Ruthless Prince by Piper Stone

Chapter 15

Stefano

Danger.

It remained in the back of my mind, my body tense as my instinct was certain there would be an attack. I’d received another call from Arturo, the man fulfilling his obligations. There was no hint of O’Sullivan planning anything other than continuing to build his empire, yet I remained on edge. He also noted that it was quiet on the streets of New York, unusually so. While he’d made limited inroads into the organization, he’d learned enough to know O’Sullivan’s soldiers seemed relaxed, spending time on their diversion as well as their families.

That also raised a red flag. I’d known enough enemies in my life to know what then they were quietly planning something behind the scenes. I was ready to call off the wedding, eloping to some unknown destination, even though I continued to question whether my concern was unfounded.

“You look tense, brother,” Matteo said as he and Enrique approached.

I continued to stare out the window at the lovely setting for the wedding, the backdrop of the mountains exactly what Alexandra had wanted. While I knew she remained angry, uncertain of her feelings about her father’s suicide, I didn’t feel any guilt. None. Perhaps that continued to highlight what a monster I truly was.

“I’ve heard rumblings regarding the Russians,” I answered.

“They attempted to attack the Don of the French mob,” Enrique said quietly.

“I’m well aware. However, it seemed like a glancing blow.” I backed away from the window, gazing at my watch. Only thirty minutes to go until the start of the ceremony.

Matteo narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Don Fredrique was careless, attending a horse race with only two soldiers by his side. He wasn’t in a protected area, the location allowing sharpshooters to easily pick him off. Yet only one of his soldiers was injured and not critically. Doesn’t that seem out of character for the Russians? Their skills, while crude, are legendary. They never miss their target.”

I glanced from Enrique to Matteo after making the statement.

“Maybe they were issuing a warning,” Enrique suggested.

“Or maybe they were trying to put minds at ease, including ours. If they plan on cutting down every mafia family, picking every family member off one by one, why haven’t they taken out the rest of his world?” I headed toward the bar, refreshing my drink. While I needed all my faculties, I also wanted the edge taken off my nerves. Alexandra deserved to have a good day.

“Stefano is correct. Enrique, check on the security. Make certain we have enough men surrounding the estate. None of us want any surprises at this point.” Matteo moved closer, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry too much, brother. We have your back.”

“I’m not worried about what happens to me. If the Russian bastard wants to send a message, he’ll do so by taking Alexandra first. You know that.” I hated the words I was saying and the thought behind them, but it was the truth.

“Nothing is going to happen.”

“Have you heard anything from the members of the coalition?” I asked, tipping my head so I could see Matteo’s eyes.

“I had a conversation with Carlo Rossi. He’s just as concerned as you are, but there have been no overtures made against anyone in his regime. Why?”

I laughed bitterly. “I still don’t trust Orlov. He knows more than he’s telling anyone.” Russians always protected their own. They were like predatory wolves, unable to break from their lineage.

Matteo sighed. “There is nothing we can do at this point. There’s been no sighting of Russians in the area either locally or along the Italian border. If they’ve come in, it’s through secretive channels.”

“Which the Irish mob certainly has.” O’Sullivan still had connections in Ireland, his comrades just as brutal as he was. While they were Neanderthals in my mind, they also had enough connections in Italy they could easily get into the country.

“You think O’Sullivan might go back on his word?” Enrique asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Entirely possible.” I turned my attention to Cassis, narrowing my eyes. “What have you found out about Finian?”

Cassis wrinkled his brow, looking entirely too uncomfortable. “He’s disappeared or at least he’s not responding to my calls and texts.”

“Not a good sign.” Sweat beaded along my brow. I didn’t like this shit on any level. “I’m canceling the wedding.”

“You know what that will do to our mother. She’s looking forward to participating in another son’s wedding, the start of a new life.” Enrique made the statement with disdain in his voice. While I’d shared the unusual conversation that I’d had with O’Sullivan with both of them, we all agreed that my pledge wouldn’t be kept.

