Page 187 of Vows of a Mobster

Antonio opened his mouth to reply but she stopped him. “Children’s actions are unpredictable. And I won’t take risks with Marissa’s life. If either one of them is anywhere close to that woman or my mother, they are not to shoot.”

My wife might have been enveloped in terror before this moment, but she got herself together, which told me how strong she was. She made me proud; I just hoped I wouldn’t lose her or my daughter to two lunatic women, or because I kept my wife in the dark.

Sixty-Five

Brianna

The whole drive to Angelica’s house, I kept my gaze out the window. Mateo, Antonio, and Declan were working out their strategy. I tuned out all conversation, trying to focus on my breathing and my heartbeat. This was what a broken heart felt like. If something happened to my daughter, I wouldn’t be able to carry on. The fear of seeing Emma hurt and the stab in my chest when hearing Mateo was involved with this woman gnawed at my chest.

Maybe Mateo didn’t love me as I loved him. I thought we found happiness but then why would he have a mistress. It wasn’t something I would live with. I didn’t want my daughter to think that was okay.

My husband seemed honestly shocked when he saw the woman on the video. He must have known about my mother but not this Angelica. Was he still seeing her? Fuck, it didn’t matter. I would save my daughter at all costs but then I’d have to leave him.

It was hard to keep my thoughts from scrambling, causing panic within me. There were rows of cars behind us and in front of us. But the only thing that mattered to me was that Emma and Marissa came out of this unharmed. He kept the truth from me. Emma and Marissa were kidnapped by my mother and his crazy mistress because he kept the truth from me.

My mother! His mistress!

Yes, I fell for him through and through. I loved his protective and possessive ways. I wanted his protection, to share my troubles with him. But I didn’t want to be completely shielded where I unintentionally put my family and myself in danger. If I knew about the threat, I would have stayed at our home and waited till it was safe. He should have trusted me to tell me that.

“Brianna,” Mateo’s voice startled me. I found all three men watching me.

“Hmmm?”

“We’ll be there in five minutes. Stay next to me, no matter what.” Yes, he was definitely protective. But fuck, the fact that Mateo had a mistress was a betrayal to me, Emma, and our unborn child. It felt like a stab in the heart. “About Angelica-”

“It doesn’t matter, Mateo,” I stopped him. I didn’t need witnesses to my humiliation.

“I want to explain.”

“Then save it for later,” I told him tiredly. “I just want to see Emma and Marissa unharmed. Nothing else matters.”

His jaw clenched and I heard his teeth grind. Even now, my fingers itched to touch him. To feel him so he could soothe all my fears. Instead, I turned my head away from him.

Sixty-Six

Mateo

Brianna could barely stand to look at me. I wanted to explain to her why I kept the threat of her mother a secret. Her face was pale, her hands clenched together on her lap as she kept her composure. Instead of leaning on me, she kept inching away from me. She didn’t even want my touch.

And this thing with damn Angelica. I would enjoy killing that woman and Brianna’s mother, for ever threatening my happiness. I have been tense over the last few days, agitated I couldn’t find concrete leads to eliminate Brianna’s mother out of our lives. But none of it hindered my happiness when I looked at my wife and daughter. The way my wife watched me, love and desire lingering in her deep, soft eyes. And now, she could barely stand to sit next to me.

The moment we parked, I exited the vehicle, all our men in position. My phone rang and I answered.

“Come upstairs,” Angelica’s voice was feeding my fury. “You know where the bedroom is.” Fuck, I wish I never took that woman to bed. “Just the three of you or I blow the kid’s brain out.”

Brianna stiffened next to me, indicating she heard every word. Angelica hung up, and I took my wife’s hand into mine. She tried to pull her hand free, but I only gripped it tighter. I would not allow her space. We were in this together and I would fix it all. For her. For us!

Declan was on the other side of Brianna, while I kept her to my left. The three of us walked into the home, my wife between us.

“Ah, there we all are,” Angelica announced happily the moment we entered the room. The last time I had a glimpse of her was when she hung out in front of the church, at my wedding. She looked crazed. Whatever the fuck happened to her, she was mentally sick. “The whole family gathered. Even the uncle.”

Brianna held herself together, making me proud. The only betrayal of her emotions was the squeeze of her hand. I squeezed it back. Whether she wanted my comfort or not, she would get it. The image of her holding tightly onto her stepfather’s pants leg during her mother’s wedding came to my mind. She had been under different kinds of threats and scrutiny since she was a child. I would never let anyone harm her or our children.

“Where is my mother?” Brianna asked in a firm voice.

Her grip was the only sign that she was nervous.

“She’s not here,” Angelica answered nonchalantly.