Page 27 of Depths of Obsession (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #2)

CHAPTER 27

T he numbers Carl is throwing around are dizzying. We had money growing up, but nothing like this—sixty-eight million for a necklace. The ruby glows as if it has a heartbeat of its own, pulsing with an unnatural light. It’s beautiful, but sixty-eight million? I could buy an entire collection of rubies for that. I pull the mink wrap tighter around my shoulders, shivering in the cool night air. I just want this to be over. Watching the art pieces get auctioned off was far more interesting. That Monet, the one that seemed to shimmer with sunlight—that was worth the money. Not this.

"Seventy-five million," Carl announces, nodding to Calaba, who stands near the bar, speaking quietly into his phone.

“Damn, I didn't even consider phone bidders,” Nico mutters beside me, his eyes squinting as he watches Calaba.

“Me either,” Luca says, his voice tight with frustration.

Carl looks to Hal Miller, who glances at his wife. She shakes her head, her lips pressed in a thin line. Then, Carl turns to Peter Krinst, who also shakes his head, looking defeated.

Nico snickers softly. “Looks like Peter will have to get rid of his wife the old-fashioned way—hire a hitman.”

I give Nico a sideways glance, my brow furrowing. What is he talking about? Luca leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. “We were speculating that Peter wants the necklace to kill his wife.”

I say nothing, but a chill runs down my spine. I can’t help but hope Peter’s wife knows what’s going on, that she’s prepared. I watch as the Millers and the Krinsts brothers leave the rooftop, their expensive shoes clicking on the stone tiles.

Calaba strides over to Carl, whispering something before heading back to the bar. Carl looks puzzled, but then he gives a tiny shrug.

“Everyone,” Carl calls out, his voice strained, “it looks like the necklace has been sold to a phone buyer.”

“What?” Natalia leaps to her feet, her face twisted in indignation. Her brothers, Dimitry and Constantine, rise behind her, glowering. “What do you mean? You didn’t stop the bidding.”

Carl sighs, his face lined with discomfort. “A deal was struck, apparently.”

“What the hell is this?” Luca snarls, stepping forward, his posture rigid. “Who owns the necklace?”

“Well, technically... it seems you do, Pippa,” Carl says, hesitating as he looks my way.

I blink, my heart stuttering in my chest. “W-what?” I stammer, getting to my feet. “I didn’t buy it.”

Luca steps closer to me, his presence comforting and intimidating at once. The rage rolling off him practically buffets my body. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he growls.

“The necklace was purchased by a holding company registered in Pippa’s name,” Carl explains, sounding as bewildered as I feel. He approaches, holding the velvet case. “I was instructed to give it to you, my dear. Please, be careful with it.”

Luca snatches the case from Carl’s hands before I can react. His face is a mask of fury, his eyes blazing. “Who is the seller, Carl?”

Carl shakes his head, his confusion evident. “I’m not privy to that information.”

“Calaba?” Luca calls, already striding toward him, his expression darkening further. “Who organized this whole mess?”

“I did,” a voice answers behind me.

I turn sharply to see Ria Tailor—her presence as cold as the wind biting through my thin dress. A shiver of fear runs down my spine. Something about her eyes, the coldness there, makes me want to back away, to disappear into the night.

Ria steps closer, her gaze never leaving mine. “The necklace is for Pippa,” she says, her voice steady and unnervingly pleasant. “I would very much like to see it around her neck.”

“What is this?” I whisper, stepping back, my breath catching. Her smile is glacial, and terror spikes through me.

“I hold your father’s debt, my dear,” she says, her voice almost soothing. “He set up a holding company with the necklace as its sole asset, and you are the beneficiary. Now that he’s dead, everything passes to you. You’ve owned the necklace since the day he died.”

The smile she gives me is nothing short of venomous. “I’d guess you’ll be next, my dear. The necklace tends to work quickly. You might want to say your goodbyes.”

“Why?” I manage, my voice cracking. “Why would you do this?”

