Devious Little Lies (15 page)

She ended the call and finished the bottle of wine. The ball was in her court now and she was ready to play. Alfonso was going to wish he’d never betrayed her husband, but it was too late to make his peace because she was going to send that swindling bastard straight to hell where he belonged.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tonight was the night. Cesare had just locked up her house. In front of them were three, large black SUVs with tinted windows. Including Cesare, eleven stood before her, ready to hear her orders. Clad in black leather pants, boots, and a fitted half tee with her pistol strapped to her waist, she was ready to do battle. Her long black hair flew in the breeze as they stood assembled.

“Gentlemen, a few weeks ago I sent for you and offered you an opportunity to take charge of your destiny and protect my husband’s interests. Only one of you has stepped forward to claim his destiny and prove his loyalty. And tonight he will be rewarded for his tenacity. As for the rest of you, I’m beginning to think you’re a bunch of pussies and not the fierce men the world has claimed you are. I’m giving you one last chance to prove me wrong.”

“What are you talking about?” Luis asked.

“I’m glad you asked, Luis. I’m talking about a rat. A filthy disgusting rat who thought he could steal from my husband and never be caught. I don’t know about you, but if a rat crosses my path I kill it. It’s up to you to decide where you stand, but know this…tonight is your last chance to prove your loyalty to the Rosetti Family. Fail me and the consequences will not be pretty. Now load up.”

A few of the men glanced at each other, but none of them dared to say anything. Every word she’d spoken was the truth. She didn’t have time for people who talked about things. Rena needed people to be about things and tonight she expected just that. Cesare opened the back passenger door for her to the first SUV.

“You’ve got them all wondering what the hell is going on,” he said.

“And that’s the way it should be. A little unpredictability does wonders sometimes.”

“Well unpredictable is your middle name, Boss Lady,” Carmine said walking up to the vehicle.

In his hand was a small black leather case, which he handed to her.

“What’s this?” she asked.

He smiled, one of those confident grins he was so known for. If it were not for her already screwed up personal life, Carmine Luchese might be the kind of man to have in her bed on a permanent basis, but she’d never betray Tony like that. Besides, in order to get the respect she needed, there would be no mixing of business and pleasure.

“If you’re going to step up to the plate as a boss, then every good boss has to have their own torture kit. It’s standard practice.”

Carmine winked at her before he headed off to his own vehicle. Cesare shook his head.

“What is it?” she asked him.

“You know he’s demented when it comes to a kill?”

“What’s your point? We’re all a little demented inside if we’re honest with ourselves.”

“Nothing, except be careful. It’s one thing to take over, it’s entirely another to get consumed by blood lust.”

“Cesare, if I were consumed by blood lust, your boss might be dead instead of just in a penitentiary somewhere playing with his dick all day. Now let’s get this show on the road.”

Rena slammed the door closed to punctuate the force of her words. The other two SUVs pulled away from the house and they did the same, disappearing into the darkness, a caravan of death and destruction. She rubbed her hand over the butt of her pistol. It had been such a long time since she’d held it with the intent to harm someone, but tonight a bullet between Alfonso’s eyes would be the finale to a night of pain and punishment he would never see coming. Part of her wondered if she would feel any different once she’d done the deed. Would she dream of blood on her hands and be haunted by her victim’s face? She wasn’t sure but after tonight she would no longer be just a mob boss’ wife. She would be the new queen in charge who was not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Fifteen minutes later they pulled into a parking lot with three cars outside. One of the cars belonged to Alfonso. The others likely belonged to his bodyguards. It seemed the coward was even too scared to meet with Carmine alone. From the first vehicle he emerged, giving her the thumbs-up sign as two more men joined him outside. She could see the bulge of a weapon in their back pockets. Watching, they followed Carmine into the building.

Rena waited for the signal to make her move. Looking at her watch she counted the minutes until she heard the blast of gunfire. Cesare got out of the SUV and stood in front of the door where she sat, gun drawn, and ready for action. A few more minutes passed and then the door opened. Carmine motioned for them to come inside and Cesare opened the door. She stepped out, case in hand.

There was no turning back now. She had to show everyone that she wasn’t just playing at being the boss. She was the boss. Gun in hand, Cesare shielded her as they walked to where Carmine stood. He stepped aside allowing them to enter. Her boots echoed as she walked across the concrete floor of the warehouse to Alfonso’s office. When she made a move to grab the door handle, Cesare motioned her back.

