Dirty Mafia Sinner (Dirty Mafia Kingdom #2)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

RILEY

Rain drizzles over the Roman cemetery, and the grey tombstones darken to black. Don Lucchese’s open grave sits below the small hill Renzo and I stand on, waiting for the procession to arrive. Renzo keeps the banter light by jokingly recapping highlights from “our brave escape.”

“You should have seen their dumbstruck expressions when I jumped,” he proclaims, then contorts his features in a ridiculous way. I appreciate the distraction yet only half engage in his fun. Worried I made a mistake coming here. Wishing I were the type of person who embraced ignorance, especially when it’s accompanied by bliss.

I remind myself how far we’ve come. My relationship with Alessandro Beneventi’s survived insurmountable challenges. If I can still love the man after witnessing the monster within murder a man, whatever else comes our way will feel like child’s play, right?

“I’ll take you back, if that’s what you want.”

“You’ll miss the funeral.”

He pauses pacing, always in a constant state of movement, and rubs his fingers across his jaw. Looking so much like Alessandro in this moment that it hurts. “Given any thought to where you’d go if you flee?”

I frown. “Flee?”

“Shit, Riley.”

Dread coils around my windpipes. “Why would I do that?” I murmur. What aren’t you telling me?

“Alessandro will dismember me and send my pieces to all the hearts I’ve broken. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

“We’re here now.” I bite my lip to stop it from quivering, and then answer his question. “Home to Marietta, I suppose.”

“Bad move. It’s the first place he’ll look, and his men will turn your town upside down or risk his wrath. My advice is to stay close yet out of sight instead of running far away, which is so predictable. Do you have anyone to help you who he’d never suspect?”

“Luna Gallo.”

Renzo grins. “Perfect.”

Disturbed, I can’t find it in me to smile back.

“Don’t look at me like I’m breaking your heart.” Something lands at my feet. I blink in surprise at the thick bundle of euros.

“Take it.”

“But …”

He stills and looks past me. “Shit, they’re coming.”

A procession of black cars wind along the pathway leading toward us. Quickly, I scoop up the money and join Renzo behind a huge tree.

“Look at that stranzo driving his red Maserati to a fucking funeral.”

I don’t dare look. “Who is he?”

“Matteo Lombardi. A family friend.”

I catch the sarcasm in his voice. “You say it like he’s your enemy.”

“Yeah, well, I survived three murder attempts, so I wouldn’t exactly say we’re BFFs.”

My eyes widen. Will the Beneventi brothers ever cease in shocking me?

“Is there a dark-haired bombshell in the passenger seat?”

The answer is no, because Renzo’s done so again. I look from him—eyes closed with his back pressed to the tree protecting us from sight and in what I guess is some state of instantaneous agony—to the Maserati below. Bombshell suddenly takes on greater significance. “Only one person is inside, and he’s driving.”

Renzo pulls away from the tree with a fresh burst of adrenaline. “Just as well.”

“It’s not what you’re running from but who ,” I exclaim. It’s likely Mr. Lombardi has good reason to murder Renzo.

Sunlight peeks between the clouds, and the quiet is interrupted from its nap as men exit their cars and somberly gather around the grave. My heart dips when I spy Alessandro carrying the casket.

“Lucky shit’s a pallbearer,” Renzo grumbles beside me.

An extremely attractive man bearing a strong resemblance to the twins is across from him. This must be Don Beneventi—the air of power around him is undeniable.

Don Lucchese’s coffin is set in the grave, and men take their positions around it.

“Look at the Eleven pay my father respect.” Renzo points to a large group gathered around his father. “The sly bastard succeeded.”

“He’s in charge now, right?”

Renzo snorts. “He’s always been in charge. But formally, yes. The vote went his way. He’s now capo di tutti capi.”

Sadness and excitement mix in the air, and conversations drift on the wind. My focus shifts to Alessandro standing across the grave and encircled by more men. Unlike with his father, men get in, say their piece, and hurry away. Reminding me of the first time I saw him, terrorizing men from across the bar.

Oddly, the thought soothes me. Because we’re not strangers meeting for the first time. We’re two people in love and navigating every day the best we can.

“I’m going down for a closer look,” Renzo murmurs. “You coming?”

I swallow hard. “I’d rather stay here.”

“Suit yourself.” He pauses, and then kicks at a stone, sending it flying. “Look, Riley. Whatever you decide, keep this in mind. My brother’s an asshole who doesn’t deserve you. But if he obeys my father’s wishes and goes through with this bullshit, you still should know his heart will only belong to you.”

“What?” I gasp, but he disappears down the hillside.

Alessandro’s heart?

No. No. No.

A long sermon begins as my world splinters. Because I know before I see her what this is about. Heart in my throat, I watch and wait, never taking my eyes off him.

Then the group surrounding him parts.

And there she is. A beautiful blond woman at Alessandro’s side. He dips his head to say something to her. A short conversation follows, and I cling to the last threads of hope.

He’s being polite.

She’s no one.

But then her voice rises like she wants the world to hear her, and she exclaims, “Soon-to-be husband.”

I place a hand on the tree to steady myself.

Seconds before Alessandro’s reply knocks my feet from beneath me.

“Wife.”

He clasps her hand, and together they approach the grave.

I tumble against the tree and cling to it.

Alessandro’s engaged. He touched her and took her palm in his hand.

How? When?

Vibrating with anger, I sink to the ground. He betrayed me.

I confided in him and shared my soul with the asshole. Did he miss the part where my father was secretly engaged? How that lie nearly destroyed me? How it twisted the grieving process and turned my emotions black? Months after his murder, I was a ghostly shell.

Now, to discover, Alessandro’s engaged? Did he think I’d never find out? Was he hoping to marry her and keep me on the side?

Yes. That’s exactly what he was doing. Selfishly locking me away, his fuckdoll to play with when the mood strikes.

I curl up into a ball and try to make sense of it. I remain this way, and then somehow manage to get back on my feet.

I spot her, halfway up the hill. His blonde, who waves at me. She’s gorgeous, with long hair and a full figure. “I’m hoping there’s a breeze up here,” she softly says as she approaches me.

Friendly and sweet .

Oh my God.

My eyes drop to the ring on her hand. Huge and ridiculous. Staring at it feels like pieces of diamond shard come at me to pierce my heart. “You’re engaged to Alessandro?” I cry out.

“Excuse me?”

“Or are you already married? He called you wife .”

“Not yet. I’m his fiancée.”

My knees give out, and I drop to them.

She falls to the ground beside me and lightly touches my arm. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head. “For how long?” I choke out.

“Months.”

“This summer?”

“Yes.”

That lying stronzo . I rise, as Renzo’s earlier advice resonates. He knew and correctly predicted my reaction. I want to cry on his shoulder, shake him, and thank him for the money and reasoning with me.

The woman stands beside me. “He’s an asshole for not telling you.”

“Yes, he is.”

“He loathes me, if it makes you feel better…”

Right. That’s why he was holding her hand. “It doesn’t. What I feel is…” I stare off into the distance. I feel everything at once. Despair, sadness, anger, and hurt, all bundled up in a ball of betrayal.

“Lost?” I hear her say.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

There’s nothing left to say, so I excuse myself. “I’ll be going now.”

To collect on a promise.

To, once and for all, escape the monster I fell in love with.