Ria pats my arm, her touch as light and condescending as her words. “You’ve never been more than a pawn, Pippa. A pretty nuisance, nothing more. I needed you to get to him.” She nods toward Luca, her eyes sharpening. “Hurting him is my ultimate prize.”

The rooftop suddenly feels too small, the world closing in. I glance at Luca, feeling the raw fury radiating from him. He meets my eyes, a silent promise in his gaze—he will fight, and he will protect me, whatever it takes.

But as I look back at Ria, her cold eyes watching me, I realize I have just been thrust into a battle much older and far more dangerous than I had ever imagined. “Snowman,” I mutter. Help.

I stare at Ria, trying to comprehend. “What did I, or any of the Valdicis ever do to you?” I ask, bewildered.

What’s going on? Nico’s voice demands in my mind, sharp and insistent.

I have no earthly clue , I respond, my own thoughts chaotic.

“Chatting with your brother, are you?” Ria laughs—a light, tinkling sound that sends a shiver down my spine. Something about that laugh, the way it rings in the air, drags me back through memories I thought I’d forgotten.

I study her more closely, searching her face for a sign. “Vittoria?” I say, disbelief washing over me. “You’re… Vittoria?” Her eyes are a similar shade, but her face—her features are different, altered.

“Cosmetic surgery works wonders, love,” she says, her smile widening. “Quite helpful in many ways.” Her laughter rings out again, the familiarity hitting me like a punch.

“Vittoria Sartorre,” Nico says aloud, stepping closer, his eyes wide in realization. “Ria Tailor. Shit. None of us even saw it.”

Ria’s smile turns sly. “Sometimes the most obvious things are the easiest to overlook,” she says, her gaze shifting back to me. “Isn’t that right, darling? You never noticed how madly in love with you I was. You turned me away and sent me to a living hell.”

“Vittoria, I?—”

“Look,” Calaba says, stepping forward, his face lined with tension. “We need to wrap this up. You all need to leave now—take this elsewhere.” He gestures sharply, urging us toward the exit.

“Wait, this was all a sham?” Natalia erupts. “The necklace was never really up for auction?” She lets out a yell and then rips off the bottom of her dress. She is wearing boots. She grabs the box from my hand and runs off the end of the platform onto the sloped roof. Her two brothers whip out guns and keep them pointed at us as Natalia runs to the edge of the roof.

“No!” Vittoria screams as she lunges after Natalia. Natalia’s brothers open fire. I immediately cover Pippa. Carl starts screaming and Nico pushes him to the floor. The sound of gunfire erupts above us.

“Stay down,” Rocco yells through my earbud and then I hear more gunfire.

I push Pippa to the floor and cover her with my body. Nico heads toward Dimitry who fires at him, but Nico doesn’t stop. “Stay down,” I tell Pippa and then I go after Nico.

Constantine fires at me and the bullets find their mark but I am at full strength, so I don’t stop. I get to him and pull the gun from his hands and then hit him so hard I break his jaw and he’s knocked unconscious. I look around and find Vittoria fighting with Natalia at the edge. Natalia pushes Vittoria back and she falls just as Natalia disappears over the side of the Duomo with the case in her hand.

I’m struck from behind. The impact of the hit sends me skidding backward across the rooftop. The hard stone tears at my clothes, and we slam into the side wall, knocking the breath out of me. For a moment, all I can hear is the pounding of my own heartbeat, echoing against the cathedral walls. I don’t waste any time catching my breath; I roll, just in time to avoid a knife. The blade flashes under the moonlight, missing my throat by mere inches. Who the hell is this and where did he come from?

I spring to my feet, my senses on fire, the scent of sulfur stinging my nostrils as I take my opponent in. The man—no, not a man, the demon from the club—is almost unrecognizable now. His features have twisted, the illusion of humanity peeled away. His eyes burn an unnatural molten orange, and his skin seems to ripple, a deep black that blends into the night. His grin is feral, teeth too sharp for anything human, and his laugh—a low, guttural sound—sends a chill down my spine.