Gillian O’Sullivan was about to gain a new man in her life.

“I don’t give a shit. I’m not going to allow Alexandra to become a target.” I slammed my drink down on the desk, taking long strides toward the door.

Matteo managed to grab my arm before I could reach it. “Don’t. We have enough security surrounding the property that no one can get through. The press is already here, for fuck’s sake. If you call this off, it will send word to every enemy that we’re terrified of a man living thousands of miles away. That will not bode well for business.”

I yanked my arm away, snarling from hearing his words. “And what if you’re wrong?”

“Then we will deal with the carnage.”

The carnage. The word alone was enough to push my anger into an entirely different level. I didn’t like getting into family politics for any reason. However, my brother was correct. Our enemies, especially the Russians, were looking for any sign of weakness. I took a deep breath, glancing at my watch again. “Are the fucking guests here?”

Matteo chuckled. “As far as I can tell.”

I glared at Enrique, still trying to curb my rage. “Enrique, make certain the soldiers are in place. There’s only a few minutes left.”

Enrique could never be considered a warm, caring individual. He was hard edged, brutal in everything he did, and surly all the way to the bone. But for the first time in years, I could see a break in his tightly woven armor. “I won’t allow anything to happen, Stefano. That I pledge to you.”

As my father had always drilled into us, blood was thicker than water. However, as the blood coursed through my veins, I realized the oath the three of us had taken months before would continue to come back and haunt us. There was no mercy in the dark world of treachery, deceit, and vengeance. There was only certain death and despair.

“Update us on the security,” Matteo ordered in his usual harsh fashion.

Enrique barely acknowledged him before walking out of the room. Suddenly, the air between my brother and me was riddled with tension.

“We made a deal with the devil, brother,” I said quietly after a full minute had passed.

“One we all agreed to.”

I tipped my head, staring into his eyes. “What if we were wrong?”

He didn’t seem surprised at my question, although his gaze reflected an inner turmoil I rarely saw. “Then we protect our own.”

I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on the event about to happen. The arranged marriage was something I’d never wanted, only agreeing to because of my need for revenge. I loathed what had occurred, taking Alexandra against her will. I might be a brutal fighter, but I no longer had the desire to be a monster.

At least with regard to a woman I’d come to respect as well as… love.

“I need to see Alexandra,” I stated, glaring at Matteo.

“Do you think that’s wise? I mean the whole seeing the bride before the wedding thing.” Matteo laughed until he realized just how serious I was. “I’ll get her for you. Then I’ll double check with my soldiers to ensure there will be no issues.”

I gave him a single nod, returning to the table and grabbing my drink. Time seemed to stand still as it always did when I thought about Alexandra. The light she emitted always managed to crush out the darkness. Sighing, I held up my glass in a silent toast to my father. He’d certainly taught his three children to be brutal and uncompromising. What he hadn’t provided were lessons in the art of caring. In my mind, I sucked at it.

I heard the sound of the door opening and took a deep breath before turning around. The sight of Alexandra in a gorgeous white dress, form fitting yet sophisticated in detail took my breath away. My cock twitched as always happened when she was close to me, but this time my emotions were stronger than my sadistic desires. She was a vision of utter beauty.

A blush formed on her cheeks from the way I was looking at her. She closed the door behind her, shaking her head as she approached. “This is highly unconventional. You do know that, right?”

Laughing, I inched closer, trying to keep my distance for fear of taking her like some barbarian prior to the wedding. “I think you know by now that nothing about me is conventional.”

Her smile seemed to light up the entire room. “That is very true. What was so important you had to break tradition?”

I weighed my words carefully. “I’m going to make you an offer but as you might imagine, this is a one-time deal.”

“O-kay. Should I be afraid?” She continued to tease, which meant she was content.

I closed the distance, taking her hand into mine. I’d given her a damn engagement ring only the night before. I rubbed my thumb across the diamond, hating the way I’d presented it. Not as a lover would do, a man brimming with love, but as a matter of business, making certain she had a damn ring. I was such a freaking pig.

