Devious Little Lies (25 page)

Chapter Forty-One

Shane had thought he’d never lay eyes on the man again until he was the one shutting cell doors in his face. Now here he stood with him and Rena as his prisoners. Fate had fucked him over once again and his lover stared at him as if he were some alien species.

“Nephew? What the hell is going on here?” Rena demanded.

“Come now, Rena. I thought you were so smart and superior. Connect the dots. Armando is your little boy toy’s uncle. Get it?” Sage Aprea said.

Beside him Rena went rigid. “I heard that, you blonde bitch. What I want to know is why am I here and how the hell are you still alive?”

Shane couldn’t help but feel a measure of pride as he looked at his lover. No matter how hard the chips were down, Rena didn’t break. A cheap whore like Sage Aprea was nothing to her. His uncle smiled, a glint in his soulless black eyes. Heavy, hot hate welled up in his chest and he struggled against the chains holding him to the wall.

“Nephew, it’s good to see you. I’m sure you thought it would be under circumstances more favorable to you, but we have my dear Sage to thank for this little reunion.”

Beside him Rena scoffed. “That blonde nitwit is not smart enough to pull off something like this.”

“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of. Tell her, baby,” Sage said.

Disgust rose in his throat as Armando pulled Sage to his side and sloppily kissed her.

“I guess Aunt Constance has no idea about your little whore,” Shane said.

They stopped kissing and Armando glared at him.

“I guess I need to teach you some respect before I take your life.”

His fist connected with Shane’s face and blood exploded from Shane’s nose. Beside him Rena scrambled, trying to stop Armando from abusing him further but her handcuffs limited her. With a malevolent glare his uncle stepped away, pulling a handkerchief out from his pocket. Unhurriedly he wiped the blood from his knuckles.

“I remember when blood used to mean something,” his uncle said.

“You don’t know the first meaning of the word.”

“Can we stop with the pissing contest? If I’m going to die, then I at least deserve to know what led up to it,” Rena cut in.

“I’ll be more than happy to tell. You see, while Enzo was a step in the right direction he soon bored me and him not being able to keep it in his pants didn’t help either. He really was a dirty old hound. I decided that it was time for me to move up the ladder so to speak and with poor Tony locked up, the only logical choice was dear Armando here.”

“Never mind the fact that he has a wife, huh?” Shane pointed out.

“Ah yes, dear sweet Constance, the perfect little homemaker and mother. Boring all around. Armando was ready for a change, for something fresh.”

Rena laughed and Sage glared at her.

“The last thing you are is fresh, Sage. You’ve been around the block more times than an ice cream truck.”

“You bitch!”

Sage kicked Rena in the ribs and a whoosh of breath escaped from her but she didn’t grunt or cry out. She spat at Sage’s feet.

“And I thought you had such a reputation for being a lady. Too bad. But as Sage was saying she came to me with the idea of getting most of the members in our circle together, where they could strategically be taken out all at once. With them out of the way, their power would be up for grabs and together we could swoop in and take over. The only thing I had to do was agree to make Sage my wife once her husband was dead.”

“What did you do to Aunt Constance?” Shane asked.

Armando’s eyes narrowed on him. “I killed her, but don’t worry it was quick. One bullet to the back of the head. She never saw it coming.”

“You’re a monster. You will kill anyone. You don’t give a damn about anything in this entire world but yourself. Love and family means nothing to you.”

“What I am, Shane, is a man who is going to rule this city with an iron fist. Love and family are simply impediments that hinder a man from reaching his full potential.”

“That’s what my father was to you, an impediment?”

“You’re damned right. My dumb sister had to go and fall for a cop. I wasn’t happy about it. The Vallaros are one of the few remaining old crime families and she had to sully that legacy by marrying and having a baby with the enemy. But still I left her alone because I didn’t want to draw anymore attention to what she’d done.”

“Until my dad was going to bring you down,” he needled him.

“Richard Van Adams didn’t have the brains or the gumption to do it alone, but I wasn’t going to give him the chance. I saw my moment and I struck.”

“You killed him and my mother, your own sister, like they were just dogs you shot down in the street.”

“Larissa stopped being my sister the moment she married your father. She got what was coming to her.”

Tears blurred in his eyes nearly blinding him as he struggled to his feet. With pain in every move he rose slowly and faced his uncle man to man.

“Before this is all said and done, I’m going to look down at your dead body and smile with glee in my heart.”

