Broken Beginnings: A Dark Stalker Mafia Romance Read online

  His full lips press into a hard line, intensifying his darkness. There is an edge to him that terrifies me.

  “How… how do you know him?” My voice wobbles, and my eyes dart between my parents. This is worse than I thought. The apologetic look that overtakes both their faces confirms my suspicion.

  Tracy exhales. “We were going to tell you. I…”

  My mind shuts down, and all I can feel is the heavy thump of my heart in my chest. Betrayal slices through me and the sharp dagger of it seems to get lodged in my chest.

  “I should’ve known.” Disappointment bleeds through me like ink on a piece of paper, and I whirl around, rushing up the staircase to my bedroom.

  I make it up three steps before Lucca is trailing me up the stairs. It’s stupid, but as soon as I reach my bedroom door, I slip inside and whirl around to slam it shut. That would work if I weren’t going against such a brute of a man. Placing his foot between the door and the jamb, he makes it impossible for me to lock him out.

  “A flimsy wooden door will not stop me, butterfly,” he grunts as I push against the wood, willing the door to close.

  My hands ache where I grip the wooden frame. I don’t know why I’m trying to stop him from getting in here. Just like that, I let go of the door and stumble backward. He advances, tugging the door all the way open before marching inside like a soldier heading to battle.

  For every step he takes, I take two back, and I don’t stop until my legs hit the edge of the bed. It’s impossible not to cower when facing a man as lethal as him. A man that kills with his bare hands.

  My body trembles, and I suck my bottom lip into my mouth to stop myself from crying out. I’ve seen this man kill. I know the power he had years ago, and now he’s bigger, stronger, and ten times more intimidating.

  Like a wolf stalking its prey, he moves closer to me, and I startle, crab walking backward on the bed. He must read my features because a second later, he stops, his features soften, and the dark glint in his eyes disappears. For a moment, he was that man that I didn’t know, the man that he is around everyone else.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His voice is soft, giving off the alluring charm that everything is going to be okay, but it isn’t. I know better. If he is here, it isn’t going to be okay.

  He looks away, running a hand through his dark blonde hair. It’s a little longer than it was the last time I saw him.

  When he speaks again, our gazes collide. “I’m not going to hurt you. I would never… I wish I were here under different circumstances, but…” He pauses as if he’s trying to keep his frustration in check.

  “But what?” I croak.

  “I need you to leave for a while.” His voice is so low, I have to read his lips, but there is no mistake in what he just said.

  My eyes widen, and my mouth pops open. “What do you mean you need me to leave for a while? I don’t understand.”

  Lucca steps closer, his eyebrows drawn together, and he looks like he wants to apologize but presses his lips together to stop himself. That’s fine. I don’t want his apology. I want nothing from him.

  “It’s temporary. I’m sending you and your parents on a mini-vacation until it’s safe to come back.”

  “Safe to come back?” My lip curls with anger.

  “Yes. I’m doing this to protect you. It’s the only—”

  “I don’t care what you want,” I yell, cutting him off mid-sentence. “I’m not leaving. I can’t. Steven has to work, and I have school. We can’t just get up and leave whenever we want.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. It’s all taken care of. Money is not an issue. It hasn’t been for a long time.”

  His words trickle into my brain, and slowly I’m seeing everything around me with new eyes. It all makes sense now. How I could have anything and everything I wanted. How Tracy and Steven adopted me. It wasn’t because of fate or because my parents were working overtime to make ends meet. No. It was because of him. Lucca.

  Another wave of betrayal hits me. This one bigger than the last. I thought they loved me. I thought they actually cared about me.

  Was it all just a show? Did they only care because Lucca paid them to?

  Disappointment, dread, and anger hit me all at once. I let the anger rise because the other two are simply too hard to deal with right now.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I scream, taking all my frustration out at him.

  In a second, he is on me, his huge frame caging me in, and I flinch, afraid of what might happen next. He said he wouldn’t hurt me, but I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone, and especially not someone who does the things he does.

  Pinching my chin between two fingers, he stares down at me with disappointment and a low simmering rage in his eyes.

  “You will pack a bag, and you will get on that plane with your parents because if you don’t, I’ll have to do something you don’t want me to do.”

  My bottom lip trembles. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  His amber eyes become luminescent. “I won’t, but there are other ways of getting to you that don’t directly inflict pain on your body.”

  I want to hit him; I’ve never wanted to hit someone as bad as I want to right now. I want to hurt him like he hurts me. Maybe even more so.

  Turning my head, I break his hold on my chin and lean back, so I can see his face.

  “You might be able to get me to do what you want now, but it won’t be like this forever. Someday, I’ll fight back. Someday, I’ll escape you,” I grit each word through my teeth, letting him know I will break free of this prison he has me trapped in.

  He smiles, and a row of perfectly straight white teeth appear from behind his lips, and I swear it’s the most lethal smile ever, like a serial killer smiling before he murders you and your entire family.

  “You can try to run, Claire, but I’ll always find you. You’re mine, and I protect what’s mine.” The possessiveness in his voice is frightening.

  I am his?

