QUIET EMPIRE (Quiet Mafia #4)

Chapter One

The shot echoed around the property and tore through the trees, sending the birds into a frenzy above me. Their wings flapped in panic, and their screams filled the air. It was the only thing that told me life was still happening around me. I held on to a tree trunk and waited to see who was hit. My stomach did a painful flipflop when Elenora slumped to her knees and Sienna gasped in Elio’s arms.

Why couldn’t she have been the one shot? f**k!

I shut my eyes and cursed. Why was I always left to deal with the aftermath?

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Sienna kick the gun away from her mother’s reach and slowly kneel next to her. She placed her ear next to Elenora’s lips as though listening.

I swore to God, if Elenora told her something, I’d drive a bullet right into Sienna’s skull in front of the lot of them. Who was I kidding? I was going to do it anyway, but it just had to happen soon instead of later.

Everyone just watched as the two whispered together. I supposed they were giving them a moment before the b***h took her last breath and died.

I whirled around and covered my mouth, hoping Theo would deal with her on the other side.

I loathed Elenora. She got what she deserved, and it was up to me to finish the rest. A tear slipped down my cheek when I saw Theo in front of me.

I let my head slip into the last time I’d seen him.

“Do I look like I’m going to stop asking?” I pulled my arm back and slapped Theo’s consigliere across the face. I knew I looked like a crazy person, but I didn’t care. Theo had left in the middle of the night to go after Elenora and their spawn of a daughter without his normal cavalry, and now no one would tell me where he was.

“Do that again,” he towered over me and squeezed my upper arm hard enough to bruise, “and I’ll squeeze that baby right out of you.” I ripped my arm free and stepped back, feeling a painful ache deep in my stomach. I was glad I was just at the six-month mark, or I’d be concerned for my baby’s safety. Stress was eating away at my ability to make wise choices. “I’m just following orders.”

“Noemi,” Pippo snapped at me, “it’s probably best you return home.” I started to protest, but he held up a hand. “Unless you have anything else to share with us about what Bosco is up to?”

I looked away, searching my mind for anything new I could share about the Capris, but at that moment, nothing came to me. I knew the only reason I was even allowed to be on the Coppola grounds with Theo was my agreement to share any news I had about the man I was dating and the father of my child. That and the fact that Theo still wanted me and not Elenora and that baby.

“There’s a taxi waiting outside.” He folded his short arms and waited for me to leave. His brothers, Betto and Lotto, were never far away, and it wouldn’t take much for them to throw me out of the house if I protested any more.

With a huff, I gathered my belongings, but I did hear Pippo ask for an update on Theo. I dismissed them and headed out the door and to the car.

“Where to?” the taxi driver asked.

I could go to my mama’s, I could go to Bosco, but I decided to head out of town and visit my aunt Giana. At least she wouldn’t ask questions and would be happy to see me. Also, she was a nurse, so if these pains got worse, I would be in good hands. I prattled off the address, and he sighed at the distance but carried on, knowing there would be a good tip at the end of it.

Once we were on our way, I settled in the seat and leaned my head back, watching the lights of the homes we passed. I was so close to my happily ever after, of money, security, and power. I just needed to get Elenora out of the way. It was when we were on the outskirts of town that I spotted it. Theo’s car was parked at the end of a driveway. If I’d blinked, I would have missed it.

“Hey,” I sat up and looked back, wondering what in the world he was doing all the way out here without any of his men, “I need you to turn around.”

“I’m under orders to report where I drop you off. Are you sure this is where you want me to say you were dropped off?” the taxi driver said over his shoulder, and I should have known Pippo would have spoken to him. After all, most of the city was under their watchful eye, and those who weren’t didn’t last very long.

“I don’t care what the hell you tell them. I’ll pay you double if you turn around and go down the driveway we just passed.”

“You’re the boss.” Without hesitation, he whirled the car around, sending me against the door, then he jerked into the driveway.

“Stop here,” I ordered, not wanting him to drive right up to the house. “Pull up behind those shrubs. I can’t have you be seen.”

I counted out some money, skipped the tip, and tossed it over his seat.

“You’ll get the rest when I get back.”

“So, I’m waiting for you, miss?”

“Yes.” I quietly closed the door, hoping not to draw any attention to myself in case I was about to catch him here with another woman. “I’ll let you know when you can go.”

“I’m leaving the meter on.” He pointed to the stupid little box that counted every minute we were in the car.

I hurried down the driveway, holding my belly, and was pleased to find the side door was open. In fact, it wasn’t even latched all the way. That was odd.

“You called, and I came.” Theo’s voice caught my attention as I stepped into the freezing cold house. I held my breath for a moment, glad they didn’t hear me as my shoes squelched on the tile floor. “Now you’re here, with him,” he chuckled darkly, “and you think you’re going to walk away from me, take my daughter, and, what, just disappear into the night?”

“I warned you that the next time you hurt me, we’d leave.” Elenora’s voice was cool and calm. Chilly, almost. “You’ve everything you want in life, so just leave us be.”

“Give me my daughter, and you’ll never see me again.”

“Why? So she can be treated like dirt in that house? Be undermined by your mother and hated by your father? The only way you’re getting her is through me.”

“She’s my blood, and that means something to me.”

I peeked around the corner and saw Theo’s back was to me, and over his shoulder was Elenora with a gun pointed at him.

No!

“I don’t love you—”

“No one loves you, Elenora.” Theo half laughed. “Not me, not your parents, not even your boyfriend Francesco, who let his family kill your sorry excuse of a brother. You have no one, so put the gun down and do what you’re Goddamned told!”

Oscar came into view, and he too was holding a gun that was pointed at Theo. Oh, my God, he’s out numbered! Why did he come here alone?

“You’re never going to leave us, are you?”

“Not while I’m living—”

Bang!

Theo’s entire body jolted as he took a step toward her then collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud. I covered my mouth in horror and fear as she lowered the gun and let out a cry of her own. I quickly threw myself into a closet and pulled the door close to my trembling body, as tears streamed down my face.

“We need to leave now,” Oscar yelled. “Come on, the guys will be here to clean this up, and we can’t be here.” I could hear them approach and prayed they wouldn’t notice the closet door wasn’t shut tight. I knew she wouldn’t hesitate to kill me too.

The moment they stepped out of the house, I flung myself into the room and dropped awkwardly to the floor over his body. I struggled to roll him onto his back, and he blinked up at me in confusion as he made a strange sound.

“No, no, no, no…” I sobbed as I pressed my hands against the hole in his chest. “Stay with me.”

“K-k,” he tried to say, and I grabbed his hand and held it tightly.

“I love you,” I choked through my tears.

“Kill her,” he whispered with one last effort before his body went slack, and I knew he was gone.

I sat back against the wall with numb legs and cradled my swollen belly. The only thing that ran through my mind in that moment was he wasn’t thinking of me. Even with his last breath he was thinking of her.