Owned by the mafia boss

MIA

I wanted to forget my loveless marriage for a while

Hours ago, I bumped into Vinn at Sanctum. He offered me a ride. I didn’t want to go home, so he took me to his place. He didn’t ask questions, but he’d glanced at me when I silenced my phone, raising his eyebrows as I jammed it into my purse.

Vinn lived in an apartment in North Dorchester-an underground cave that gave me a claustrophobic feeling for its lack of windows. It was neat, but in a cold, clinical way. He’d shoved a military portrait in an end table. He looked different. He was still clean-shaven, but his eyes sparkled with a liveliness that he’d lost. The photo exuded more warmth than the giant perched in the foyer.

“You never said you were in the Marines.”

“I didn’t realize I owed you every detail about my life.”

“Crabby.” I closed the drawer. “If you don’t want company, why did you invite me over?”

“Stop going through my shit.”

“But it’s so interesting.”

I couldn’t help but feast on my surroundings. The ceiling hung low. No pictures. Blank walls, but personality stuffed the drawers-baseball cards, classic car magazines, video games.

“Has anyone ever told you how nosy you are?”

“What was Iraq like?”

Vinn offered me a beer that I declined, and then he sank in the leather recliner by the door. “Either you’re burning or freezing. The sand is very white. It looks like talcum powder in the sun and gets everywhere. I had walking pneumonia from it by the time I was done.”

“They discharged you when you were sick?”

His smile doused me with cold. “No.”

“Oh.”

He obviously didn’t want to talk about it, but conversation topics were thin on the ground.

“Did you finish your tour?”

“No.”

I waited, but he seemed content to drink and stare. I sat on the coffee table, which was closer to him than the couch. “Are you okay?”

“I’m great.”

“Is that sarcasm?”

“You asked. I answered.”

“You have a sparkling charisma, Vinn. I bet you’re a hit at cocktail parties.” But despite that, I still liked him. “What’s your story?”

“Why do you care?”

“I find you interesting. You live in a hovel. We’re almost the same age, but you act like you’re fifty. You keep all your things hidden.”

He lurched upright as though desperate for a reason to get away, and then he poured the alcohol down the kitchen sink. He acted so bizarre.

“I’m sorry. Did I upset you?”

“No.”

“Want to do something else?”

“No.”

“You seem really on edge.”

“I don’t have guests very often.” Vinn tossed his beer in the recycling and gave me a wide berth. “You’re very odd.”

“Funny, I had the same thought about you.”

“People are generally more squeamish around me.” Vinn returned to his chair and glowered as I reentered the room.

“You’re not scary. You, Michael, and Alessio are all decent guys.”

Especially Alessio. Though he’d never admit it.

He smiled. “You’re so wrong.”

“You saved me.”

“I held them off. Salvatore was the hero.”

“I don’t know why you’re downplaying your role. I’m so grateful for what you did. Why can’t you accept a damned compliment? If I were in a fight, I’d want you on my side.”

“What makes you think I’m on your side?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

He moved his big frame over the door. “I’ve nothing against you. I even respect you. You could’ve lost your mind when those micks attacked you, and frankly, I expected you to. But you stood up to him. You did that with no training or experience. That takes guts. But I didn’t save you because I’m a good man. Or decent. I did it because Salvatore would have killed me otherwise.”

That extinguished the glow of his praise.

“Then what was that pep talk at my wedding?”

“Charity.”

“If you’re going to be an ass, I’ll go. Thanks for an interesting night.” Discomfort filled my stomach when I reached for the handle, but Vinn refused to budge. “Move.”

“No.”

“I’m tired.”

“So take a nap. You’re not leaving.”

“What?”

“You’re only here because I need you.” His slate eyes roved over me, his eyebrows narrowing. “Not like that. You’re bait.”

I dropped my purse as my arms numbed.

“Oh, Mia.” He stooped to grab it, smiling. “You should never have trusted me.”

KIDNAPPED. Again.

Kidnapped by someone who saved my life.

As abductions went, it was traumatizing. He’d subdued me in seconds. Bound my wrists and ankles. Unlike Alessio, there was no undercurrent of sexual tension or playful banter.

There was just his cutting gaze and the freeze that clenched my heart whenever Vinn touched me. He didn’t look at me. He seemed unable to as he gagged me and stuffed me into his backseat. Then he tucked a blanket around me, buckled me in, and patted my cheek.

“It’ll be okay.”

What part of this is okay? I could’ve screamed. Are you crazy?

After an hour of driving, trees whipped passed the window. Lots of pines with snow clinging to the branches in big chunks. Holy fuck, he’d driven me out of Boston. He was insane. I’d misread his actions in the distillery. He was bringing me to the sticks to kill me.

I howled into the gag until Vinn glanced over his shoulder.

“You’re fine. Stop being a drama queen.”

I hollered until I choked on my saliva.

“If you keep working yourself up, you’ll have a panic attack. I won’t hurt you. How many times do I have to say it? If I wanted to murder you, I could’ve done it a thousand different ways before tonight. Calm down. You’ll be free in a few minutes.”

This can’t be happening.

He turned onto a dirt road. I jostled from the movement, another spike of fear slamming into my heart. I kicked the armrest and writhed in the seatbelt, flinging the throw off. He tsked.

