Fight Me Little Pearl

Chapter 40

Chapter Forty

VALENTINO

B y the time I walk into the living room, the fury in my body is hot enough to start a war. I’m ready to annihilate everything and everyone in my path. I swipe my arm over the side table, and some glass figurines go flying. They crash and shatter on the ground.

Vance, Dutch, and Roberto stand to their feet, watching me carefully. Vance looks like he’d rather walk over hot coals than be here right now.

“Is something wrong with Francesca?” Roberto ventures.

“Yes, something is very wrong. My own fucking family has betrayed me again,” I answer, turning to them. “They wanted to hurt me and they went through Francesca.” I turn to look at Roberto to gauge his reaction. “They made a video of me. Remember when I agreed to that stupid lap dance? The one with Rosalia.”

Roberto looks shocked. “What? Fuck. Who did that?”

“Federico did it.”

They all go silent. I advance on Vance. My fury knows no bounds.

“Why did you let Federico into my house when I was not home?” I ask. “You let him sit with my wife at my fucking table when you know he’s the last person I trust.”

“I’m sorry, Boss, but La Signora Barone went to open the door herself even though I told her not to. I couldn’t stop her. I didn’t want to touch her.”

It’s not his fault. I back away from him, but my anger grows. I turn towards the door on my way to find the person most deserving of the fury erupting in my belly.

“Valentino?” I hear Roberto shout from behind me, but I don’t stop as I stalk towards the garage. “You’re upset, don’t do anything when you’re upset.”

When I reach my car, Roberto grabs my arm, and I angrily turn and jam my fist into his face. “Don’t fucking touch me, Roberto!”

Roberto’s head rocks back, blood spilling from his nose. He touches the blood with a finger and swipes it on his shirt. “Valentino, don’t do this.”

“Do what?” I advance on him, and unlike Vance, he skirts out of my reach. I’m spoiling for a fight, but I know I won’t get it from Roberto. “Are you here to defend your brother, Roberto?”

“There’s no excuse for what he did,” Roberto shouts desperately. “But if you go after him now, the way you are, you’re going to kill him.”

“Do I look like I care?” I laugh. “I want to kill him. Your brother has always been a thorn in my flesh. Taking him out will mean I’ll never have to deal with him again.”

“You know he’s your brother, too?”

“He’s not my brother,” I growl, reaching out to grab Roberto’s shirt and slamming him against the hood of my car. “And you better never say that to me ever again! He’s not my brother, and as of now, he has become my enemy.”

He struggles against me, but he’s no match for me. “If it means anything to you, remember Nonna Isadora. She is about to lose one grandson. Matteo is dying. Don’t let it be two. Please forgive, Federico.”

I push Roberto away, climb into my car, and zoom out of the garage.

I can only see red, and one thing’s for sure: I must make him regret what he did. Now that I think about it, I see that he organized the entire dance with the intention of recording me and showing it to Francesca. He knew she would see it out of context.

The bastard.

I arrive at Federico’s house and stumble out of the car without shutting off the engine. The door is locked, and I angrily ring the doorbell, careful not to speak so I don’t tip him off.

The door opens a moment later to Federico looking sullen, but his eyes widen when he sees me. He’s about to shut the door in my face, but I stick my foot in the door and push my way in.

“Good morning, Federico.” I smile, shutting the door behind me as I enter the house. “Were you really drunk yesterday, or was that just a pretense after what you did?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Federico rushes into the open-plan kitchen and grabs a knife, pointing it at me.

“Leave right now, or I’ll kill you.”

“Choosing my weapon for me?” I nod. “Great choice. “

“Get out, Valentino.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I am here to kill you, and I’m not leaving until I do.”

His eyes widen, and he gulps hard because he knows I’m not messing around. “Valentino, please, it was just a prank.”

“Don’t lie to me.” I shake my head. “You’ll make it worse.”

I start to take small steps towards him, and he inches away from me. I’m not in a hurry. I have all the time in the world. After all, it’s not like my wife is waiting for me to return home.

“It was in your plans all along, wasn’t it? You waited until I was on the plane before going to Francesca and showing her that video.”

When he doesn’t respond, I continue. “Why did you make that video?”

“I just did it, okay? I just thought it’d be good to have it.”

“For blackmail,” I answer. “Or to destroy my marriage.”

“You’ve known Francesca for how long? A few months, and yet you’re willing to throw your family to the curb for her? Is her pussy that good?”

I attack him. He swipes the knife blindly in my direction, and it cuts into my arm, but I yank it from his hand and turn it against him. When I trap him against the kitchen counter, he snickers, “You won’t kill me,” he says. “Matteo is in the hospital and if you kill me it will kill Nonna Isadora. You are not that heartless.”

God, I want to kill him. But I saw Nonna Isadora’s face yesterday, and it’s still fresh on my mind. With a cry of rage, I bury the knife into his thigh. He screams in pain.

“You’re right. You are alive because of her.”

I lift him in the air and fling him to the ground, nodding in satisfaction when he bangs his head against the tiles and curls into a ball. “I’ll do anything when it comes to Francesca, don’t fuck with me.”

“Valentino, please.” He tries to push away from me, but I yank him back and slam my fist into the center of his face, breaking his nose. He screams again.

“Please?” I echo. “You’re not sorry. You’re just in pain.”

I continue to slam my fist into his face until it’s a battered, unrecognizable mess.

“Please, don’t do this. I’ll kneel to Francesca,” he cries. “I’ll confess everything. I’ll beg her to take you back. Please. Don’t kill me.”

I walk away from him and almost reach the door when it bursts open to reveal Roberto. Disappointment bubbles up my throat.

“I never want to see you again. You and all your brothers. Don’t cross my path. It’s my last warning,” I snarl as I walk past him.

When I get into my car, I take a moment to tone down my anger before driving. I contemplate sending Federico’s sex tape with Rosalia to his wife, but that’s below me. I will never do that.

My phone rings, and it’s Vinny calling. I’m not in the mood to speak to anyone, but this is business, and there’s no better way to ground myself than to lose myself in business.

“Vinny,” I bark into the phone as I navigate my way back home.

“Valentino,” he says sweetly. “Your plan worked. All the bosses have reached out to me. They heard you took Joseph Catalano to Terra de Barbieri and want to cut a deal with him.”

“What did you tell them?”

“Nothing. You said to call you whenever he calls me, and that’s what I’m doing. What should I tell them?”

I pause for a second. “Arrange a meet up for tomorrow evening. Let me know where and when.”

I hang up the phone as I pull into my garage. I feel miserable, but I’d rather live this way for the rest of my life than plead with Francesca. I don’t expect her to trust me completely, but to constantly insult my dignity is something I cannot stand.

I may not be the best man in the world, but I treat her with more respect than anyone else. It breaks my heart that she cannot defend my character in my absence or at least give me a chance to explain. Living in silence with her may kill me, but I’m resigned to it since that’s what she chose.

I don’t care how dreary it is; I will stay strong.