Forbidden Deception (Deception)

32

I ’ve never thought about what would happen when I found a person who is it for me, who cares for me and wants me.

I never thought about what I would do, too focused on the success of the company, constantly proving myself despite being the owner and having full control over the board members, but I think that insecure feeling of not being enough is a deep cut that just won’t heal.

Venezia often whispers words of encouragement to me before and after meetings, even when they go south, and it stops me in my tracks and makes me look at her.

I keep expecting her to just turn her back to me and tell me this isn’t what she expected from me, to say I shouldn’t have done something or could have improved; instead, she is pushing me beyond my limits with such kindness and unwavering happiness that it feels as if I have been infected with it too.

I feel like I am enough.

I feel happy, even if I misjudge a deal every now and then.

I don’t feel like a burden to everyone around me.

And I never anticipated that having Venezia by my side all these months would result in me travelling all the way across the country just to kill off her nightmares.

This burning anger bubbling inside of me has my hands shaking, ready to end the life of the person who has been haunting Venezia, who has managed to put tears in her eyes. Just how long till I truly eliminate every threat until I am satisfied that she will be safe?

How long till I lose my sanity for my love?

I have dived deep into this, into whatever we have, and I cannot come back from it. I couldn’t change my feelings and my devotion to her even if I wanted to.

Every night I think about her, every waking hour, every minute and second of the day, counting down till I see her again, and only then do I breathe. Only when I reach out and touch her do I know that this woman is mine and mine alone.

I have someone who believes in me.

Someone standing by my side.

And my family is realising this, too.

“You sure know how to get things done. Khyros will do an amazing job,” Mikko mutters as we walk down the steps of our jet. London’s airport is as busy as ever.

“Welcome back, sir.” My driver nods at me, opening the door to my car while another employee holds an umbrella over me and my brothers.

“Thank you, Carlos.” I nod back at him and slide into the seat with my brothers.

I cannot believe they all decided to come after bombarding me with questions about my leave.

“God knows how frustrated I am currently. How dare these fuckers try to blackmail Venezia? What game are they playing?” Eiran mutters, hands balled at his sides while he glares out the window as if angry at the world on Venezia’s behalf.

Khyros sits silently to the left of him, eyes on his phone.

“I thought you had a fight tonight,” I say.

“Cancelled.” He sighs.

Khyros never misses his fights. He has two priorities in his life: His family and his boxing career, and absolutely nothing will get in his way. He’s spent his life in silence, not giving much of himself to anyone. When he said he was coming with us today, it was a big surprise.

I glance at Mikko. There’s a knowing smirk on his face as he watches Khyros.

“Was it cancelled, or did you cancel it?” Eiran side eyes him.

“Are you sure it’s got nothing to do with the woman Rafael is a little obsessed with?” Mikko teases him.

I lift a brow when he turns to me.

“What? I’m only stating facts. Why else would you be here in London if not to keep her safe? It’s okay to admit it,” he says.

“I’m not denying it. I’m just confused about how you all suddenly don’t have plans and commitments when you are usually so busy all the time.”

They all shrug in sync, and if I wasn’t used to them doing that, I would have been suspicious of their reaction.

“We protect our own, keep them safe and well.” Eiran turns to me and smiles warmly.

Moments like these make me truly believe that my step-mother’s actions have no effect or strength behind them. These men, my brothers, are willing to drop everything for me, willing to go to extreme lengths just to help me keep my love safe.

When we reach our destination and the car comes to a halt, we all get out and approach the gates of the large estate. The guard nods at us, then takes out his walkie talkie, alerting the in-house security of our arrival. The mansion stretches over a vast land, tall red bricked building. The Ricco family is quite wealthy, apparently.

A buzz sounds through the night, and the gates slide open. I glance at my brothers, then we all walk through. The butler opens the grand front door and guides us through the house to a living room.

Khyros leans back against the wall, while Eiran slowly wanders around the room, possibly checking for cameras.

Mikko and I stand in the middle of the room, awaiting Mr Ricco’s arrival.

“No visible cameras,” Eiran says quietly after a few minutes, but we don’t relax or chat.

We all stand with our shoulders tight, hands at our sides, and watching the entrance.

Few minutes later, the Ricco men walk in. One by one.

Theodore Ricco. Erik Ricco. Alister Ricco.

Samuel Ricco’s father and brothers.

Theodore steps forward, letting his walking stick take his weight, then stretches a hand towards me. I grasp it and give it a firm shake. Erik follows with a nod, as does Alister.

“Mr Gustav, what brings you here so late?” Theodore asks, wheezing.

I look away from him and fix my gaze on his eldest son. He frowns and looks at Alister, who doesn’t look away from Mikko and me.

Slowly, a smile spreads across my face.

These are the men who are trying to push Venezia to madness, trying to get her to twist and bend to their will. Don’t they understand how much worse their own ending will be?

Everything Venezia told me had me on the edge, wanting to barge into their home and behead them, but it wouldn’t be good for my reputation, so I need to keep calm while I slowly destroy everything they own.

“Million dollar question, isn’t it?” I grin, looking at each of them in their eyes.

Mikko crosses his arms, which catches Theodore’s eyes.

