Dangerous Beauty: Part Two: A Mafia Princess (40 page)

“It’s Nathan …” Mickey didn’t take his eyes from the screen.

“I fucking knew he wasn’t dead!” Ryan said happily, and then his smile fell. “Oh shit, Mick, you’re fucked.”

Mickey continued to stare at the phone. He looked to Dante, but Dante wasn’t looking at him. His face was masked with worry, and Mickey could tell his thoughts weren’t there— they were with Carter.

Ryan sighed. “Be a man and accept whatever he has for you. You fucked up. We’ve all been there, and we all had to deal with the fallout— from either Angelo or Nathan. Consider it initiation, kid. You can’t do the right thing every time, Mikilo. Sometimes you fuck up and get your ass kicked by the boss. Plus, if you miss that call, I’m pretty sure you’ll be dead by morning.”

Mickey answered the phone. “Boss?” Referring to Nathan as anything else at the moment would only bury him deeper, and he knew it. So although he wanted to ask Nathan if he was all right, he reminded himself that he wasn’t speaking to his friend at the moment. And he wasn’t speaking to his brother. He was speaking to the underboss of the Salerno crime family. “Boss, I—”

“Can you explain something to me, Mikilo?”

His deep, menacing tone was enough to break a weaker man, but Mickey wasn’t weak. He was who he was for a reason. He stood tall and prepared himself for whatever the underboss had to say.

“Yes, sir,” he replied.

“It’s interesting really. I for one can hardly fucking believe this. I’ve just been shot in my goddamn side, Mikilo. As I’m walking down the goddamn road, waiting for my ride, I decided to give my distraught wife a call. I figured I should tell her I survived an attack by her biological father and fifteen other motherfuckers. So I take my phone from my pocket and call her. And guess who answered her phone?”

“Boss, I—”

“I don’t know who the fuck answered my wife’s goddamn phone!”
he roared.

Mickey swallowed hard. This had never happened to him before, but he could take it.

“Some
fuck
that I don’t know answered my wife’s phone! He informed me that I would never see her again! Then— get this— he said she was being taken to Silas!
What the fuck is going on?
” he shouted.

“I fucked up …”

“You. Fucked. Up.
You fucked up!
You get your ass in a fucking car and rip that city and anyone who gets in the way apart until you find my wife! Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m not fucking around, Mikilo! You let everyone know that Nathan Salerno is going to rain hell on anyone with the slightest connection to Silas fucking Steele! And I won’t stop until my wife is returned to me!”

“Yeah, boss. I got it.” Mickey hung up his phone, knowing that Nathan no longer wanted to speak to him.

He got into the car and closed the door. He heard Ryan’s hand hit the side of the car, and he knew everyone was ready. As Mickey turned the key in the ignition, he steeled himself. He emptied his mind of everything but one goal— bring Carterina home safely. Nothing would stop him from attaining this goal. He’d be whoever he needed to be, he’d do whatever needed to be done, and he’d kill whoever needed to be killed without batting an eye. Nothing else mattered in his world. That one goal was his sole focus.

And once his goal was achieved, he’d work on earning his boss’s trust back. Not only that, but he’d spend the rest of his life apologizing to Carterina for failing her, and hopefully she would be able to forgive him.

But for now, he’d focus on his sole goal.

Four days. It had been four days, and she hadn’t said one word. Her silence was one of rage. It spread throughout the castle like a lethal poison. Not one man or woman wanted to come near her. He could barely get the servants to tend to her needs. If he were not as feared as he was, Cecilia would have had no food, clothing, or basic necessities.

He didn’t understand her behavior. He knew that Anastacia had finally shared the truth with her. Yet here she was— home— and she didn’t seem a bit happy about it.

Silas walked down the steps to the window, placing his hand on the painful bullet wound he’d received from Cecilia’s lover. He cursed the crafty bastard for escaping the assassination attempt as he winced in pain and stood in front of the window.