“You don’t have to marry me,” I said quietly.

“Why? Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened, Alexandra; however, you are the victim in several ways.”

“I don’t understand. You’re tense. I know something is wrong.” When she placed her fingers against my cheek, I couldn’t stop the usual growl from erupting. She had that kind of effect on me.

“I am concerned there could be a breach in security, but that’s not why I asked to see you. You have a chance to live your life the way you want to. I’m freeing you. I’ll have Cassis help you gather your things and drive you to the airport. He’ll make certain our pilot takes you anywhere you want to go.”

She opened her mouth then closed her eyes, backing away. “You don’t love me. You don’t need me. You got what you wanted. Is that what this is all about?”

“That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it? Be honest with me, for fuck’s sake,” she demanded, her eyes illuminated with venom. “I don’t like being used as a damn toy.”

“And I don’t want to use you. I may be a horrible man, but I refuse to complicate your life. If you want to go, you are free. That’s all I’m saying.”

Alexandra took my drink out of my hand, tipping back the glass. I was surprised that she consumed almost half before returning it to my fingers. When she cocked her head, she had a determined look on her face. “Answer me this. Do you love me?”

“Yes.” The answer was easy. “You are everything, a beautiful flower, but you deserve more than a life filled with danger.”

“You’re right. I deserve a life filled with love and laughter. If you love me, are you willing to try and provide moments of utter joy?”

I almost laughed at her question. “Absolutely, although I will still be a rough asshole at times.”

“I think I can handle you.” She inched closer, patting her hands on my lapels. “My mother and father had money as well as beautiful things. What they’d never had was love. I don’t know why or how I can love you, Stefano, but I do. If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to go through with the wedding.”

As I brought her hand to my lips, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “You do realize I plan on ravaging you.”

“And I would expect nothing less.”

I wrapped my arm around her, yanking her against the heat of my body. “You are my beautiful bride.”

The knock on the door forced a smile on her face. “Always interrupted.”

As Matteo walked into the room, he rolled his eyes. “Sorry to interrupt, but everything is in place.” His pointed look held a double meaning.

While I took no real comfort in his words, I had to trust in our soldiers.

Alexandra pulled away from me, her eyes never leaving mine as she backed toward the door. “The future is ours to make or break.”

The words were simple, yet so damn profound.

When she left the room, I took a deep breath.

“Are you going through with this?” Matteo asked.

“Yeah. God help anyone who attempts to disrupt this wedding.”

Matteo patted me on the arm then walked out, leaving me alone for the first time that day. Love remained a strange sensation, a difficult concept yet one I wanted to take years to explore. Finally, I felt lighthearted, prepared to face the future she’d mentioned.

And I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

As I walked out into the hall, the smile remaining on my face, the sound of my phone ringing forced a snarl.

Ignoring it, I walked out the back door, taking a deep breath of the hundreds of flowers positioned in strategic locations. The music was typical, although nothing about the wedding itself should be considered traditional by any means. After heading to the gazebo used as the altar, my brothers flanked my side. There were at least a hundred guests in attendance, friends of the family as well as certain influential clients and politicians. While the press had been pushed to the perimeter, I could tell every one of them was shooting photographs or filming the prestigious occasion.

The event was also sending a clear message to our enemies, although the concept continued to piss me off.

As the phone rang again, I hissed, drawing Matteo’s attention.

“Turn your phone off, brother,” he said, half laughing.

“Yeah, I will.” I glanced around the crowd then further beyond, counting at least two dozen soldiers lining the property. That still didn’t provide any comfort.

As Alexandra started to walk down the red-carpeted aisle amidst a sea of white rose petals, I was mesmerized, my hands shaking for one of the first times in my life. I’d never seen another woman as beautiful. Her skin glowed, her eyes locked on mine, and the smile on her face only added to the joy I felt in my heart.

When the phone rang again, my gut told me that something was terribly wrong.

I yanked it into my hand, still heading for the backyard. “This had better be good.”

“You need to listen to me. You’re in danger.”

