it was sweet and innocent. This thing between you and me is a raging inferno that can’t be put out.”

Rena sighed. He wasn’t lying. Deep down in her soul there was a strange, burning chemistry between them. With just a few illicit kisses, Shane had shown her all the things in her life that had been missing. She could barely remember what it felt like to be the center of her husband’s world. To be the woman he desired more than anything. To be his partner and only love. No, she couldn’t remember, but Shane’s words were making her long for that feeling again.

“I’m married, Shane.”

“But if it’s unhappily, then what’s the point?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me. I’ve got time.”

“You don’t leave a man like my husband.”

His voice sharpened. “Are you in danger, Rena?”

“No. Of course not. I’m just saying my husband is old school. He doesn’t believe in divorce. It’s until death do you part…literally.”

“That’s an antiquated way of thinking, especially when he’s the problem in the first place.”

“You don’t know him.”

“I know enough to know that you’re not happy with him. You haven’t been for some time and he hasn’t done a damn thing about it. You deserve better, Rena. So much better.”

“How do you know what I deserve?”

“It’s strange. We barely know each other but somehow I feel as if I know you better than anyone else in my life right now.”

“What you just said makes no sense.”

“True, but when it comes to matters of the heart, things rarely do make sense.”

“What do you want from me, Shane?”

“Something you’re not ready to give me, so for now I’ll settle for being your escort Friday night.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s inappropriate. You and Tricia still may be friends but it’s highly inappropriate for you to be her mother’s date anywhere.”

“Just like it was inappropriate for her mother to orgasm in my arms as I kissed and fondled her?”

She closed her eyes and the memory, hidden away, came rushing forward. It was as if she could feel his lips on her now, coaxing her to pleasure that she’d forgotten before him.

“Why must you bring that up?”

“Why should I pretend like it didn’t happen?”

“Because it shouldn’t have.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that it did and if I have my way it will happen again.”

“Let this go, Shane. There are plenty of women out there for you, but I’m not one of them.”

“We’ll see about that. I’ll be there Friday around eight to pick you up.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Shane.”

“That’s fine. I’ll just tag along with you then. I’ll see you Friday, Rena.”

Before she could get another word out he was gone. Rena threw the phone on the bed next to her. She’d heard of persistence, but Shane Van Adams was giving it a whole new meaning. She guessed she should be flattered. After all, she was sure that there weren’t a whole lot of women that could say they were truly and actively being pursued by a man half their age with a body and face to die for.
You’re crazy, Rena.
If Tony were to get wind of any man so much as looking at her the wrong way, he’d have the man whacked so fast the poor fool wouldn’t even know it was coming.

Shane had no idea of the arena he had entered into and she was a fool for not doing her absolute best to block him. It had been so long since she’d felt alive like this. Since the thought of another person had made butterflies flutter in her stomach. It was stupid of her to feel like this. She was long past the age of infatuation and sweet words affecting her. At least she thought she was…until Shane entered the picture. Now she was foolishly going to let him escort her to a party thrown by the wife of one of the mob’s most nefarious characters. She was going to be in a room full of “Underworld” people, looking at her and wondering who she was and what she was saying by bringing him as her escort. Not to mention, what Simone would say once she met her at the party.

Sometimes she wondered if she really had a few screws loose. But then again, she was sure that she already knew the answer to the question even if she didn’t want to admit it out loud. She stretched and stopped midway as the doorbell rang. Cesare was running some errands for her and she was not expecting visitors. Rising from her bed, she smoothed down the pleated skirt and made her way back downstairs and to the front door. Whoever was waiting outside was impatient if anything else. Her doorbell rang again, followed by a loud banging on the door.

Okay now she was starting to get pissed and she was half a second away from turning around and going for her pistol. Still, she was trying her best to reign in her temper as she answered the door. She looked out through the peephole and the reason for such insistence soon became clear. She unlocked the multiple locks and chain across the door and pulled it open. A dark haired man with salt and pepper hair at his temple stood outside with a scowl on his face. The scar running down his cheek was twisted with the force of his glower.