She heeded his warning as he pulled another gun from his waistband and kicked the door open, both guns in hand. Guns cocked, but no gunfire erupted. Cesare motioned her inside and as she entered, Rena’s boots grew sticky causing her to look down. Thick, dark red blood flowed across the floor. Not ten feet away from her were two men lying face down on the cheap, white laminate floor dead. Blood ran across the floor from the multiple bullet wounds riddling their head, back, and legs. Alfonso’s bodyguards had been shot down for daring to give their loyalty to an unworthy man. At least they’d died quickly. The same would not be said for their boss.

“Let’s get this trash taken out,” Rena said.

A few of the men nodded and grabbed the two dead bodyguards by their wrists and dragged them from the room.

“What the fuck is this? Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on!”

Rena turned her attention to the man sitting duct taped to a worn out leather office chair. His black eyes were small in his round, fat face. Sweat ran in rivulets down his forehead making his red face even more mottled in color. Confusion shone behind his eyes, but there was just the hint of a smirk on his face. She smiled at him as she set her case of goodies on his desk. Placing both hands on the old wooden desk, Rena leaned forward still smiling.

“What’s going on, Alfonso, is you’re finally about to reap your just desserts for daring to betray my husband.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I never betrayed nobody,” he lied.

Rena wasn’t surprised by his outburst. There was no honor among thieves. Alfonso knew that his life was on the line and he would do whatever it took to save his bacon. Too bad for him, pig would be roasting tonight.

Shaking her head, Rena leaned away from the desk. “You know, I figured you’d say exactly that.”

“That’s because it’s not fucking true. Come on, Rena. Tony’s the one who made me. Why would I ever betray him?”

She looked up at Carmine and Cesare who took their places on either side of Alfonso.

“One word. Greed. Carmine, would you do the honors?”

He nodded and from his pocket, he withdrew a flash drive and stuck it into the desktop computer. The screen came to life and the sound of Alfonso’s voice filled the room. She angled the computer so that the men standing behind her could see the monitor. Briefly stepping aside Rena watched their faces as they took in exactly what the video revealed.

“Turn that off! It’s all wrong. I’m being set up!”

Cesare hit Alfonso in the face with the butt of his pistol.

“Cesare. This is my party. Keep your hands to your damn self.”

He put his gun away and stood with his arms folded, but Rena was not fooled. He was ready for battle at any moment. She turned her attention back to Alfonso who already had a bruise forming on his face.

“No one is setting you up, you greedy motherfucker. You got caught. You dared to steal from my husband and laugh about it, but guess what? Tonight payback is a black-haired bitch who’s going to make you wish you stayed in your lane. Your incompetent cousins have already paid the price for their sins and now…it’s your turn.”

“You did that?” Alfonso asked stupidly.

Rena ignored him as she snapped open the case on the desk. There was an assortment of things before her that would strike terror in anyone. She picked up the large, serrated knife. The teeth on it resembled that of a great white shark. Handling the knife she stared at Alfonso and found his eyes on the weapon she was holding.

“Put his hands on the desk.”

“No. No!” Alfonso yelled.

He squirmed as Cesare and Carmine grabbed his arms and pressed his hands flat down on the desk.

“Now let me see.”

Without warning she stabbed the knife into the top of Alfonso’s right hand. Blood spurted from the wound as he screamed.

“You bitch. You fucking bitch.”

“Tsk. Tsk, Alfonso. A little cut has you screaming like a girl. I’m just getting started.”

Rena left the knife sticking in his hand and grabbed a pair of brass knuckles from the case. They fit her hands perfectly as Alfonso’s blood flowed freely on the desk.

“Rena, please.”

She punched him in the face as hard as she could. His head whipped back and she punched him again, repeatedly until Rena lost count of all the punches she’d thrown. When she came back to herself and took the knucks off it finally dawned on her that she’d broken Alfonso’s nose.

“Damn. You’ve got a hell of right hook, Boss Lady,” Carmine complimented her.

“Not bad for a boring housewife, huh?”

“Nothing boring about ya,” Carmine said.

Cesare gave Carmine some minor side eye, but Carmine was just being himself. Alfonso’s fat, bulbous nose was bent and twisted noticeably to his right side. Rivers of blood ran from his nostrils while blood dribbled from the multiple cuts she’d made on his face. His busted lips seeped blood.

“Have mercy. Please…” he begged.

“Mercy is for those who deserve it,” Rena said.

She looked at the rest of the items in the case before her attention landed on a small, hand held blowtorch. Picking it up she smiled.

“This looks like fun.”