* * *

Danger.

There was always a first line of defense in the world of the Benedetti Empire as well as backup. I’d known that from childhood, the concept drilled into every member of the family. We never entered into battle without positioning men in multiple locations, all prepared to attack, kill as necessary.

Today was no exception.

There were few happy celebrations without concerns, but on this day, an enemy meant to annihilate our entire family. What few of our enemies knew was that knowledge was key, not the desire of vengeance, even though revenge would always be a part of our world. The fact we’d nurtured dozens of informants, paying them well for the ugly details they provided had always worked to our benefit.

Today was no exception.

Arturo’s call had changed everything.

Time seemed to all but stop, the music registering in my ears. As I jumped off the platform, I was only able to issue a single word.

“Attack!”

As I raced toward Alexandra, almost every guest knew exactly what was happening. They bolted for cover as the gunshots began to fly, peppering the air with a heavy spray. My weapon was already in my hand before I made it off the platform. I was aware of our soldiers returning fire, but the closer I came to Alexandra as she was pushed by the crowd rushing to leave, the more I realized just how much danger she was in.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

There were so many people, some falling to the carnage that had developed, others screaming in their attempt to flee. I was forced to push several people aside, no longer caring about what might happen to them.

All I could concentrate on was getting to the woman I’d fallen so deeply in love with. When I came close, horror unfolded in front of my eyes.

She’d disappeared.

I jerked to a stop, turning in a full circle, trying to block out the noise even as bullets ricocheted against several of the pillars leading to the veranda. Nothing was going to stop me from finding her.

As I managed to block out the cries, I homed in on a single sound.

Alexandra’s muffled cry.

My rage explosive, I took off in the direction of the horrified wail, rounding the house. Seconds later, I was able to catch sight of her just as she was being stuffed into the backseat of an SUV. I rocketed closer, running with everything I had, my adrenaline on high. I took aim, firing off several rounds, but the driver continued, slamming into the back of a car in his attempt to get away.

I bolted across the front lawn, trying to cut off the driver. I had one last chance to disable the vehicle before it was able to get away.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

My bullets hit their mark, my concentration on the engine.

But as the vehicle continued to speed away, my life unraveled in front of my eyes.

She was being taken away from me and I knew in my heart I would never see her again.

I got off two more shots, the driver’s side window shattering. Then in another moment of slow motion, the SUV swerved dangerously to the right, still going at full speed as it headed for a cluster of massive trees.

“No. No. No!”

The impact was severe, the engine immediately exploding. I wasted no time, racing toward the vehicle as the fire swept over the hood. As I threw open the back door, the soldier in the passenger seat had already fisted her hair, trying to keep her inside.

“Help! Stefano!” Alexandra’s cries would forever burn into my soul.

Without hesitation, I took a single shot, the bullet slicing into the asshole’s brain. As I pulled her out of the wreck, stumbling backwards several feet, she clung to me, her fingers wrapped around my neck.

Boom!

The vehicle was engulfed in fire, the flames licking high into the trees.

“Are you alright?” I asked as we raced away from the bloodbath, the sound of gunfire coming to a halt. Anger boiled from deep within, the kind that wouldn’t be squelched until I knew exactly who was responsible.

And it had nothing to do with the Russians. I would bet my life on that. We’d been prepared for a battle, but not one coming from people we believed we could trust. My father’s words rushed to the surface.

“You can only trust family and even then, only ninety-five percent of the time.”

We should have heeded his words of wisdom.

“I’m fine. Thank you for saving me. I love you, Stefano. I do.” Her voice was clear, quivering only slightly. As she gazed into my eyes, my intense feelings for a woman I’d only wanted to possess swept through me.

She would become my wife, the woman I would enjoy spending the rest of my life with.

Her words burned deep within me. She’d evoked every emotion inside, pulling my soul from the darkness.

Only when we were at a safe distance did I pull us both to the ground, holding her as tightly as possible.

And I made another promise that I intended on keeping.

The fucker responsible would pay.

With. His. Life.