Pure Vengeance

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Anton

“What the hell is this I’m hearing? Instead of taking out someone who tried to kill you, you spanked her instead?” Marco, my younger brother, barges into my office. His face is pulled tight into a scowl like I’ve committed some serious crime.

“Hello, Marco.” I shut my laptop. Claire Montecelli is an open book. I’ve been scrolling through her Instagram feed for almost an hour. Most of the posts have to do with the library she works at, and some light traveling she’s done.

“Seriously, Anton. What the hell?”

I eye Dimitri who stands at my door.

“Sorry, man.” He shrugs. He’s not blood, but he’s been part of our family for so long he might as well be called brother. “Three floors down, everyone heard it. Even the maids scrambled when it started.”

I hadn’t held back, that was for sure. The girl won’t be sitting comfortably for a long while.

And serves her fucking right.

I roll my shoulder; the pain still lingers enough to remind me every time I move that she fucking shot me.

“What happened?” Marco sinks into the chair across from me.

“Nothing.” I lean forward. “I’m handling it.”

“Yeah?” He arches a brow. “She’s been moved into the bedroom right next to yours and there’s a doctor up there now patching her up. That’s how you handle an assassin?”

“You’re questioning me?” I drop my voice enough for him to understand there’s a limit to the insolence I’m willing to take from him. He may be my brother, but this family is my responsibility. I don’t bear that weight easily, and I won’t have my motives, or my actions questioned by him or anyone else.

“I’m wondering what you’re thinking. That’s all.” He leans back, softening his expression.

“At first, I thought she was sent by the Delaney brothers, but after talking to her, and looking more into her story, I realize she has no connection to them. Her story seems to be checking out.”

“And what’s that?” He asks, but the hardness is gone. More curiosity now instead.

“Her brother, Michael, worked as a dealer at one of our tables for two years. About a year ago, he was fired for helping one of the players cheat. A few weeks after that he was killed,” I explain.

“And she blames you?”

“She thinks I ordered the kill.” I nod. “But I didn’t. Until this morning, I’d never heard of him before.”

“Fine. So, she thinks you killed her brother, she tries to kill you, but why is she still here?” he presses.

I wrap one hand over my fist and squeeze my knuckles. It’s a good question he’s posed. There is no good answer.

Because those pretty eyes of hers make my cock hard when she cries. Because when I’m close to her, there’s something inside of me that stirs. Something I thought dead years ago.

I won’t tell him these things, because they don’t make any sense.

“Because I want her here.” I turn to Dimitri. “Understood?”

Dimitri gives a hard nod. “Sure thing, boss. I’ll let the other guys know.”

“Know what?” Marco turns to Dmitri.

“That she’s mine and off limits,” I explain.

“She tried to kill you.” Marco says it like I’ve forgotten.

“She failed.” I grin.

“Okay, so now what?” he asks.

“Now, I keep doing what I always do. Keep this family afloat.” I gesture for Dimitri to make sure the door stays closed. “Did you find out anything about Joseph Fanelli?”

Marco nods.

“Yeah. The Fanelli’s want in, they’re ready to play ball, Anton. They just want a piece of the pie.”

I arch an eyebrow.

“Anything more specific?”

“They want to put a boat on the river. Far enough away from our casino, but still within the city limits. They’re asking, Anton, not forcing their way in.”

“And if I say no, they’ll stop asking? They’ll stay in their fucking lane with the liquor and the drugs?”

He sighs.

“I didn’t get that impression.” He shrugs. “But what does it hurt if they have a boat?”

“It hurts because they won’t stop at one, they’ll want to keep encroaching and this is our business. It’s ours.” I move my fist to the desk. “Meet with them again and get a feel for what happens if we can’t agree on it. I want to know if they’re going to go forward anyway.”

“All right.” He shakes his head. “I don’t see this playing out well.”

“If they’re going to step into our territory, we need to be prepared for what that might look like. Don’t give them any reason to believe we’ve made a decision. You’re just talking right now. Understood?”

“Yeah. Yeah. I get it.”

There’s a knock on the door, and Dmitri opens it enough to see who’s on the other side.

“It’s the doctor,” he informs me.

“Let me know when you’re meeting.” I say to Marco.