“This isn’t how you behaved when you had a gun to your head. I don’t get it.” He applied the brakes and yanked the clutch. The engine cut and the blast of hot air dissolved, throwing me into a deep chill.

He opened the side door, and the sight of him clambering over me made my lungs seize, and the world shrank into a golf-ball-sized hole.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake. Stop panicking.” Vinn unbuckled and grabbed me, blanket, and all. His grip tightened when I squirmed, trying to break his hold. “There’s ice everywhere. Stop.”

A pale pink line glowed on the horizon, shimmering light over a sprawling lake. Vinn took me away from the sunrise, into a shabby cabin with frayed furniture. He dumped me on a sofa.

“Damn it.” He ripped off his winter jacket and threw it on me. “I’ll get a fire going.”

He disappeared, returning with an armful of logs. When the furnace blazed, he stepped back and seemed to remember my existence. He pushed the couch closer to the warmth, and I shuddered from the heat flooding my skin.

Suddenly, his fingers scratched at my head, untying the knot with the gag. He flung it into the climbing flames, and my mouth filled with air.

“Help! Somebody, help me!”

Vinn endured my screaming with a grimace. “There’s nobody around for miles.”

“You’re crazy! What are you doing? Why am I here?”

Vinn stared into the fireplace, his voice like a mouse compared to mine. “I knew you’d never come willingly. I’m sorry for gagging and tying you.”

“Why am I here?”

“It’s better that you don’t know.”

“You c-called Alessio,” I blubbered, tears streaming my face. “You w-wanted to lure him here alone. You’re going to hurt him.”

“Yes.”

“Why? Why would you do that?”

“Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

“No!” I roared. “He’s my husband!”

Vinn stood, his brows furrowing. “I’ve noticed things, Mia. Disturbing shit. I watched you at the wedding. You were unhappy and scared. Whatever. It was none of my business, but it kept happening. Whenever you’re with him, you look so crushed. You hate being with him.”

“No! I love him!”

“You’re a wreck.” He backed away with a humorless smile, his tone laced with bitterness. “You’re one of those women.”

“Fuck you, you sanctimonious prick. I’m not a battered housewife. You don’t understand what’s going on. You made a judgment based on nothing-God! You’re all the same. I’m so sick of you mafia assholes – self-righteous jerk. I don’t need your white-knighting bullshit. I can save myself! Take this off me!”

Vinn laughed. “Your husband is an underboss.”

“He’s not like you!”

“Thank God.”

“Remove the zip ties!”

“Fine!” Vinn gripped the sofa. “But you’re not leaving.”

I nodded.

He grasped my wrists and sliced through the plastic, and then he cut my ankles free. I shoved him aside and sprinted. He snatched my arm and tossed me backward.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Maybe I’m wrong about Alessio.” Vinn blocked my exit, his voice darkening. “Doesn’t matter. I have my reasons for wanting him gone.”

“Which are?”

“None of your concern.”

“You want to be boss, is that it?” A chill doused me when Vinn glared. “Are you Costas all nuts? First Anthony, now you?”

“Making an outsider Nico’s successor was a big mistake. If I don’t do this, it’ll happen anyway. I’d rather it be me.”

“Vinn, please. Please. Don’t kill him.” I grabbed his frozen arms and squeezed. “He’s been amazing to me. You just don’t understand. You’re not there. Nobody sees all the things he does to make me feel cherished. I would never have stayed if I didn’t love him, and I’ve loved every moment of being with him. I don’t want either of you hurt.”

“You don’t understand how much I want this.”

“Please. I’m carrying his child! You’re destroying a family! Please, please don’t!” My pleading dissolved into sobs that wracked through me. “You don’t have to murder him. Please.”

Vinn pushed me, his fingers like icicles wrapping my flesh. His eyes were dark rings, swallowing my emotion without reflecting any. He didn’t give a damn. He was dead inside, gone.

“Sit down.”

A crack yanked my attention to the fireplace, where a Glock lay in easy reach. Vinn watched outside, his focus lingering on the windows.

“Why did you think I needed you to take care of my husband?”

“Because you seemed helpless.”

My body pulsed with rage. “Oh, I’m weak?”

He said nothing, flashing a condescending grin that roiled my guts. My anger burned like the logs. The fire popped.

I grabbed the gun, loaded it, and aimed. I pulled the trigger. Vinn’s gaze widened, but he didn’t defend himself. He didn’t grab the sidearm at his waist. The first bullet struck plaster. The second-Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

He jerked, his neck streaming with blood. Vinn crashed into the wall. He shoved himself upright, palming the bloody mass that was his ear.

“You shot me.”

My arm trembled as I pointed the gun at his head. “You’re threatening Alessio. You gave me no choice.”

“How did you do that?”

“Just because I hate violence, doesn’t mean I can’t defend myself. Get rid of the gun, or I’ll put another one between your eyes.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“Because you’re an arrogant asshole.”

A slow smile spread across his face as he unholstered his gun and slid it over the floor toward me. “Now what? You’ll take me out back and shoot me?”

“I don’t want to.”

“I’ll never, ever touch you or your husband. Promise.” He shook off the mocking tone and darkened. “You’ll have to kill me.”

“Vinn, stay down!”