“No. Dear God, please.”

“Strip him,” she ordered.

Rena jerked the knife from Alfonso’s hand as Carmine and Cesare made short work of his duct tape and clothes. He fought against them as they jerked his naked body from behind the desk to stand right in front of her. Holding the torch in her hand, she wrinkled her nose as Alfonso stood before her naked. He was a giant boar, fat and hairy. His penis looked like a cocktail sausage.

“For someone always wanting his cock sucked, you damn sure have nothing to inspire a girl.”

“Fuck you,” he said.

Then he spat on her. Rena laughed as she wiped the spittle from her cheek.

“No, dear, I’m going to fuck you. Bend his fat ass over.”

Alfonso struggled screaming as her men got him into position. She turned on the torch, mesmerized by the beautiful colors that the flame made as she took a step towards Alfonso who was bent over, jiggly dimpled ass in the air.

“Are you about to do what I think you are?” Cesare asked.

“Watch and see.”

Rena winked before her attention zeroed in on Alfonso. “Alright, fat boy. Let’s have some fun.”

His screams filled the air as the smell of burning flesh hit her nostrils. Tonight she was a goddess dispensing justice and she had never felt more powerful.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rena lost count of the time she’d spent making Alfonso wish he’d never given in to greed. Then she’d shot him between the eyes earning her nods of respect from the men she’d surrounded herself with.

“How do you feel?” Cesare had asked her.

“How am I supposed to feel?”

He’d shrugged then, unable to answer her question. Maybe it was different for everyone. Perhaps they’d expected her to have her breakdown after the brutality she’d dispensed. If so they were sorely disappointed. She’d ordered Alfonso’s body removed and the warehouse burned down. The death of Alfonso and his cousins, plus the burning down of the warehouse would serve as a stark warning to everyone that there was a new boss in town who meant business.

Carmine had more than earned his position as the new
capo
of Alfonso’s territory. Though he’d tried to play it cool, nothing could hide the happiness in his eyes over no longer being just a soldier. He was going to be a “made man.” To any that might have doubted her, tonight she’d more than proved herself and she wasn’t done yet.

Lying in bed sipping a glass of wine, Rena knew what she had to do next. She’d been putting it off, pushing it to the back of her mind, but she had to see Tony. His calls and apologies had not ceased, but nothing had changed. He was still on her shit list and his weak apologies meant nothing. She’d never been one to forgive easily, if at all.

A visit with Tony wouldn’t be about their personal issues, strictly business. He needed to know what happened and there was no better person to hear it from than her. After she’d said her piece, proving to him that he should have let her take care of things in the first place, she’d be on her way.
You know it’s not going to be that easy.
Unfortunately she knew that part was very true.

Her husband had never been a man who gave up without a fight. With her in his presence, he would do his very best to melt the ice she’d put around her heart. Too bad for him, he was going to need a hell of an ice pick to do the job. Her phone rang, startling her. She glanced over at the caller ID, sure that it was Tony making another late night phone call, but she was wrong.

So wrong.

Rena swallowed hard as the phone continued to ring. She knew she shouldn’t pick it up. There shouldn’t be butterflies rolling in the pit of her stomach, but there were. Taking a deep breath she answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Rena.” She closed her eyes. She could hear the ache in his voice and she hated herself for the rush of pleasure she felt.

“Shane.”

“How are you?” he asked.

“I couldn’t be better. So, are you calling to cancel on me?”

He laughed. “As if I would ever be foolish enough to do that. I haven’t been able to think about anything else.”

“You must not have much else going on if escorting a friend’s mom to a party has you so excited.”

“You and I both know if that were all there was to it that still wouldn’t be the case.”

“There’s nothing more to it than that, Shane. We’ve already had this discussion.”

“And you’re still in denial, but that’s going to change.”

“I don’t know whether you’re delusional or just supremely confident.”

“Some things don’t need to be explained, Rena. We fall into that category.”

“There is no we, Shane.”

“Perhaps, but when I’m holding you in my arms, you won’t be able to deny it anymore. You belong with me.”

And just like that he ended the call. Rena stared at the phone, listening to the dial tone. She didn’t know what to make of him. His tenacity and belief in there being a future between them had her both intrigued and very afraid. It had been so long since she’d felt butterflies, since she’d even thought about what it would be like to be with another man. To intimately know the body of someone other than her husband.

It was foolish.

Beyond stupid.

But she couldn’t help the pleasure she felt knowing that such a young handsome man had set his sights on having her as his own.