He lunges again, slashing the knife towards my neck. I pivot at the last second, my movements fluid, dodging just enough that the blade whistles past me. I counter with a punch to his midsection, feeling the unnatural hardness of his body beneath my knuckles. The demon staggers back, but not for long. He rebounds almost instantly, his eyes narrowing with a flicker of something—rage, or maybe pleasure at the challenge.

"You’re quick, vampire," he hisses. His distorted voice vibrates in the night air. "But let’s see how well you dance when you’re bleeding."

He shifts his grip on the knife and charges again. This time, I don’t just dodge. I grab his wrist, twisting it sharply until I hear a satisfying crack. The knife clatters across the rooftop, but the demon just grins wider, almost as if the pain excites him. He retaliates with his free hand, claws extending from the tips of his fingers as he swipes at my face. I throw my head back, barely avoiding having my eyes gouged out, and reverse direction, slamming my forehead into his nose. It’s like hitting stone, but the force is enough to send him stumbling backward, disoriented.

The wind whips around us, cold and biting, howling across the rooftop. The city below is oblivious to the chaos unfolding above, the lights of Milano glitter like stars at our feet. My eyes flick to the far side of the roof where I see Pippa—her face pale, her eyes wide with fear as she watches us. I can’t let this creature anywhere near her.

With a growl, I rush forward, tackling the demon to the ground. We roll across the uneven surface, grappling for dominance. His strength is monstrous, almost matching mine. He snarls, snapping his teeth at me like a wild animal, but I manage to pin him, my knee pressing hard against his chest. His eyes lock onto mine, the orange glow intensifying, and for a moment, I feel a strange pull—something trying to claw its way into my mind, into my very soul.

I grit my teeth, pushing back against the invasive energy. "No fucking way, demon," I growl, my voice low and dangerous. I rear back, driving my fist into his face again and again until the glow in his eyes flickers and his struggles weaken. His black blood sizzles as it spatters on the cold stones.

Suddenly, he laughs—a ragged, choking sound that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "You think you’ve won, Valdici? This is only the beginning," he wheezes, his voice dripping with malice.

Before I can react, he brings his knee up, slamming it into my ribs. Pain explodes through my side, and my grip loosens just enough for him to twist free. He scrambles backward, his form shifting, becoming more shadow than flesh. I lunge for him, but he’s too fast, slipping away like smoke, his laughter echoing around me.

I stagger to my feet, chest heaving and scan the rooftop. He’s gone, vanished into the darkness. My hands clench into fists, my fangs bared as frustration wells up inside me. But there’s no time to dwell on it—I turn, my eyes immediately finding Pippa. She’s standing by the edge of the platform her eyes locked on mine. Relief washes over me at the sight of her unharmed.

I rush over to her, pulling her into my arms, holding her tight. She’s trembling, and I can feel her heart pounding against my chest. "It’s okay," I whisper, pressing my lips to her hair. "He’s gone. I’ve got you."

She pulls back slightly, her eyes searching mine, fear and something else—trust, maybe—shining there. "Luca, what was that... what is he?"

I shake my head, my jaw tight. "A demon. And he’s not done with us yet." I glance over my shoulder, the darkness of the Milano skyline stretching out before us. "But I swear, I’ll protect you, Pippa. Whatever it takes."

She nods, her fingers tightening around my arm, and I know that no matter what’s coming, I can’t afford to lose. Not now. Not with her life on the line. I help Carl to his feet and after a few stumbling steps, he scurries away like vermin.

In the distance, sirens wail, and I know they are headed our way. Time to leave.

Nico? I open a channel to my brother.

Yeah. I’ve got Calaba here in the Duomo. He’s singing like a canary. Renzo just arrived. Rocco reached out when the shooting started. They found Gazzago’s kids. I’ll fill you in later.

I wrap my arm around my wife. I don’t think I have ever looked forward to going home more.