  What does that mean? I don’t get the chance to ask him because he flees from the bedroom and disappears out into the hall, leaving me more confused than ever.

  6

  Lucca

  Going to see Claire was probably the worst idea I’ve had in a long time. But I had to make sure they would leave right away, and with Mike missing, I really don’t have anyone else I trust with this. When Felix told me that Petro Volocove is behind the threatening emails, I needed to make a move.

  Never take Petro lightly. He is a ruthless monster and unfortunately, holds a lot of power. I should have known it was him. The Volocoves’ are desperately trying to get to Julian, and I guess they think getting me on their side is the way to go.

  The worst part is that he isn’t wrong. I’m close enough to Julian that I could inflict some serious damage if I wanted. I don’t want to, but to protect Claire, I’d do anything.

  Claire’s disappointment over seeing me earlier hit me harder than I thought it would. The betrayal in her eyes only added to it. I thought she would have realized by now that what I did was necessary, that killing her father was the right thing to do—the only thing to do.

  I wonder if she will ever forgive me for it?

  “That’s him.” Carter’s voice drags me from my inner monologue. I look up and across the street where Benny Marone is parking his delivery truck. A moment later, he jumps out and opens the back to unload crates of fruits and vegetables.

  “Let’s go!” I signal to Carter.

  Together, we step out of the shadows of the alleyway and head toward Benny.

  Our heavy footsteps echo across the street, causing Benny to look up. As soon as he sees us, his expression becomes somber. He doesn’t know who we are, but he recognizes trouble when it stares him in the face.

  He pauses and watches us approach carefully.

  “Hey, fellas, can I help you with something?” he asks when we are only a few feet away.

  “He
y, Benny.”

  His body stiffens as the realization sets in that we are here for him. “Matter of fact, you can help us with something.”

  I stop right in front of him, so close that it’s clear I don’t care about his personal space. He takes a step back, but I eat up the space, crowding him more.

  “Look, I don’t want any trouble.” Benny throws his hands up, showing us his palms in the universal sign of surrender. This is my favorite part. When they beg and plead and claim they had no part in anything. I smile, but it’s anything but joyful.

  “Then you’re going to tell us exactly what we want to know, huh?”

  “Yes, yes, anything.” He nods, his eyes wild.

  Fucking pussy.

  “You deliver fresh produce to the Moretti Compound?”

  “Yes, twice a week,” he confirms.

  “One of the papayas you delivered last week contained poison. One person almost died, and another did die. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

  “What? No, no! I know nothing!” Benny shakes his head profusely, but the terror in his eyes tells me he knows exactly what I’m talking about.

  I nod toward Carter. “Carter, what do you think? Is Benny here telling the truth?”

  Carter rubs at his jaw with two fingers, his eyes narrow as he stares at Benny. “Nope. I’m thinking he’s lying.”

  “Yeah, I agree.” Without warning, I grab Benny by the throat. He immediately cowers, and from the way he shakes like a terrified dog, I’m pretty sure he is about to piss his pants too.

  “Please,” he whimpers, right before I throw the first punch. My fist collides with his jaw, and his head snaps to the side with the impact.

  “Tell us what you know,” I demand, following up with another punch to his face.

  Benny sways on his feet. Carter grabs him by his upper arm and holds him up.

  “I didn’t know.” Benny cries. “I didn’t know!”

  “You didn’t know, what?”

  “I didn’t know about the poison,” he admits.

  “But you knew something? Who messed with the shipment?” For good measure, I throw another punch. This one lands on his stomach. I don’t want him to pass out, after all.

  “I don’t know who they are, I swear!” Benny gasps for breath and curls in on himself. “They said all they wanted to do was check the shipment. I thought Moretti sent them. I was going to call to confirm, but the guy said not to. He threatened to hurt my wife if I did.”

  I shake my head. Idiot. I can’t blame him for wanting to protect his wife, but in the end, he’s now put both of them in danger.

  “You should have known better—”

  A high-pitched scream behind me cuts off my words. “Nooo!”

  I turn to look over my shoulder and stare down the barrel of a gun. Instinctively, I reach for my gun, but a shot rings through the air before my fingers touch the metal. A second shot fires, the bullet whizzing past my head.

  Benny lets out a roar that echoes through the back of the alley. He shrugs out of my hold with newfound strength and runs toward his wife, who slinks toward the ground. Blood seeps from the wound in her chest. Benny scoops her up in his arms and cradles her to his chest.

  “She was gonna kill you.” Distress fills Carter’s voice, and I glance over to see him with gun still raised, pointing at Benny’s wife. “She was gonna kill you,” he repeats, shocked by what he just did.

  “I know. You did the right thing,” I assure him. Even though this is a major fuck up, I feel sorry for the kid. Killing women is never easy.

  “No, no, no…” Benny sobs as his wife takes her last breath.

  I see the moment when Benny’s fear, sadness, and grief turn into something else.

  Blinding Rage.

  He pries the gun from his dead wife’s hand. But this time, I’m faster. I pull out my gun, aim it at Benny’s head, and pull the trigger.

  The bullet hits him between the eyes, putting him out of his misery within a blink of an eye. He sags down to the ground, joining his wife on the ground.