He watched every move his sweet Cecilia made. She moved with poise, grace, and a sophistication that couldn’t be taught. She sat up— neck up and shoulders back. Her beauty was breathtaking. She was perfection, just like him— and just like Robbie.

Her features were mostly Anastacia’s, but her flawless allure came from him. She had his ability to make even the strongest man surrender to her will. The ability to draw people in and manipulate them could be both a blessing and a curse. For Silas and Robbie, it had been mostly a curse.

Silas felt others enter the viewing room where he kept his daughter. Aside from the servants, only three men were allowed in this castle, so he immediately knew who’d walked in.

He continued to stare into Cecilia’s room. He’d made sure to give her their best room. These were usually the rooms where he kept his slaves for viewing by potential purchasers, but he’d had this one specially renovated for Cecilia. This way, she could be comfortable and surrounded by luxury, and he could watch her whenever he wanted. The large window in front of them was thick— two-way, soundproof, and bulletproof. He could see her, but she couldn’t see him. It was perfect.

Silas’s trusted advisors— Aziz, Scott Flanagan, and Naveed Soloch— took seats in the room resembling a small cinema. They all sat back and watched Silas stare at the young woman in the viewing room.

“She’s stunning, isn’t she?” Silas asked them.

They glanced at each other before voicing agreement.

Aziz cleared his throat. “Cole and Lucretzia—”

“Give them some money and send them on their way,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

He never took his eyes off Cecilia. She was dressed in a long, white satin gown that touched the floor and flowed with her as she moved. She walked across the room to the rustic triple mirror vanity set he’d had specially made for her, and she sat down on her plush, white Egyptian cotton seat. She reached for her brush with one hand and gathered her hair with the other.

Silas knew what she was doing. It was her nightly routine.

“Silas, Cole, and Lucretzia were hoping they would earn your forgiveness. They don’t want money,” Aziz said.

Silas didn’t think about what he said. He was too busy watching as Cecilia reached for her hair products. He’d made sure he’d gotten her the top-of-the-line products for African hair. He knew how difficult her hair had always been for her to manage.

“Silas, we think—”

“If I wanted your opinion, I would ask for it,” Silas said. He didn’t want to hear about those two disappointments- Cole and Lucretzia- any longer. “Give them some money, and send them on their way,” he said in the same tone he’d said them in before.

“Did Cecilia’s dresses arrive?” Silas asked. He’d ordered her an entire wardrobe of gowns that he’d wanted to see in.

“Silas, Cole—”

“If you keep down this road, Aziz—”

“But they’ve apologized, Silas.”

“They are no longer a part of this family!” Silas roared. “My family!”

Silence fell over the room. Silas stood up straight and turned to face his advisors. “Cole failed me. I told him to watch after something precious to me, and instead, he fucked it and lost it! Lucretzia let Anastacia find Cecilia first.”

“Not on purpose.”

“I don’t care,” Silas said calmly.

He turned back to his daughter. She was brushing her long locks and staring at her face in the mirror. Her eyes were empty, but beautiful nonetheless. Silas could gaze into them all day.

“Silas—”

“Give them some money and send them on their way …” he repeated for the last time.

He turned his gaze back to his beauty. She was now applying cream to her smooth legs and feet. She was perfect— and all his. Silas couldn’t help but be fascinated with her. He wished Robbie were in here to see that he’d finally brought their daughter home.

“She’s dangerous, Silas,” Aziz spoke up again. “They all are. We’re outnumbered. Anastacia Stone, Angelo Salerno, the Russian kid that shot you. It’s only been four days, and we’re already feeling the pressure. They’re collecting information on us from informants, and closing in on our associates— anyone who’s ever bought from us. They have the choice to help or be killed. If they stand in the way, they’re assassinated on the spot— or tortured.” Aziz looked to the other men who were urging him to move forward and tell Silas what was happening outside of the castle. “The Five are packing it on thick. Men who don’t even know why they’re fighting are joining in the war— merely because they’re bored and enjoy the violence. Freddy Russia is by The Russian’s side. You know how he feels about you, Silas. He’s a very powerful man. And he’s loyal to The Five—”

“Why are you telling me this?” Silas asked, still watching his daughter.

