Chapter Ten
Four days later
Alonzo linked his fingers with Tessa’s as they looked through the wedding magazine together. She’d been insistent on just going to court and signing their names on the dotted lines. He wouldn’t have that.
“These are really expensive,” she said.
“Money’s not an object. You’re going to wear a white gown, have bridesmaids. I know Jessica is really looking forward to it.”
“I thought we agreed to a small event.”
“We agreed whatever we like.”
She rested her head against his chest. “And what I like?”
“Is silly. I’m not marrying you like that where we exchange rings, sign the paper, and be done with it.” He cupped her cheek, and she lifted her head, looking at him. “What would your father have wanted?”
“That’s not fair,” she said with a groan, covering her face.
“Is that because he’d have wanted his little girl to have a huge day where she was the star?”
“Yes.”
“See, I know what you want and what you need.” He chuckled. “Stop trying to pretend you don’t want this.”
“I saw the way your … friends looked at us in that nightclub, Alonzo. They weren’t happy to see us.”
“I don’t care what they want or wanted. I’m with you, and that’s the way it’s going to stay.”
“But don’t you have to follow some kind of protocol or something like that?” she asked.
“I don’t have to follow anything I don’t want. I told you, Tessa. I’m the master of my own destiny, and you need to see that I’m not going to back down without a fight. I love you more than anything else in this world. If they push me aside, tell me I’m not fit to run the Zanetti name, then they can take over. Believe me, it wouldn’t last long before they came my way. That is a promise.”
She smiled up at him.
“I love you, Tessa. These feelings are not going away, and I would never dream of asking you to become something that you have no right. You’re going to be my wife. The mother of my children.”
“Where is that son of mine?”
The loud screech filled the air and echoed off all the walls.
Tessa stared at the surprise on Alonzo’s face, and then he began to chuckle. “They have brought reinforcements. You’re about to meet my mother.”
Before she could form any kind of excuse the door slammed open, and in walked a force to be reckoned with.
His mother, Maria Zanetti, with a glare that would kill most people on the spot.
Tessa’s heart raced. She tried to step away from Alonzo, but he wrapped an arm around her waist, stopping her from escaping.
It wasn’t fair as he had the advantage like always. Gritting her teeth, she stayed perfectly still.
“You think you can take over the name and just start making all the rules,” Maria asked, her hands waving at her son.
“Hello, Mother, what a pleasant surprise to see you back here.”
“You knew I would come. No matter what happened, I was going to turn up. Your father may have angered me during his dying breath, but that was no reason for me not to return here when I hear you’re making a mockery of my name by marrying this, this peasant.”
Alonzo tensed behind her. He still didn’t let her go.
“I suggest you be careful, Mother. I’m very much in love with this … peasant. She is going to be my wife.”
“She is a soldier’s daughter. You think I don’t know what has been happening here. First, you allow this witch to attack my son-in-law, then you—”
“That son-in-law was beating the living shit out of your daughter.”
“Enough, Alonzo. You know not to interfere with a couple’s marriage.”
“Interfere? You were fucking pissed that Dad organized it. You didn’t want Jessica to marry into the family or to be part of the Adesso. You’ve been sulking since his death because he didn’t grant you that one wish. Don’t you dare come in here and tell me you supported it when you’ve not even seen your grandson.”
“The same grandson that she has been taking care of.”
“Who is the mole in my household?” Alonzo asked.
“Don’t worry. You already fired her. I’ve been paying her to keep a watch on everything.”
Alonzo laughed. “You paid a whore to do a proper job. You should have just asked me. Was that so hard? To call your son and to find out what was going on in the family you left behind. In the family you neglected.”
“I did not neglect you.”
“You certainly didn’t stick around to help it. I’ve been doing the best I can with the fuck-up you and Father created.”
“And you think marrying this girl is going to help that? You cannot marry her. The only person you can marry now is an Acquati. Their oldest daughter. It will cement your future. She’ll give you good sons.”
“I’m not marrying her, Mother.”
“You will.”
“I’m marrying Tessa Brown, and that is final. You want to test me on this, go ahead. I have already started the proceedings.” Alonzo placed a hand on her stomach. “And there may already be a child here.”
His mother gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, believe me I would. You think I didn’t know what was at risk with all of this? I knew, and I was ready to face the consequences. You want to kick me out, take this title from me, be my guest. I’m the only one who knows all the secrets of the Zanetti.” Alonzo kissed her shoulder. “Go and find Jessica. I’m going to deal with my mother.”
Tessa didn’t mind leaving. Arguments were never something she enjoyed being part of.
She found Jessica out in the garden like she did most days with Caesar.
The moment she approached, Jessica smiled. “How are things going with Mother?”
“I think she hates me.”