“If you can tell me why you are here, maybe I can be of some help,” he presses, and, interestingly, the rasp in his voice is absent.

“Do you often terrorise women?”

“What kind of question is that?” Erik grits out.

“How dare you ask us something like that in our own house?” Alister demands, his narrowed eyes darting between each of us.

We don’t move.

“Sir, Mr Cainn is here,” the butler who ushered us in says as he rushes into the room.

Remo steps in right behind the butler, then stops. His cold, dark gaze scans each person in the room and eventually lands on me. A tic in his jaw forces me to hold in a smile.

“Oh, you have business with Remo Cainn, too? How…interesting. How about we all sit down together and talk over tea?” Mikko says pleasantly.

Someone snorts, and everyone’s attention snaps to Eiran, who turns to look out the window.

“Mr Gustav, nice to see you… here,” Remo says in his deep, emotionless voice. He approaches me, then turns to face the Riccos. I never would have imagined this scenario.

“What is the meaning of this? Was this planned?” Theodore demands, his face growing red.

“Actually, I was here to ask you how long it would take you to evacuate if you knew you had about”—Remo looks at his watch—“five minutes to make it outside before fire consumed your mansion.”

All three Ricco men’s eyes widen. I, too, am surprised by this information, but I keep my expression neutral.

“I think it might take them longer than that. They probably have many important belongings and documents to gather.,” I comment, and Remo nods.

He turns to me and lifts a brow. “Like hard copies of illicit sex tapes?”

Oh, Remo came informed and prepared.

“What about documents proving tax evasion?” I counter with a fake worried frown.

Remo nods. “Good point. I would collect any incriminating evidence and cash first. Unfreezing bank accounts when one is under criminal investigation or being blackmailed is terribly inconvenient and difficult.”

Another laugh spills from Eiran, and my lips quirk up. Remo froze their accounts, too?

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Alister takes a step towards Remo, but Khyros darts forward and pulls him back by his shoulder.

I take a few steps towards him, uncaring of how exposed I am to Erik and Theodore. I lean into his face, and Alister’s eyes skim over my face. His brows are twisted, and malice tightens his lips and jaw.

“Don’t you know how untouchable we are? Why are you making this complicated? You messed up, Alister. You all did, and now you will pay for every sin, every offence, and every mistake you have made.” I pat him on the shoulder while he seethes, his face burning bright red.

“I think time is about up, isn’t it?” I ask Remo.

He nods, the smallest smirk on his lips.

I turn back to Alister and lean into his ear. “You fucked with the wrong man’s woman. Your brother absolutely deserves to be six feet underground, and so do you. And since you love your brother so much, I am happy you will be joining him.” I lean back and walk right past him. Everything that happens in the next few mins will be well deserved.

As soon as I am outside the gates, my brothers with me, Remo’s voice stops me.

“I don’t know what you were here for, but whatever your business was with him, it’s ending today. He isn’t living a second longer.”

A chuckle spills past my lips, and my brothers stop in their tracks. I turn to face Remo and watch him pocket his hands. His jaw is locked, and his narrowed eyes dare me to say anything against him.

“You were practically doing me a favour. I was going to go with something along the lines of an MI5 raid, but you decided to completely wipe the family out. Nice touch.” I shrug.

His shoulders relax a fraction. Is he relieved to hear my side of it? Why would he?

“Good. I would have hated to have another reason to—”

“Love me?” I comment dryly.

Remo sighs, his body turning away from me as if ready to get away. Being this long in my presence must be really hard for him, though this animosity all started because of him, anyway. Or maybe it’s because we both want a position that has been divided equally between us. Remo may have built the Elite circle, but I know damn well what role I play in it.

Remo can threaten me, but he can’t harm me. He can push me aside but never get rid of me.

And he knows that all too well.

He’s currently gracing me with a glare.

“Oh, stop bothering Remo, Rafael. Don’t you know he is all serious and nothing else?” Mikko walks up to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder.

“You Gustav boys will always be a headache, especially when you are hiding way too many things and think holding a knife to my throat will make me compliant.” Remo’s eyes turn hard.

“Won’t you?” I tilt my head.

“Not a fucking chance. You will fall soon, crumble to the ground, Rafael, and I will happily watch you beg at my feet,” Remo says coldly, then he turns and leaves just as flames whoosh up the walls of the mansion in front of me.

I freeze in place and stay that way even long after he is gone while I watch the mansion slowly crumble.

What did he mean?

“What the fuck was he talking about?” Mikko says, his brows pulled down. “He has said twice now. Something is going to happen. Remo doesn’t bluff or spew bullshit like that.”

“I’ll look into it. Eiran, keep an eye on the media outlets, will you?” I say.

“Khyros? I recommend coming back to Edinburgh after dinner.” Mikko guides both of them back to our waiting car, but I remain by the gates, still thinking.

What could Remo be planning that would truly bring me to my knees?

There is nothing on this earth that I would beg for. My family is as safe as they can be. I could have the estate put into lockdown to keep them away from his wrath, but I cannot be certain for how long we would have to do that.

Remo’s plan of destruction for me won’t work.

“Eiran, send a copy of Remo’s video to his home again for me. The one of him murdering Mace Torre.”