My Mafia Ex-Husband

Chapter 26 - Julianna

I dreamt of teaching children. I wanted to become a schoolteacher. Father forbit it saying there would be no safety for me because of our family. I told him I would change my name, cut & dye my hair. I just wanted to be ME!

Giovanni understood this. We talked about everything under the moon and back. He said public school would be dangerous, but a private school would be easier to set up security. He explained that he understood me wanting freedom, but because of who I was, he would not risk my safety. I understood him.

He explained that losing me is not an option. The more time we spent talking, the more I fell in love with him.

I wake up from my dream and realize that I am on the floor in a room of some sort. A small window too high for me to reach. A metal door. No furniture. I am literally sitting on the dirty floor. Don’t get me wrong. I am not a princess Barbie. I can handle dirt. But the smell. The room smells like death.

There is a bottle of water next to me. I open it and drink it down. Whatever I was tranquilized with has left me parched. I move to stand on shaky legs. I carefully move around the room. There a very little light coming through the high window. It is still daylight. I just do not know how long I was knocked out.

Not to mention who knocked me out. I smell a lady’s perfume. I know exactly whose stench it belongs to. Dahlia. That f*****g b***h. I swear I have never physically fought anyone, but I will punch a b***h. She is the exact b***h that needs it too!

I was about to know on the door when I heard a key inserted in the lock and the doorknob was moving. I quickly scrambled back to the floor and sat down where I woke up.

“Ah! Look, Igor, the mafia princess is awake!” Dahlia smirked and she sauntered into the room. She was wearing a red pantsuit with a white blouse with ruffles. Her manicured nails and smelly-ass perfume. Her face looked almost fake. She has had some work done for sure.

“I am not a princess. b***h, you had better explain why I am here. You do know Santino will kill you. You have made my family miserable with your antics. You and your ass of a father.”

“Tut-tut! You really need to learn your place. I am the one that should be at Santino’s side. Not that poor excuse of a woman. My sister is useless. She does not know her place.” She scowled.

“Your sister is the only woman that my brother loves. She gave him two sons and stay tuned, stupid ass, he will marry her again after all that you have put him through.

“Those children may not be his. I was pregnant with his child. I lost my baby because of her!” Dahlia screamed.

Oh, nice. She is losing her s**t. I am going to enjoy this.

“Really? Can you explain why my nephews are my brother's little clones? They look exactly like him. Do you know that when my brother finally kicked you out of the house he had been searching for Cassandra and did not stop until he found her? He was NEVER with you ever since. So how did you get preggo? Pay anyone? Bargain with anyone? I know your kind!” I smiled.

This will start to push her over the edge, and I am going to have some fun.

“What the hell do you mean by that? I am not some slut…”

“Sure, you are. We have all already heard stories of your antics. Your betrayal to your sister. Not to mention common decency. You are the exact definition of a slut! You have slept with many men. You have tried to extort Santino’s father. You have paid the medical staff to fake documents. Did you forget that Cassandra excelled in everything? She is the perfect woman. She protects her children. She is beautiful. She is intelligent. She is kind, honorable, strong, confident, trustworthy, supportive, and she has values that you will never, ever understand. She is the definition of a mother. She is a passionate woman. Just ask my brother!” I laughed.

Dahlia screamed at Igor, “Only water for her, she does not eat. Let’s see if her strong and confident ‘sister’ will come for her. I want Cassandra here so I can slap her. I will show her exactly who I am!”

She stomped out of the room. Igor turned to me with a sympathetic look on his face. He left another bottle of water and reached into his jacket pocket. He turned and looked at the doorway, pulled out an apple and handed it to me. “I’m sorry. She has my son hostage.”

He walked out and closed the door. He locked it again.

Shit!

Cassandra cannot come for me. She is pregnant again. My brother will not let her. I know Giovanni is going out of his ever-loving mind. He will come. If Santino comes too, all hell will break loose. Santino had been on edge when he was searching for Cassandra.

I remember when Santino was searching New York for her and some stupid man asked if she was some w***e that my brother needed. If so, he had a few he could send to Santino. Giovanni said the look on Santino’s face could stop traffic. He was so enraged he did not say a word. He just pulled out his gun and shot that man in the face.

