Heartless Mercy (The Sinful Alliance #1)

Whole Lotta Money by BIA

In the midst of witnessing the most brutal shock with Sonny’s dad and wanting to be there for Sonny, I can’t stop looking at the notorious four. I’ve heard rumors about them and how they kill without mercy. Well, all but one—Isabella Romano. She’s the quiet one, but her aura tells a different story. The look in her eyes portrays a controlled demeanor mixed with darkness. A darkness filled with unleashed emotions that are begging to break at any moment. Talking to her earlier was unexpected, especially when she knew quite a bit about me. While they might’ve gotten information on Sonny and me from the club, I think she’s been watching me from a distance for some time now. I know that should scare me, but something about piquing Isabella’s interest overwhelms my body.

Catalina hauls through the gates of Dario’s ranch. The encased black-lighted pillars highlight the Blackstar Gravel as it crunches underneath the SUV’s tires while she makes her way to the lighted area towards the middle of the property. The expansive property looks like it goes on for miles, with Dario’s house sitting in the middle. About an acre away, a huge ebony pine stable lies on the property, with Stinger ATVs, Can-Am UTVs, and 2-tie straw hay bales surrounding the stables. I focus my attention back on the gorgeous ranch mansion and see the most beautiful garden towards the east of the house, along with a concrete bench to sit on.

Damn, this man has so much more money than I realized.

Glancing back in front of me, broad, reinforced steel windows showcase the beautiful, all-black interior with red mood lighting. Sonny grabs my hand as we arrive closer to where the other black SUV is, a little bumpy from Catalina’s insane driving.

“Are you okay?” I ask. He just got off the phone with his mother and the conversation was so emotional. I really feel for both of them right now.

Sonny nods and I look up to see Isabella eyeing me through the rearview mirror. Smiling, she quickly shifts her gaze as Catalina brings the SUV to a stop.

Jesus, I don’t think I ever want to be driven by this intimidating woman ever again.

Exiting the vehicle, I squeeze Sonny’s hand before we make our way out of the SUV and approach Dario and Niccolo. Dario scolds Catalina as Sonny and I look at the amazing view in front of us.

I hear Catalina go back and forth with Dario and Niccolo, and just as I’m about to ask for the bathroom, Catalina says, “Follow me.” Sonny and I fall in line behind Catalina, and I just about gasp when she leads us through the front door.

Looking absolutely gobsmacked, Sonny pulls me through the door, raising his eyebrow, silently asking if I’m okay. I nod and continue to move forward when Catalina grabs a tablet and pushes several buttons. The lights quickly change from a rose-red to a soft white glow, exposing the open space. If I thought the outside was spectacular, it has nothing on the inside.

To the right, the kitchen houses a huge cherry pine dining table, a gorgeous matching island with a granite countertop, top-of-the-line black stainless steel appliances, matching cabinetry, and industrial chandeliers that light the powerhouse of all kitchens. If I were a chef, cooking here would be a dream.

Towards the left of the open space, the brushed black stainless steel panel walls encase two off-white L-shaped sectionals with matching pillows. They face a huge 4K TV displaying thousands of angles of camera footage from around the property.

“Wow, this is so beautiful and huge. I wouldn’t know what to do with a place like this,” I gasp in awe of my surroundings.

“Well, Dario makes the most of it. Besides, this was his parents’ house before he took residence, and they have four children in total, so it was put to use, alright.” We laugh as we make our way to a beautiful double-sided glass fireplace near the hallway towards the bedrooms.

“Still, this is something else. I thought my luxury high-rise penthouse was a lot, but this is on another level,” Sonny exclaims.

“If you think this area is on another level, wait until you see the updated renovations Dario made in the playroom.”

We go quiet for a moment when Catalina realizes why we’re quiet. “Y’all are nasties; I meant a real playroom , with games ranging from old Nintendo consoles to AR gaming systems.” We laugh and Catalina continues describing the seating area inside the playroom when I hear the front door open.

Isabella walks toward us and clings to Catalina’s side. Everyone continues talking as I become so entranced by these two beautiful women in front of me, that I almost forget I’m staring.

Knocked out of my daze, Catalina leads us through the hallway when her phone dings. Inspecting the message, her face morphs from cheerfulness to calculated in a matter of seconds.

“It’s the guys. They’re ready. Let’s move,” Catalina says sternly, stipulating that it’s time for business. The room fills with an ominous feeling as we make our way to a side door near the kitchen.