“Of course she does. She promised me I’d never get married to anyone I couldn’t stand. Dad forced me to marry Benedict, and Mother showed she had no power. Her only true grip was trying to do the same to Alonzo. It would have been her easiest way of getting back at Dad for not listening to her.” Jessica shrugged. “Alonzo can handle her.”
She watched as Jessica blew on Caesar’s stomach. The little boy started to giggle, and she was so happy for the two of them.
Resting her hand on her stomach, she thought about Maria’s reaction to Alonzo’s … threat. It sounded like a threat.
“Can I ask you something?” Tessa asked.
“Of course. I don’t know if I’ll be able to answer it.”
“Alonzo touched my stomach and said to your mother there could be a child here already. She looked mortified. Why?”
Jessica smiled. “My brother is sly. The men in our world, they cannot get anyone pregnant but their wife.”
“There can’t be a guarantee with that, Jessica. No one can.”
“In our world, if a woman who is the mistress or the whore of one of our men and she gets pregnant.” Jessica stopped, and Tessa’s heart pounded. “She’s not allowed to keep it.”
“That can’t be possible.”
“They’re too much of a liability, and they can’t be allowed to have children. Benedict told me that some of the women have their tubes tied to prevent it.”
“That’s awful. What if they want children when that guy decides he doesn’t want her?”
Jessica shrugged. “I don’t think they’re allowed to, you know, have anyone outside of our world. They have to stay part of the families in some way, and so they get passed around.”
“Wow, that is so awful.”
“I know, but that’s the rules and the way they are.”
“I don’t think I could stand to do that.”
“It’s not a good life, Tessa. Are you sure you want to marry my brother?”
“I know I love him.”
“Is that enough?” Jessica asked.
Tessa placed a hand on her stomach. “I don’t know if I’m pregnant or not. I don’t want to get rid of it.”
“I think what you need to realize, Tessa, if you can’t stand this life, I do truly believe Alonzo would walk away. He’d leave all of this behind for you.”
“But this is his world.”
“You mean a lot more to him than a name. I’ve seen my brother with women over the years. Never have I seen him pursue a woman the way he does you. It’s like he doesn’t even see straight. You’re the only one he wants.”
Suddenly a loud bang filled the air, followed by several more.
Jessica grabbed Caesar, and they turned in the direction of the noise.
Benedict had just shot three of the guards and was heading their way.
Fear gripped Tessa.
Jessica and Caesar were both here, and she couldn’t let anything happen to them.
****
“Alonzo, my son, you know this is not the way our world works,” Maria said. “You cannot marry that girl.”
He stared at his mother and shook his head. “Do you know what is funny? You thinking you have any control over me or what I do.”
“Look, she seems like a nice girl. I remember her father well. I do. Keep her. Put her to one side and do what all men do. Have a woman that you will enjoy to visit that you can use. But don’t put the family at risk like this. Do not do that.”
“Do you think I don’t know what you’re all about?” Alonzo asked. “You think I don’t know about how pissed you were at Dad because he didn’t take your last request seriously? You didn’t want Jessica to marry into the Adesso, but he organized it anyway. You want to ruin my happiness because you have some twisted view in thinking that you know what you’re doing. You don’t have a fucking clue, Mother. You left this house. You have no power here. Tessa Brown will be my wife. Our children will be your grandkids, and mark my words, right here, right now, if you treat her with anything but the utmost respect, I will make sure you never come back here again, do you understand me?”
“You’d threaten your mother over this girl?”
“Mom, you need to understand that I would move heaven and fucking hell for this girl. I have loved her for a long time. She wasn’t ready to know how much, but I cannot let her go. There’s no way I can have second best with her. She is my number one.”
“It’s not going to be easy. Your enemies will know the truth. She’ll be easy to find.”
“I’ve got the best men to protect her. She will want for nothing and will live a long life.”
The sound of bullets firing filled the air.
Maria screamed as the office door slammed open.
“Benedict’s on the land. He’s killed five men already. He has Jessica, Caesar, and Tessa,” a guard said.
Alonzo was already at his drawer, pulling out his gun and his knife.
“Stay here.” He gave the order to his mother.
Leaving the office, he walked by the kitchen. Louise was cowering in the corner.
“He just shot them in the head. Didn’t care they were men with families. Just shot them,” Louise said.
He nodded at Cole to get her the hell out of there.
Alonzo should have known Benedict would come back. He’d taken everything from the woman-beating fucker. He’d been cast out. Once his father knew the true extent of Benedict’s dealings with the human traffickers, all hell had broken out. Adesso had disowned his only son and was now trying to find a suitable partner for his daughter who would be able to take his place.
Everything was fucked up, and it was all because of that fucker’s greed. It pissed him off.
Standing toward the door, he stared out the window, being careful not to be seen. Benedict stood with a gun pointed at Tessa. Jessica and Caesar were nowhere to be seen.
He couldn’t have this man standing over his woman.
Stepping out of the door, he started to advance toward Benedict.
“I suggest you stop right there, Alonzo,” Benedict said.