“Ah, Victor…I was wondering when you’d show up.”

As she stepped back to allow him inside, she rethought her plan for no bloodshed. Sometimes bloodshed just might solve the problem.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Victor walked inside as if he owned the place and Rena could feel her inner bitch getting ready to come out. He was already in a precarious situation. Treading lightly would serve him well.

“Let’s talk in the kitchen.”

He grunted and followed her, taking a seat at the bar still glowering. Calmly, Rena removed a bottle of white wine from the fridge and poured them both a glass full. Sipping from hers, she sat Victor’s glass in front of him but he didn’t touch it.

“This isn’t a social call.”

“I didn’t think it was, but there’s no reason we can’t still be civil.”

“Civility went out the window when you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong.”

Rena put her glass down and stood up straight as she regarded the man in front of her. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Others would be afraid of him. After all Victor “Scarface” Tambino didn’t get to be Underboss by being nice but she didn’t give a damn about any of that. He was in her house and she was not going to tolerate his disrespect.

“If I were you I’d watch your tone and remember who the fuck you’re talking to.”

“I know exactly who I’m talking to, a pretty little housewife who has pipe dreams of being some Mafia Queen when she needs to stay her ass out of men’s business.”

She closed her eyes, the start of a headache pounding in her temple. Whirling around she grabbed a butcher knife and held it to Victor’s throat. He stared at her as if she was a woman possessed.

“I understand you’re under a lot of stress with your father’s illness, but if you ever disrespect me again in any way I will bleed you like a damn goat for a sacrifice. Do I make myself clear?”

“You don’t scare me, Rena,” he says with defiance in his eyes.

“Then you’re a fool.”

She sliced his neck with the knife and as red blood spurted she backed away. He grabbed his neck, eyes wide.

“Are you fucking crazy?”

“No. If I was crazy I would’ve sliced your damn carotid and let you bleed to death right here for your insolence, but I don’t feel like ruining my tile today.”

Victor stared at her and slowly the anger started to die in his eyes. Blood oozed from between his fingers, but she didn’t offer him anything to staunch the bleeding. Finally he released a long breath.

“Why are you trying to ruin me?”

“Is that what you think this is about?”

“Well isn’t it? I’ve been loyal to Tony for the past twenty years, long before you ever came into the picture and now you’re trying to take all of that away.”

Rena placed the bloody knife in the sink before she grabbed a dish towel and threw it at Victor. He caught it easily and held it to his neck. He had a small laceration at best and he was acting like she’d carved a chunk out of his flesh or something. He might need a few stitches, but the mark would be a reminder to him to never lose his tongue around her again.

“Don’t be so fucking melodramatic. This isn’t personal. This is about business and with your personal life taking precedence right now, you’re not handling business the way it needs to be.”

“We’ve been having troubles for some time now, Rena.”

“I’m well aware of that, but when Tony went away, he left you in charge and so far you’ve failed to live up to what he needs you to do.”

“You don’t know the first thing about this business. It’s not what you see on TV. It’s filthy, brutal, and bloody. It takes a piece of your soul every time you do something.”

She took a few sips from her wine before smiling at him. “Then it’s a good thing I lost my soul a long time ago.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I didn’t intend for it to be. I knew what I was getting myself into when I married Tony and our life has hardly been a bed of roses, but that’s the price you pay for money, power, and respect. And trust me, I’m not in a hurry to give any of that up so I will do whatever is necessary to maintain the lifestyle I am accustomed to.”

Victor shook his head, his scar glinting in the light. “This is going to chew you up and spit you out.”

“I’m sure it would soothe your male ego to think that, but I’m already bounds ahead of you, Victor. In barely a month, I’ve discovered where missing profits have been going that you don’t even know a thing about.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“These bastards have been robbing my husband blind and you didn’t know a damn thing about it. Lucky for Tony, he has me to pick up the slack.”