Armando’s fist came for his face and Shane didn’t have enough slack in his bonds to raise his fists to defend his face. The blow sent him stumbling and falling back to the concrete. Rena reached for him and covered his body with her own. Perhaps she didn’t hate him after all.

“I highly doubt that, Shane. Don’t worry you and your lover here are going to join your parents soon enough.”

“Let her go.”

“Not going to happen. Getting rid of Rena is the final piece we need to complete our takeover.”

“Even if you kill me, you’ll never get away with it. Tony will punish you double for killing his wife and trying to take his territory.”

Armando and Sage laughed together and something shifted inside of him. Their laughter was of two people with no worries about anything and it grated his nerves, stabbing into his soul. All these years he’d spent trying to build a career so that he could avenge his family and now it seemed that he was farther away than he’d ever been of reaching his goal. He couldn’t let it happen. He couldn’t let his parents down again. His uncle needed to pay for what he’d done.

“That reminds me, dear, she doesn’t know,” Sage said.

“I don’t know what?” Rena asked.

“That Tony is no longer with us.”

Armando reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a photograph. He threw it down on the concrete. Rena picked it up, but not before Shane saw it. A man lay bleeding on a concrete floor. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know who it was.

Her hands shook as she picked up the photograph and stared at it. No tears fell from her eyes as Rena looked at the man lying on the concrete floor. There was so much blood around him. His eyes were open and a glassy sheen covered them. The man was dead. The man was her husband. Tony Rosetti had taken his last breath. She’d thought perhaps she would feel something, but she didn’t. Tony was already dead to her when she discovered his latest betrayal.

“Do you expect me to cry or something? Hell, you did me a favor.”

Rena threw the picture back down on the concrete and stared at her two captors. They exchanged glances before turning their attention back on her.

“That’s mighty tough talk. Too bad I don’t believe you. Anytime I even mentioned Tony’s name you tried to scratch my eyes out,” Sage said.

“Trust me, Sage, if I wanted to scratch your eyes out you’d already be blind now.”

Lying beside him, Rena didn’t miss the smirk on Shane’s face. Her lover’s uncle was a complete piece of shit. What kind of man killed his own sister? A twisted, sick bastard. How she wished she could teach Armando a lesson before she put him out of his misery.

“You know, Sage, I don’t think she really knows how much of a favor she owes us for having Tony killed,” Armando said.

“Shall we enlighten her then?” the blonde bimbo asked.

“Why not. She’s going to die anyway. You see, Rena, you meeting Tony and your marriage wasn’t by chance. He knew who you were the moment he set eyes on you.”

“How?” she asked.

“Simple. He knew your father.”

Her heart palpitated. This had to be some kind of game.

“How in the hell did Tony know my father? I didn’t even know who he was.”

“That’s because your mother wanted it that way. You see Rania Alron was a half-Black, half-Iranian runaway. Her father wanted to force her into an arranged marriage so she fled and then she met your father, Daniel DeCarlo. From what I’ve heard they carried on a passionate affair until she found out he was married and then she ended things and raised you alone.”

Armando stopped and stared at her, clearly waiting for a reaction but her face betrayed nothing. She would not allow herself to show any sign of weakness to this man or his whore.

“And what does any of this have to do with my late husband?”

“Oh here’s the best part. Apparently Daniel had finally convinced your mother to let him be a part of your life and then Tony killed him and took over his territory. And all these years, Tony has kept his eye on you, Daniel’s only living heir. When the time was right he tied up all the loose ends and cemented his position in power by marrying you. It was a hell of a plan if I must say so myself,” Armando said.

If Tony wasn’t already dead, she’d kill him again. Everything made sense. The reason it was so easy for him to dishonor their marriage was because he’d never loved her. She was just a pawn to secure his stronghold. Because of him she’d missed out on the chance of ever knowing her father. Daniel DeCarlo might have been a real bastard or he could’ve been an alright kind of man. Because of Tony she’d never know or have the opportunity for a different life. The bastard really had taken everything away from her.

“May he rot in hell.”

“Don’t worry. You’re about to join him soon enough. Armando promised me I could be here to watch you take your last breath,” Sage said.

“I’ll tell the Devil you’ll be right behind me.”

Shane squeezed her hand and looked into her eyes. All of her anger towards him was gone. Both of their lives had been destroyed because of the choices others had made. All Shane had wanted to do was honor his father by becoming an upstanding citizen and getting men like his uncle off the streets. How could she hate him for wanting vengeance for his family? She couldn’t, especially now when death waited for them both.