“You’re on my land, pointing a gun at my woman. Who the fuck do you think you are?” He wanted Benedict to turn that gun on him.
“I want Jessica, and I want Caesar. They are mine.”
“They are not yours. You’re not even an Adesso anymore.”
“That was your fucking fault. You should have done what I told you to do. There’s money to be made in flesh, Alonzo. By bringing yourself close to—”
“Enough,” Alonzo said.
“You know what, you’re right. Let’s see how you like having something you care about taken away from you.”
Benedict fired his gun, and Alonzo didn’t hesitate. He fired his own weapon. Benedict’s head exploded, and he fell to the ground.
Rushing to Tessa’s side, he cupped her face.
The expression he saw scared him.
“Baby, baby, I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
“Alonzo,” she said.
He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Fuck, baby, I love you so damn much. We’re getting married wherever you want to marry. I don’t care. I love you.”
“I love you, Alonzo, so much.”
Suddenly, she became really heavy, and he held her tightly.
Jessica and Caesar came out from behind a statue.
He stared down at Tessa as he lowered her to the ground. She’d not been holding him back. Her hands had been covering her stomach.
He pulled her hands away and saw the blood soaking her shirt.
“Shit!” He lifted up her shirt and saw the wound seeping blood. “Get an ambulance. A doctor. Any fucking thing. Just … make it stop.” He removed his shirt, pressing it against the wound. “You’re fine, Tessa. Honey, you’re fine.”
She nodded her head, and he saw the pain in her eyes. She was trying to hide it.
“I love you, Alonzo. I don’t care about anything else. I would have been a good wife to you.” She talked slowly.
He heard the commotion going on around him, but he ignored it all.
“You will make a good life for me, babe. We’re going to be so happy. We’re going to go away. I’ll take you all over the world, to every single beach your heart desires. You’ll want for nothing. We’re going to have a lot of children. We’ll name them after each letter of the alphabet.”
Tessa laughed and cried out.
“You just can’t leave me, Tessa. You hear me? I love you so damn much. You can’t leave me.”
“I don’t ever want to leave you. I love you.”
He leaned down, and even as his hands were covered in her blood, he cupped her face, kissing her back with a passion. “Don’t leave me. I forbid you from leaving me.”
He didn’t know how much time had passed or what was happening.
This woman, he loved her more than anything.
“Alonzo, the ambulance is here,” Cole said.
He stayed by her side as the two men loaded her onto a gurney. They were already working on her, opening up her shirt to reveal the wound.
Jessica was crying as she held onto Caesar. His mother had come out, and his men were there.
Alonzo didn’t give a shit though. Tears fell down his cheeks, and he was in agony as he watched the only person he had ever loved get wheeled away.
He followed her.
“No, Alonzo, don’t. One of the men will go with her,” Maria said.
His mother held his arm. When he was a boy, he would have listened to her.
He would have listened to his father and done what was required of him. He watched Tessa’s feet disappear around the corner of the house.
Turning to his mother, he glared at her. Pulling his gun out of his pants, he pressed it against her forehead. She looked completely startled but he didn’t care. “Let’s get something clear, right here, right now. That woman is my life. She is my fucking reason for breathing. You will not keep me from her. You will never keep us apart, and I will turn this entire fucking city into a bloodbath. Test me, Mother, and you’ll be the one dead.”
He moved away from her and rushed around the building just as the doors were about to close.
“She’s my fiancée. I’m coming with you.” He climbed into the back of the ambulance.
Tessa was no longer conscious. He held her hand, hating that her blood covered his. The men kept working, and he just sat there and did something he’d not done in a long time. He prayed.
In a world like his that was full of darkness and fear, he prayed to whoever was listening and hoped that someone cared enough.
She was too good to be gone, to have her life taken from her.
Even as the tears fell from his eyes, he stayed with her.
When they got to the hospital, one of the men put a hand on his stomach. He couldn’t follow her into surgery. The bullet was still in her stomach, and they had to operate.
Jessica, Caesar, Cole, and Demetri arrived as he was filling out her medical forms. They were not an issue for him as he’d been taking care of her for a long time now.
“If she doesn’t make it,” Alonzo said. “I will declare war on Adesso and his entire fucking clan.”
“Alonzo, you know he acted alone,” Jessica said.
“I don’t give a fuck. His father should have had him on a leash. He came into my home. Killed my men and attacked my woman. That is not going to go away lightly.” He rubbed at his eyes.
“Alonzo, don’t react. Not yet. Not until you know what is going to happen,” Jessica said. “She’s a fighter, and you’re going to see that.”
He sat back, staring at the door he’d seen her being taken through. If she died today, he would cause pain and terror unlike anything the world had ever seen. He would kill, torture, and make people fear the name Tessa Brown as he avenged her death. Then, once his job was done, he would follow her because his life was worth nothing without her.