“I don’t know what you think you heard—”

“It’s not what I heard. It’s what I know, so you can trust and believe I’m handling the situation my way.”

Victor’s brown eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what kind of mojo you put on the boss to make him think it was smart to put you in charge, but he’s going to regret it. You can’t send a woman to do a man’s job.”

“You can when the man doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing. Let this go, Victor. It’s not a battle you can, or will, win.”

“Tony is the boss and for now I’ll go along with his orders, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“And I don’t care if you do, but you will respect me and the future decisions I make. There is no one that cares more about keeping Tony at the top than me. I will bulldoze my way over any and everyone that gets in the way of me accomplishing what I set out to do.”

“I hear ya. We’ll see how that all pans out for you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have a front row seat. Now, how’s your father?”

“It’s not looking good.”

“What kind of cancer?” she asked softly.

“Stomach.”

Rena winced and for a moment she felt bad about the way she’d spoken to Victor. Stomach cancer was one of the absolute worst forms of cancer there was. It ate away at you slowly and once you had it there was pretty much nothing you could do.

“I’m so sorry to hear that. How’s he coping?”

Victor shrugged. “He’s Pops. What can I say? It doesn’t matter that the chemo and radiation have him so weak some days he can barely hold his head up. It doesn’t matter that he spends more time puking his guts out than he does anything else. He doesn’t complain.”

“He’s a warrior. They don’t make men like that anymore.”

“No they don’t, but one day every warrior has to lay down his sword.”

She could see the sheen of tears in Victor’s eyes as he spoke of his father. Even the toughest man in the world could be broken down when it came to losing someone they loved. Reaching forward, Rena placed her hand on his.

“You do whatever it takes to make sure that warrior can hold onto his sword a little while longer, you hear me?”

His brown eyes met hers and understanding passed between them.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now if you need anything, financial wise or other you call Mario or Cesare and they will arrange it.”

“A few minutes ago you were ready to kill me, now you’re being nice to me. Why?”

She drained the contents of her glass before she answered him. “Because even though you think I’m some duplicitous bitch I still do have a heart. I know firsthand how cancer destroys and that pain is truly only something I would wish on my very worst enemy and you, Victor, are not it.”

He rose from his seat, finally grabbing his wineglass and downing its contents in one large swallow. Placing the glass back down on the counter he gave her a nod of respect.

“Who did you lose?”

“My mother.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So am I. We didn’t have the money or the connections to get her the treatment she needed. You don’t have that problem, so don’t let your father down.”

“I won’t. I’ll be seeing you, Rena.”

“Likewise.”

She escorted Victor to the front door. When he tried to hand her back the bloody dish towel, she shook her head. With a terse smile he left and she locked up behind him, leaning heavily on the door. She closed her eyes.

“Oh, Mama, how I miss you.”

When she opened her eyes, a tear slipped down her cheek as her mind journeyed back in time.

* * * * *

It was breaking Rena’s heart to see her lying there like that. Her once beautiful, waist-length black hair was all but gone, ravaged by the toll chemo had taken on her body. Now just a few black strands that barely reached the top of her ears, adorned her head. She was sleeping or else dark amber eyes would’ve stared at her, begging her to be strong. But she couldn’t. Not with her mother lying there at death’s door.

Her once beautiful golden skin was now a pale, sallow reminder of the beauty she’d been. The features that had so made her an enigma were now almost gone. Nothing remained of the woman Rania Alron had been but her kind and gentle spirit. As Rena sat in her mother’s room, watching her sleep with four-year-old Tricia napping on her lap as well, she grew angry again.

Her mother, the one person in her life she’d always been able to count on was going to leave her. It was inevitable. She’d spent every last dime she had trying to get her well, but it wasn’t enough and now the cancer had spread from her pancreas to the rest of her body. Her days were numbered. Cancer treatments cost money that neither of them had and now there was nothing they could do but wait.

