The Mafia Contract Series

ALESSANDRO

Almost as soon as Angelo heads inside the room, Ivan appears looking like the savage he is.

His rough expression falls on his wife, who runs into his open arms and as his strong tattooed ones fold around her, I envy him. He has secured her future with him. Nothing will ever tear them apart and they have one another. My gaze flicks inside the room and my heart twists when I see Angelo smooth the hair away from his sister’s eyes as he raises her hand to his lips. It’s such a gentle act of brotherly love that hits me hard. If I am in hell, he is right beside me because we are facing the unknown and I don’t think either of us can deal with that.

Ivan steps closer and growls, “Fucking bastard.”

His arm is slung around Charlotte’s shoulders and for a second we just stare at the scene inside the room.

“Where is he?” I growl and Ivan snaps, “Heading on vacation to Italy.”

Charlotte gasps, “Is he alive?”

Ivan laughs darkly. “Some might say he’s hovering between life and death.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I growl and Ivan places a comforting arm on my back and says softly, “It means he’s no longer a threat, my friend. We’ll keep him alive until the boss says otherwise.”

Charlotte’s voice shakes. “Will I have to see him again?”

“No.” Ivan’s response is firm, and she exhales sharply. “Good. Once was enough.”

I say under my breath, “And Massimo’s men?”

“You mean my men.”

My heart sags with relief. “So, the plan worked.”

Ivan nods. “You are now looking at Don Volkov. I have my army, now I just need a fortress.”

He turns to Charlotte. “It’s time to go house hunting, malyshka.”

“What do you mean?” Her eyes are wide as he whispers, “Your father’s business is now mine. What’s left of it, anyway.”

“Since when?”

“Since Alessandro’s grandfather made the deal. We rid the world of the bastard and they switch their loyalty to me. I am currently without my own Bratva, so it makes perfect sense to remain here and take everything Massimo owns. The fact we torched all his assets is a minor problem, but we’ll find new premises, a new home, and make it work.”

He says in a low voice, “Flynn reported back that the operation was a success. Pedro Carlos and his men moved in and wiped out his South American operation, and the Romanos dealt with any Florida business. The Morettis took Chicago and Flynn took care of the mid-west and Angelo dealt with the Californian business.”

“So, there’s nothing left.”

I think about the scale of the operation that involved many alliances with rival families and I can’t believe we did it. However, none of it means shit all the time the woman responsible for the attack hovers between life and death.

Angelo heads outside and nods. “Your turn.”

I don’t even wait to hear what he says because I’m taking his place before the door even closes.

The room is silent save for the machines wired up to the woman I love, keeping her alive until she wakes up and comes back to me.

As I approach the bed, I’ve never experienced such agony because there is absolutely nothing I can do to help her.

She looks so small, so pale, and so lifeless. The machine breathes for her and the purple bruises covering her face and neck are the only color on her skin.

As I take the seat Angelo just vacated, I reach for her hand, and it’s so small and soft in mine. My chest tightens as I struggle to breathe because there is so much I want to say to the woman I love and grieved for over the past two years.

“Winter baby, it’s Alessandro.”

If I thought that would change anything, I’m a fool because there is no reaction at all. I lean closer and press my lips to hers and it’s like a homecoming. How I’ve ached to feel those lips on mine and imagined her in my arms. Not like this though, never like this and it’s the purest agony knowing there is nothing I can do to help her.

As I hold her hand, I hope she can hear me when I whisper, “I waited for you, baby. There has never been anyone but you. Always you. The night we shared is my happiest and sweetest memory. When you were taken, I died a little that day. Since then, I’ve thought of nothing else but bringing you back to me. I love you, Winter Sontauro, and I’ve never stopped. If anything, the love grew into the beast inside me. Stronger, angrier, and more passionate. It’s only ever been you and always will be, so come back to me, Winter, and let me prove it for the rest of our lives.”

My reply is the noise from the machine, which is the only indication she is alive at all. She sleeps like Snow White in her glass coffin. Pale white skin, ruby red lips and black shiny hair. She is my princess and always will be and there is nothing on earth that will tear me away from her side.

The door opens and Angelo says gruffly, “I need a moment.”

I experience a physical pain inside as I’m forced to drop her hand and as I swap places with her brother, I hate every step I take away from her.

Charlotte peers at me with concern. “Alessandro, you should grab some sleep.”

Ivan rolls his eyes. “You think he can sleep?”

He turns to her and cups her face in his rough hands and whispers, “Do you think I would sleep if you were in that bed? Do you possibly imagine I would take one step from your side? You are stating an impossible fact because my friend will only walk out of here with his woman beside him.”

Charlotte’s eyes glitter with tears as she nods, her husband’s emotion striking where it was intended. Her heart. Ivan flicks a glance toward the glass window and the pain in his expression reminds me we all loved Winter in our way.

“Are you ok man?” I rest my hand on his back and he nods.

“I’ll be ok when Winter wakes up. We all will.”

Angelo heads outside and says with a sigh. “I’ll find the doctor. Ivan…” he turns to our savage friend and says firmly, “Take Charlotte back to the house. Roberto will arrange it. You have an empire to build and can’t hang around.”

“But Winter.”

“We will inform you if anything changes. Flynn is setting my phone on fire, and I wouldn’t put it past him to show up. Malik is dealing with all the shit on his own right now, so put your house in order. We’ve come too far to let this fail now.”

Ivan is conflicted and as his eye catches mine, I jerk my head toward Charlotte. It appears the adrenalin is wearing off and the shock is beginning to hit her.

He stares at his wife and his expression softens. He nods. “I want to know the minute she wakes up. We all do.”

He takes his wife’s hand and smiles softly. “Let’s get you home.”

Her tired eyes flicker between us, and she hesitates for a moment and then says sadly, “I never met Winter until today, but I have heard a lot about her. I understand how special she is to you all and watching her bravery in the middle of a potential gunfight makes me admire her more than anyone I’ve ever met. She’s strong, and women that fight back continue to fight. It may not look like it now, but inside, Winter is fighting to come back to you, and you know what, she will make it. You wait and see.”

We stare at the fragile beauty who has more strength than anybody would imagine, and her pure emotion wraps us all in comfort. It’s almost too much, so I say with amusement, “What are you, a fortune teller now as well as a doctor?”

My friends smirk as she grins. “You better believe it. It’s called manifestation and I’m a great believer in positive thought.”

She smiles sadly as Ivan pulls her close to his side and drops a light kiss on the top of her head.

“Come malyshka. I’m manifesting something in my own mind I need to make happen.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He grins as she rolls her eyes and, as they head off, Angelo laughs softly. I’ll never grow tired of listening to them. Who guessed there was a woman out there who could tame the Savage?”

“Or the boss.” I remind him of his own domestic bliss waiting at home, and he nods, looking a little pensive.

“What is it?” I’m seriously hoping there’s not trouble in paradise, and he says with a gruff, “I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“For telling you to stay away from my sister. I’m guessing you ignored that request anyway, but I just want you to know that if this all works out, I couldn’t ask for a better brother-in-law and husband for her.”

I can’t even answer him because that must have been hard to say and as we hug it out, I battle my emotions once again because if I get the chance to pick up where I left off with Winter, I would be the luckiest bastard in the world.