“He’s coming for her, Silas.” That’s when Silas turned to face Aziz. “Nathan Salerno— Angelo Salerno’s son- is the Russian they speak of. Many assumed Angelo Salerno put five contract killers on his payroll when he sent The Five to kill Vladimir Pavlovich Beriya five years ago …”

“The Russian Mafia boss, and my friend,” Silas said.

Aziz nodded. “It was his son, and a few other Italian Mafia progenies. The youngest was rumored to be only eighteen years old at the time. Nathan Salerno was twenty years old …”

“When he started one of the biggest mafia wars in history?”

“Yes,” Aziz answered. “She’s married to him, Silas. He’s not her lover— she’s his wife. And he’s … he’s crushing us from the outside in.” Aziz looked to Naveed and Scott, hoping one of them would step in and tell Silas what they wanted to do next. But as usual, the men put all of the responsibility on him. Aziz let out a long sigh, preparing himself for Silas’s rage. “We underestimated them. Anastacia Stone is French Corsican mafia. Angelo Salerno— well, you know who he is. And Nathan Salerno is in a class of his own. There’s a war going on out there, and it’s headed straight to our front doors. If they ever find out our identities, we’re done. We lose.”

“And what do you advise me to do next, friend?” Silas asked.

Aziz swallowed. It was never a good thing to be called friend by Silas Steele.

After clearing his throat, Aziz presented what he and the others had discussed before arriving at Silas’s castle. “We think we need to end this war. She is perfect. No harm has come to her, and all is well. Nathan Salerno has made it clear that the war will end when his wife is returned. We feel that we should send her back. Return her safely and soundly to the man she belongs to— and move forward with our own business. This war is killing us financially.”

Silas’s fists clenched at his sides, and his jaw tightened. He turned to Aziz, his eyes blazing. “What did you say?” he growled.

“Silas, just listen to reason, please. All of this for just one girl? Give her back to him and end this war for the future of your family. You have people here who are loyal and devoted to you. You don’t need this girl.”

“She belongs to me!” he shouted.

Aziz didn’t flinch, but continued. “No, she doesn’t, Silas. She’s not yours. You gave her to Robert. I was there. She has a new life. She’s never belonged to you, and she never will. She isn’t worth losing everything we’ve worked years to build. There are too many secrets here, Silas. You are fucking everything up!”

“So you advise me to give away what’s mine?” he roared. “You want me to surrender to death, money, and your fucking fear?” He gripped the arms of his seat. Aziz sat still, nose to nose with Silas. “Cecilia is family. She is a Steele. She is mine. I made her. Therefore, I will decide what will happen to her. You have no say. I bow to no man or woman who comes against me. I’m invincible! I can’t be killed! I can’t be defeated! I am Silas fucking Steele! Motherfuckers, bow down to me! Kiss my feet and beg me to spare your worthless lives because
I am king!
” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Who dares tell the king how to run his kingdom? Who dares tell the king to surrender to his enemy?”

Fed up, Scott shot to his feet. “Goddammit, Silas! We have to be realistic! They’ll beat us! There are too many fucking forces coming at us at once! Just stop—”

“Whatever he does next will be your fault …”

When her soft voice broadcast over the speakers, everyone listened.

Silas pressed his body against the window. “She spoke. My sweet Cecilia spoke.”

“Did you hear me?” she asked as she continued to massage cream into her leg. “You only have yourselves to blame for the war that you have started.” She stood from the chair and looked at the window.

They knew she couldn’t see them, but the confidence in her voice made them feel as if she was staring right through them.