She and Rania were alone in the world. Rena had never met her father or even heard her mother speak his name though she’d pressed her more times than she could count. But who he was no longer mattered. She didn’t need a father. Men couldn’t be trusted. Life had taught her that when she’d given birth to Tricia. Her daughter would be fatherless just like she was. It was a vicious cycle that they seemed doomed to repeat.

Rena knew nothing of her mother’s family. When she’d asked about her grandparents, her mother had said they’d disowned her and she hadn’t seen them since. Pressing her for more details had revealed nothing. A proud, secretive woman it had been Rania and her daughter against the world and now Rena was about to lose her forever. She covered her mouth as a shudder ripped through her body to keep her from crying out.

Rena didn’t know who she would be without her mother. Every time she looked at Rania, she wondered who they were. What kind of legacy was that to pass on to her own child? A legacy of secrets and no truth. Tears slipped down her cheeks. She was helpless, powerless, and all she could do was wait for the inevitable.

* * * * *

Rena came back to herself and wiped the tears from her face. Talking with Victor had only reminded her of the pain that she’d done her best to keep buried. Losing her mother to pancreatic cancer was the worst pain she’d ever known in her life next to losing her son. The only way she could deal with the pain was not to think of Rania. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d pulled out the photographs she had of them together or the only real thing of value Rania had, a sterling silver locket with the initials D.D. carved on the inside.

It was funny how life played out. Now Rena had more money than she could ever spend in a lifetime but that wealth had come too late to save her beloved mother. Life had a funny way of giving to you with one hand and taking away with the other. Shaking inside she headed back to the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of wine. She drank long swallows as she settled down on the couch in front of the TV. Turning it on, Rena scrolled through the channels for some mindless chatter to keep her mind off things when a Breaking News Alert flashed across the screen.

“This is a breaking news story from Channel 11 News. I’m Samantha Jackson. Local police have found the bodies of two men who were brutally murdered. While details of how the men were killed are not yet being released due to the nature of the crimes committed, Channel 11 has managed to attain the names of the victims. The two men have been identified as forty-five-year-old Jacob and forty-three-year-old Levi Caseolla, reported figures in the Vegas Underworld. While police are being tight-lipped, sources have told our news station that this is surely a retaliatory mob hit and there is sure to be more violence to come.”

She turned off the TV and took a few more healthy swigs from her bottle. The two little weasels were dead. Carmine had kept his word and as if on cue, her home phone rang. She quickly picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Did I do good?”

“More than you know. This is the best news I’ve gotten all day.”

“Glad you approve.”

“Indeed I do. You made a statement. It must have been pretty gruesome if the police won’t even talk about it.”

“Let’s just say it’s amazing how much a body can bleed.”

“I’ll have to see that for myself.”

“I’d be more than happy to demonstrate with our other friend,” Carmine offered.

“No. I want the pleasure of that myself. I’ve got a few things in mind.”

“Ooh, talk dirty to me,” Carmine teased.

“Sorry. You’ll have to get your rocks off some other way. Now, when do we make our move?”

“Tomorrow night around nine. I’ve already called the pig and set up a meeting under the pretenses that I know how he can hide some of his money from the boss.”

“I’m sure the fat prick fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.”

“Of course. Fools are usually the instruments of their own destruction.”

“As Alfonso will be for his. Where are we meeting?”

“I’ll tell you on the way. I’ll pick you up.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Something wrong with that?”

“No, but with something this major I’d like to have a little more protection.”

“I can keep you safe, Boss Lady.”

“I’m sure you can, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“Fine. How about you have Cesare and some of the other guys at the meeting roll with us?”

“That sounds like a good idea. With me taking over, I do need my own squad. I’ll have Cesare make the calls in the morning. None of them would dare to refuse.”

“Indeed they wouldn’t.”

“Poor Alfonso. The fat prick has no idea what he’s in for.”

“Nothing like a woman scorned.”

“I’m not scorned. Just a woman on a mission for vengeance for my husband.”

“I hope damn well the boss appreciates it.”

“Trust me. He will. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”