I know my brother can be ruthless, especially when it comes to his wife. He is very protective of her. I remember when they were courting, Santino’s face showed the excitement of getting married to a woman that he fell in love with.

He had always been quiet growing up. He was training to take over as head of the mafia. But in his eyes, he did not want the old way of life for his family. Once the arrangement was set up by our father and Cassandra’s, Santino would be completely obsessed with Cassandra.

After Santino’s wedding, our father suggested that Dahlia move in with him and Cassandra. Santino was livid. He argued and argued with our father. To shut him up until Santino took over the head of the family title of The Don, he entertained our father.

I watched my brother drown himself in liquor just to touch Dahlia. When I found out that Cassandra ran, I knew why she ran.

In their eyes, a woman being smart and using her skills for herself is an embarrassment to the family. Cassandra hid her skills well, until Gerardo found out everything and told Santino. Santino was smiling and so proud of his wife. He wanted to set her up running the family businesses that were online. He wanted her involved in every aspect of the family businesses as his partner, not as her boss.

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard the lock on the door turn. Igor walked in quickly and quietly. Handed me a small burner phone. He held his finger up to his lips, signaling to not say a word. He signaled to use the phone quickly. He handed me a piece of paper with an address.

I sent a message to Giovanni sending him the address and a heart and kiss emoji. Igor gave me another piece of paper with a note:

Save my son please at this address.

I nodded yes and whispered, “I will, but you need to come with me so you can take your son away from the danger.”

“I will try and get you out of this room. Hide the phone. She does not know I have it. I will come back in a bit while she goes to another doctor’s appointment.

“I agree. Let me send the address to someone who will get your son to safety, and you come with me when I leave,” I pleaded.

“Señorita Julianna, I am truly embarrassed. I let myself get caught up with Dahlia and her sins. But I needed the money for my son’s medical treatments. I am so sorry I…” Igor whispered.

“No, do not do that to yourself. You had to take care of him no matter what. I have the resources to have your son taken care of medically, but you, as a father, must be there for him. My brother will help.”

“Your brother will kill me for what I have done.”

“One moment…” I sent a message to Santino and Cassandra explaining what happened.

Cassandra was the first to reply. God, I love her.

“There you will be fine. My brother and my fiancé are on their way. Your son will be waiting for you at my brother’s home. We will signal when it is clear. My brother has a black SUV with a gold hood ornament.”

Igor smiled and nodded, “Thank you, princess.” He turned and closed the door quietly and re-engaged the lock.

Please let everything work out. I thought to myself.

My love, we are coming. ETA ten minutes. We will wait for your friend’s signal. Cassandra has already sent someone to retrieve the boy. Stay safe, I need you in my arms.

Screw this, as soon as we are back home. I am marrying that man. I am not waiting for the other show to drop.

True to his word, ten minutes later Igor rushed into the room and grabbed my hand. “She left five minutes ago. We must hurry. I do not trust that woman. Your brother just pulled up out back. He is parked just inside the tree line of the woods behind the warehouse. I will cover you just in case.”

I nodded and we rushed out. As soon as the back door was open, Igor pushed me in front of him and we both ran to the trees. We were ten feet away when I heard two shots ring out. I screamed as Giovanni ran toward me and Santino covered with his gun. I turned to look for Igor.

He was falling down with a gunshot to his leg. I screamed as I turned around to reach out for him. “Please help him, he saved me.”

Santino rushed forward, grabbing Igor’s hand and dragged him to the tree line while Giovanni returned gun fire. I was shaking by the time we all jumped into the SUV.

“Let me see.” I asked Igor.

“Only scratch, dear lady. I need to see my son please.”

“Your son is already on his way to my home. He is safe,” Santino said as he drove like a bat out of hell.

“Thank you, Don Fusco. I understand your position regarding what I did. I accept the consequences as long as my son is safe.”

Santino looked into the rearview mirror. I nodded and smiled. He knew what I was thinking.

“Well, you will have to answer to my sister. She is your boss now. My wife is already having a doctor come to my home to assess your son and you,” Santino quietly said.

“My love, are you okay?” Giovanni asked as he held me tightly to his body.

“Yes, just a little dirty and hungry. I missed breakfast with my nephews.”