“Aziz Malik, Scott Flanagan, and Naveed Soloch … Silas started this war without your safety in mind. My family won’t stop until they find me. They know more than you think they know. Your real names for example— Daman Malak, Anton Vetrova, and Chyavan Bhaskar …”

Aziz shot up from his seat. “What the fuck?”

“How does she know this, Silas?!” Naveed yelled.

Silas frowned and cocked his head to the side. “I don’t know. This is unexpected.”

“This has to make you think—” she continued “— how secure is my identity? How safe am I, really? And then there’s the safety of your families to think about …”

Aziz tried to catch Scott’s arm before he ran angrily for the door.

“Scott, don’t!”

***

Carter heard the locks on the large door, and she swiftly prepared herself. She knew she didn’t have time to linger, or she’d see Silas’s face. And she couldn’t bear to see his face.

The door burst open, and a large, pale, blonde man stormed into her prison.

“You dare threaten me, you little bitch!”

Carter acted fast. She hiked up her dress and tore the only knife she had left loose from its holster around her thigh. At lightning speed, she threw it across the room and pierced the man in the chest.

With a loud roar, the man fell back against the door.

Carter didn’t hesitate, and when she ran, she ran for her life. She needed to get out of here. She needed to get back to Nathan. She darted through the open door without looking. As soon as she made it through one door, she spotted another. She sprang for the door but fell to the stone floor when her dress was jerked back. She pressed her hand to her belly protectively, twisted her body quickly, and kicked a black-haired Middle Eastern man in the face. When he released her dress, Carter scrambled up from the floor, and ran out into a massive hallway.

She fought against both panic and fear to maintain control of her breathing. She’d waited patiently for days. She’d gotten loose, but now she didn’t know what to do. All she knew was that she didn’t want to face Silas, and she desperately wanted to go home to Nathan. She ran down the hall, past door after door. They were all the same— black, blank, and locked. The place was a prison.

“Cecilia!”

The voice caused Carter to panic. It was Silas. He was coming.

Carter stopped, and her eyes darted in every direction. The place was as big as a castle, but so empty. She needed to find a place to hide. Every door looked the same except one. It was bigger, and it had a large lock on the outside of it. Thinking there may be a way out past the door, Carter ran for it.

She made it to the door in record time and lifted the heavy slip-lock. Normally, Carter wouldn’t be strong enough to lift such a lock, but adrenaline and panic worked in her favor. Once she got the door unlocked, pressure from inside the room sent the door flying back, knocking Carter’s body to the floor. She fell to the floor hard, the fall nearly knocking the wind out of her. Her hand shot to her belly again, and she worried for the safety of her unborn child.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she whispered, “I’m so sorry.” She looked down at her still-flat belly. “Mommy will get you through this safely, I promise. And your daddy is coming for us. We just have to be patient and get away from the scary man.”

After softly rubbing her belly, Carter stood, shaking off the pain of being hit by the heavy door. She was met with a staircase descending into darkness. She felt for the first step then went down the stairs quickly. The area was shrouded in black, but Carter could tell it was big. She felt around the wall for a light switch, but couldn’t find—

The hairs on the back of Carter’s neck suddenly shot up, her instincts immediately warning her that she wasn’t alone. She barely had time to turn her back to the wall before a large hand gripped her arm. She immediately went on the defense. She twisted from the grip and threw a punch into the darkness, connecting with the face of a man about six inches taller than she was.

He didn’t make a sound, but he reached for her again, this time gripping her harder. He snatched her body to his so hard that Carter gasped. She struggled against his hold, but she was at a disadvantage. He was much stronger than she was, and his grip was insanely tight. Carter elbowed his stomach, and he didn’t even flinch. His arms wrapped tightly around her body, and he gave her a hard shake.

“Stop!” he whispered sharply.

Carter continued to thrash and struggle to break his hold.

“I said, stop! I’m not going to hurt you!” he whispered into her ear.

Carter didn’t know how to react. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not. She didn’t trust her ability to identify a liar anymore. She hadn’t since the moment she had seen Henry back in New York.