  “Fuck,” Carter murmurs beside me.

  “Yeah, fuck.” I sigh, placing my gun back in the holster. “This didn’t go as planned at all. We’ve got two people dead and are no closer to finding out who poisoned Elena.”

  Carter shakes his head. “Julian is not going to like this.”

  I turn and look over at him. He’s just a kid, the same age I was when I started out.

  Tonight was only the second time he’s ever killed someone, and it was a woman at that. He did good, but I guarantee he won’t forget about what he did tonight. The wonderful thing about this job is that it becomes easier with every kill.

  “Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault,” I assure Carter, slapping a hand on his shoulder. “You had my back, and I’ve got yours. Julian will be upset, but we’ll figure it out.”

  “I’m… I’m sorry.” Carter’s expression becomes anxious.

  “Don’t.” I growl and grab him by the shirt, pulling him into my face. “Do not fucking apologize. This is your job. Dealing out death is what you signed up for. Pull yourself together and move the fuck on. Call for a fucking clean-up crew,” I grit through my teeth.

  I know the moment I break through his mournful walls because his gaze turns dark once more, and he nods his head. Stepping back, he pulls out his phone and does as I instruct.

  I sigh and look up at the night sky. Of course, my thoughts circle back to Claire. If she knew all the things I did to protect her, would she be more understanding?

  Probably not.

  Claire doesn’t understand and never will. Everything I do is for her, even if she doesn’t know it.

  7

  Claire

  Even as angry as I am with Lucca, I am in awe of this place. We arrived a few weeks ago, and I’m still in awe. It’s secluded, on the beach, and a true sight to see. With my toes in the sand, you would think I’d be a little calmer. I mean, who could stay angry while on a free five-star vacation?

  Me. Apparently. I don’t want to be here. He forced me here. It was pack a bag and get on the plane or face the consequences, and I’ve lost enough in my life. I didn’t know how unstable Lucca was or what he was willing or unwilling to do.

  I couldn’t risk my parents’ lives, no matter how pissed at them I am for knowing about Lucca all along. Even though I am mad at them right now, I still love and appreciate them. No matter their reason, they cared for me for the last six years.

  So, I left my life behind, my best friend, my school, my home. All gone with a blink of an eye. I couldn’t even say goodbye to Hope.

  A steady breeze blows off the ocean and whips strands of my long red hair around, and the smell of salt makes my nose wrinkle. The sound of the waves crashing against the beach lulls me into a cocoon of calm. I dig my toes into the sand and stare out into the never-ending ocean before looking up at the moon that’s hanging high in the sky.

  It’s a beacon of hope to me, but the crescent shape reminds me of Lucca in that instant. Half shadowed in darkness, hiding from the rest of the world.

  Thoughts of Lucca swim through my mind. I shouldn’t offer him space in my head, but I can’t help it. It’s like an addiction, the hate I feel for him. I can’t help but need the reminder of how bad he is, especially when he does things like this. I have to remember there is always a hidden agenda.

  Pushing to my feet, I grab my sandals and start the walk back to the beach house. Tracy and Steven have been particularly quiet since we arrived, and I’m grateful for that. I don’t want to talk about Lucca with them and how they have been talking to him behind my back for years.

  I thought they loved me, but now I’m not sure about anything.

  I walk up the steps to the house with care. The moon above is the only source of light, and I don’t really feel like breaking my neck out here.

  I’m surprised when I come in through the sliding glass door and find the kitchen empty and the house
silent. My stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten anything in a few hours. I drop my strappy sandals and walk toward the fridge. There’s a basket of fruit on the counter that catches my eye as I pass it, so I turn and grab an apple and then a bottle of water from the fridge.

  By the grace of God, I manage to slip into my bedroom without conversation. I let out a long sigh as soon as I see the bed. I’m exhausted. Being constantly angry and trying to avoid my parents for the last few weeks is tiring, but I’m not ready to forgive them yet.

  I don’t bother eating the apple. Instead, opening the bottle of water, I guzzle the entire thing down. I should really shower, but I can do it in the morning. Once I change into a pair of sleep shorts and an oversized T-shirt, I wash my face and then crawl into bed.

  My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I pick it up and find five texts from Hope. I can’t help but smile at her usage of emojis. I’m about to respond when a crash makes me pause. It must have been very loud for me to hear it. It takes everything in me to keep my heart in my chest. It beats so loudly that for a brief second, it’s all I can hear.

  I have no idea what that sound was, but I know it’s bad. I can feel it. I’m struck with fear, my body frozen in place, but I can’t just stay huddled up in this room. I need to do something. I need to be brave.

  Swallowing down my fear, I force myself out of bed and to the door. As soon as I step out of the bedroom, I’m dropped into chaos.

  “Where is the girl?” a man screams into Steven’s face while another man holds Tracy.

  My feet are concrete. I can’t move, can’t even breathe. What girl? They aren’t talking about me, are they?

  “Please, don’t…” Tracy’s plea cuts off as one man backhands her.

  A gasp escapes my lips, and the sound dissipates the hazy fear I’m in. I have to stop them before someone gets hurt.