“Oh well. Enough of this chit-chat. Say your Hail Mary’s or whatever it is you need to do. Both your graves are already dug.”

Armando snapped his fingers and suddenly the room was filled with armed men. Where in the hell had they been hiding? Many of them stared at Shane with hate-filled eyes. She heard the word “rat,” thrown around.

“Seems a shame to have to waste her, boss. She’s a hot piece,” one of the men said leering at her.

“Pussy will cause you more problems than it’s worth. Just do what the fuck I pay you to do.”

The man scowled, but he raised his gun and pointed it at her. The rest of the men followed suit, aiming at her and Shane. This was how they were going to die, by a barrage of bullets. Well, you lived by the bullet, you died by it.

“Rena.”

With tears in her eyes, she looked at Shane. “I know,” she whispered, “And I…I feel the same.”

The smile he gave her was bright enough to melt the coldest polar ice cap. Tears slipped from her eyes and she realized that this was the last time she’d ever see him smile. Rena kissed him one last time as guns cocked. Closing her eyes she waited for the inevitable.

Chapter Forty-Two

Shane never thought his life would end like this but he refused to give his murderers the satisfaction of seeing him break before they took his life. He faced them as their fingers started to pull the triggers. The sound of bullets firing filled the room but none of them hit him or Rena. One by one the men in front of them started to fall to the ground. Sage Aprea screamed and Armando pulled her clear of the line of fire. Their would-be executioners scrambled to face the new onslaught. Two or more of them went down in a barrage of bullets before he finally understood what was going on.

The cavalry had arrived.

“Rena, open your eyes, sweetheart.”

She looked at him before her eyes focused on the gunfight going on in front of them. Grabbing her as much as his shackled hands would allow, he eased them closer to the wall and covered her body with his own.

“What’s going on?” she yelled in his ear.

“We’re about to be rescued. Just hold on tight.”

He hoped he wouldn’t be made out to be a liar. With bullets flying around them, their lives were still in mortal danger. Keeping one eye on Rena and the other on the gun battle, he saw a small contingent of men rushing his uncle and his whore to safety.

“Van Adams, we’re getting you out of here.”

The last person he expected to see was Brielle at his side with bolt cutters, but right now he would take what he could get. Sitting up, he offered her his wrists and she quickly cut him free from the chains that had him hooked to the wall. As soon as he was free he turned to Rena.

“Just you, Shane. I’ve got my orders.”

“I’m not leaving her to die.”

He snatched the bolt cutters from Brielle and freed Rena. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Brielle.

“Now is not the time for it, love. We’re getting out of here.”

Brielle rolled her eyes as she handed him a gun from her back pocket. “You’re going to regret this course of action.”

“Some things are worth dying for.”

“Her pussy must really be amazing.”

Before he could stop her, Rena punched Brielle in the face.

“It is, bitch.”

Brielle raised her gun and pointed it at Rena.

“Stop this. We need to get the hell out of here.”

Grabbing Rena’s hand, Shane pulled her behind him. Though Brielle glared at Rena with eyes that promised a showdown later, at least now she understood the danger they were still in.

“Give us some cover, Brielle.”

She nodded before she turned and opened fire on the suited men that stood between them and the doors of freedom. With Rena’s hand firmly in his grasp, they started to run. He shot off a round of bullets as some of Armando’s men turned their attention on them. The men fell one by one and in the parting sea of bodies he could see members of his task force battling the mobsters. As he ran, holding onto Rena for dear life, they slipped and slid in the blood that ran all over the concrete floors.

A man stepped out in front of them, gun raised. Shane fired off a round before the man could even squeeze the trigger. As the man went down, Rena grabbed the man’s gun and he didn’t stop her. A long hallway appeared in front of them and in the distance he could see people running. It was his uncle and goons with Sage. Shane’s blood boiled all over again.

“Let’s get them!” Rena yelled at him.

The next thing he knew, Rena let go of his hand and raced down the hall with her gun raised. God he loved that woman.

* * * * *

She’d been shot at, kidnapped, and abused. If Sage and Armando thought they were going to get away with it, they were wrong. She wasn’t a mercenary but today someone was going to die at her hands. Her body burned and ached as she ran, but she didn’t care. Rena was going to have her revenge. One of the three men shielding her enemies glanced back and saw her. Before he could turn completely around, she fired. He staggered and raised his gun towards her, but he never got a shot off. Shane appeared at her side and took the man down with one expert shot between the eyes.

“Damn, you’re good,” she managed to say.