“Yeah. So. Do I get to meet this girl you have locked in your tower?”

“No.” I shake my head and wave Dmitri to let the doctor in. “You should get going. I have a meeting this afternoon, so I need to get this done.”

He shakes his head again. “You’re being reckless, Anton. Keeping a woman who wants to kill you in the bedroom next to yours. How do you know she won’t slip in there with a knife while you’re sleeping?”

“Maybe I should move her into my bed then. I can keep her chained up so that won’t happen.” I grin.

He laughs.

“I don’t doubt you’d do it.” He gets to his feet and heads to the door just as Dmitri lets the doctor inside.

“Mr. DeMarci.” The doctor crosses the room to me with his hand outstretched. I take it when he’s at the desk.

“Thank you for coming this morning.” I gesture to the chair.

“Oh, I can’t stay long. I have to get to the hospital. I just thought you’d want to know how the girl is.”

“I do.” I nod, staying on my feet. “Her knuckles looked pretty bad.”

“They are. Nothing’s broken, but she scraped off a good few layers of skin on both hands. I applied medicated ointment and bandaged them. They’ll need to be changed this evening, but they can stay off after she showers in the morning. I left an antibiotic ointment with her to apply twice a day.”

“And her foot?”

“Another deep laceration. Luckily it didn’t need stitches. I used more ointment and a bandage. That one she’ll need to keep bandaged when she’s wearing shoes. It will make it easier for her.”

“All right.” I nod, taking the mental notes of what needs to be done.

“The cut on her cheek is pretty superficial, already has a scab forming. It will heal pretty quick,” he continues.

“Good. Did she cooperate all right for you?” She’s a fighter. No doubt she would argue with him even if he is a doctor.

“Uh.” His gaze drops a fraction. “She did, but she also told me that you’re keeping her hostage. She asked that I take her to the hospital or at the very least call the police for her.”

I grin. For someone so smart, she really doesn’t think things through.

“And you said?” I prompt. He wouldn’t be in my house right now if I didn’t have every confidence that he could be trusted.

“I told her she didn’t need the hospital.”

“And the police? Should I be preparing for some officers to come banging down my door?”

He smiles a little. “No. I avoided that question all together.” He fumbles for his phone in his suit jacket and looks at the screen. “Damn. I do need to get to the hospital though. If you’re done with me?”

“Of course.” I gesture toward the door and start walking him out. When we step into the hallway, a maid that’s carrying a basket of clothing, hurries her steps to get out of my sight.

Dmitri was right. I’ve scared the staff by dealing with Claire where they could hear.

“Uh.” The doctor pauses when we get to the front door. “I did learn something you might not be aware of.”

“What is that?” I slide my hands into my pockets.

“She takes a daily medication for migraines.” He frowns a little. “She said she had a bottle in her car, but her car’s not here. I can send a script to the pharmacy, and have it delivered here if you’d like.”

“We have her car here; she wasn’t aware of it. I’ll have the medicine brought in. Does she need any other care for the headaches?”

“So long as she takes the medication, she should be able to avoid them. However, if she gets one, she told me they get quite severe.”

“Severe enough to need to go to the hospital?” I question, already seeing her plan forming. The woman needs to up her game if she’s going to be battling against me.

A ghost of a smile closes the doctor’s lips.

“She’s a smart one.” He chuckles.

“I’ll be sure she never misses a dose.” Even if I have to administer the medication myself every morning.

“She’s missed two already, so I wouldn’t put off the next one any longer than needed,” he warns as he reaches for the door. “She also told me about the beating.”

“The spanking?” I correct.

“Yes. That.” He opens the door. “She’s definitely tender, so let’s hope she doesn’t get herself into any more trouble today. Yes?” He eyes me with the same look my mother used to give me as a young boy when she wanted me to put on my best behavior.

“I’m sure she’ll be an exemplary captive the rest of her stay.” I chuckle.

“Me too.” He heads out, jogging down the steps to his car already waiting for him at the bottom.

We both know that’s not going to happen.

The woman has spirit.

And as much as I admire it. As much as her beauty makes me want to touch her, lick her, and make her squirm beneath me. I have to remember one thing.

She tried to kill me.

And for that, she must pay.