“Hop on and hold on tight. We have a long way to go,” Catalina instructs, pointing at the Can-Am ATV near the door. Sliding in near Sonny, I grab his hand and rub my thumb in slow circles against his palm. He looks at me with despondent eyes and I can’t help but feel he doesn’t know what he’s doing. We proceed to our destination and I lean my head against Sonny’s shoulder as Catalina drives along the desolate pathway to the stables.

I really want to be there for Sonny, but I don’t think he’s thinking straight from all that he’s witnessed tonight. His dad was such a fucking hypocrite, and I feel for him, because I know how he feels. My father is the chief of police, and sometimes, it feels like that’s all he’s ever cared about. He filled my older brother’s and I’s heads with such bullshit rhetoric about us “not being a part of that gay alphabet bullshit”, in his words. I fortunately didn’t take it to heart, and I’m a proud and out bisexual woman. My older brother, Nash, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. It’s hard for him to this day to get that shit out of his head, no matter how much I’ve told him not to listen to our dad’s bullshit. He might not admit that he’s not straight, but a sister knows. I haven’t talked to him in a while, but I wish he would listen to me and forget all that my father taught him growing up. I am not blind to the way my dad has always treated me as Daddy’s little girl, so I don’t know what he or Sonny has been through, but I can imagine. And just like how I’m there for my brother, I am here for Sonny, always. So if he wants to get revenge on his father, I will support him. My Hippocratic Oath be damned, I will be here for him.

We come to a stop and I notice the stables look even more beautiful on the inside than on the outside. The smell of manure and hay bales fills my senses, along with the sight of the most beautiful Frisian horse.

Growing up in Texas, you know your fair share of farm life. “Beautiful, isn’t she? That’s Estrella,” Isabella chimes in beside me as she strokes the horse’s mane through the feeder opening of the grille.

“She most definitely is, and that name suits her perfectly. Shining so bright, like the night sky. Her breed is hard to find, but I’ve always wanted to see one in person.”

“Nothing is hard to find for the guys. Just ask and you shall receive,” Isabella whispers with a smirk. I stare for a moment before I look around and see that we’re alone.

Noticing where my mind went, she says, “C’mon, they’re down here.” Puzzled, I look down and see a reinforced stainless-locked panel underneath a massive pile of hay. Isabella takes my hand and we descend the stairs to what looks like an underground bunker.

Holy fuck, this is like something straight out of a movie.

Motion sensor lighting illuminates a concrete pathway as I reach the bottom of the stairs. Wow, what the fuck is this?

“Follow me. They’re not too far.”

“I have to admit, I’m a little scared.”

“I would be shocked if you weren’t, but I got you, tesoruccia ,” Isabella utters softly, grasping my hand. I tread deeper into the bunker and she pushes a door on the right open. Sonny is talking with Dario as one of their bodyguards—Catalina and Niccolo—secure Frank onto what looks like an operating table.

“How about you sit there for now?”

“Actually, I’m going to talk with my friend,” I suggest hastily. Oh fuck, maybe it’s not such a good idea to take a tone with someone who is involved with the cartel and mob. Isabella smiles at my sudden outburst and nods for me to proceed.

Sonny spots me approaching and immediately takes my hand, pulling me in for a hug. He nestles his head in the crock of my neck and sighs.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have to do it, Low. I need to kill him. As much as I know this will haunt me, I need him to know that he doesn’t control me anymore. That he took away my happiness at the age of fifteen when he was doing the exact same thing this whole time.”

I hear it in his voice. The pain Frank has caused is so evident as Sonny’s body vibrates with anger at the man who was supposed to love him unconditionally. Instead, he was a fucking hypocrite and demanded his son to live with shame. Yet he didn’t feel that when he was out here, cheating on his wife with men, the same gender he hated his son for loving.

Removing myself from our embrace, I grab his cheeks, stare into his ocean-blue eyes, and say, “I got your back, S. I know this is something you’ve prosecuted people for, and the comedown will feel ten times worse, but whatever you need, I’m here for you.”

“In this moment, the repercussions don’t matter. The blinding hatred I feel is overtaking my heart and it needs to end. I need to end him.”

I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling about what he’s about to do. I know Sonny, and he may be all about vengeance at the moment, but his soft nature will be consumed by the sinfulness of his actions. But no matter my feelings, I will support him through this. He needs me, and I’ll do anything for him.

Nodding, I kiss his cheek and he walks towards the table Frank is strapped to, picking up a syringe. I sit on the deep brown, leather couch in the corner of the room and watch as my best friend does something he might regret.