Running was tiring her out. She was still sore and aching from the accident they were in and besides that she’d never been much of a runner.

“Do something!” Sage screamed at Armando.

The next thing she knew, Sage was falling to the ground. The guards continued on with Armando.

“Armando! Armando!” she screamed.

She’d been cast to the side again like the whore that she was. Survival of the fittest was at its most violent peak and Sage did not fit the bill. Rena was almost at her side and when Sage realized she was coming, the woman tried to scramble out of the way but it was too late. As soon as Rena reached her, she kicked Sage as hard as she could.

“You bitch. You thought you were going to take me down.”

“Rena, we have to go,” Shane said tugging at her.

“I’m not going anywhere until I teach this whore a lesson. If you’re smart, you’ll do the same to your uncle.”

He grabbed her face and pulled her close for a rough kiss.

“Brielle, stay with her.”

“As if I’m going to leave her alone with a gun.”

“Whatever.”

Shane kissed her one more time and then she watched him disappear through the door and after his uncle. On the floor, Sage cowered, holding her hands up.

“Rena, please. Have mercy.”

“Mercy? Did you offer me mercy when you tried to have me killed on more than one occasion?”

“It wasn’t personal. Please, you and I we’re not so different after all.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m a lady and you’re a bottom feeding skank. This stopped being about business a long time ago. This is all personal.”

Pointing the gun, Rena shot two bullets into Sage’s fake breasts. The woman screamed and clutched at her bleeding chest before Rena shot her between the eyes. Her rival was gone and whatever happened now, she was ready for it.

“Too bad you decided to use all that bad assery on the wrong side of the law,” Brielle said from beside her.

“Sometimes you don’t have a choice.”

“We all have a choice.”

“Spoken like someone with no real life experience. Not all of us come into this world with a clean slate. The chips were stacked against me from the moment I was born. I did the best I could.”

“You can keep telling yourself whatever helps you to sleep at night, but your little Mae West show is over. I’m taking you in. Shane is welcome to screw his career up, but I’m not losing mine over you. Besides, I just witnessed you commit a murder that I can add to your ever growing rap sheet.”

Rena smiled. “I thought you might feel that way.”

As quickly as she could, Rena brought the butt of her gun down on Brielle’s temple. The woman crumpled to the floor beside Sage. Without a thought, she grabbed Brielle’s gun and took off. Shane was waiting for her and nothing else was going to get between them.

* * * * *

Only one man stood between him and the monster that was his uncle. As soon as they exited the building Shane used the momentarily blinding sunlight to shoot another one of Armando’s guards. A white Escalade waited, doors open. No doubt Armando saw it as his chance to live and terrorize again, but Shane wasn’t going to let that happen. Today the monster was going down. The last man turned and fired at him as he pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. Shane’s clip was empty. The bullet struck him in the chest and he went down. Blood started to puddle out of his chest.

Armando stopped and turned when he went down. With a satisfied smirk his uncle walked over to where he bled on the ground. Armando kicked him and he cried out. His whole body was burning and aching inside. His breaths were getting shallow. Death was approaching and the last thing he wanted was for the bastard to see him like this before he died.

“Well, well, looks like I win again. Tell me, how does it feel to always come out on the short end of the stick?”

Shane spit blood, staining his uncle’s expensive gray suit.

“You look just like your father. This reminds me so much of how he looked before he died.”

“Go to hell, you bastard.”

“Looks like I won’t be doing that today. I really should put another bullet in you and put you out of your misery, but leaving you here to bleed to death on the ground like the dog you are seems so much more poetic. Goodbye, Shane.”

A gun cocked and then there was a loud blast. Armando staggered, clutching his chest. He looked off into the distance and then he fell to the ground beside Shane, eyes glassy. The bastard was finally dead and now Shane could die in peace. A gun fired again and he saw the last bodyguard go down.

“Shane! Shane!”

Rena fell to her knees beside him. He reached up a hand towards her.

“Thank you.”

“You can thank me by staying alive.”

He shook his head. “I think it’s a little too late for that, but at least I got to see justice served to Armando and your beautiful face one last time.”

“Damn it, don’t you dare die on me, Shane. Not now.”

“I’m tired, Rena. So tired.”

His lids grew heavy and his heart twisted at the tears that streamed down her face.

“I love you, Shane. Please don’t leave me.”

He’d waited a lifetime to hear those words.

“I love you too, Rena. Always.”

Then he closed his eyes and welcomed the darkness.