Chapter Seven
The following day, Tessa smiled at Caesar as he crawled across the carpet. They were in Jessica and Benedict’s quarters. For once, Jessica actually sat on the floor with them. Her hair was pulled up off her face, and she was smiling at her son.
“I can’t believe he’s getting so big,” Jessica said.
“It won’t be long until he’s walking, that’s for sure.” She tucked some hair behind her ears as Caesar stopped halfway. He sat back on his bottom and pressed his hands together, looking so cute. Seconds later, he started again, heading straight for Jessica.
The moment he was at Jessica’s thighs, she smiled down at her son. “Well done. Off you go.”
Caesar didn’t like that, so he crawled into his mom’s lap, taking a seat.
“I think someone doesn’t like you saying no,” Tessa said.
“Story of my life. Another man that doesn’t like no.”
Tessa saw the happiness die in Jessica’s eyes, but she didn’t push Caesar away. Instead, she placed a hand on her child’s stomach and made sure he was safe.
“You know there was a time I was jealous of you.”
“Of me?”
“Yes. I mean, I know your father was a soldier and all that, but you seemed to have everything. Your father adored you. Your mother was devoted to you. You could have any life you wanted.”
“My parents died, Jessica.”
“I know. You didn’t have to stay here though.”
“I didn’t? I hate to break it to you, I didn’t have a choice. Alonzo … I mean, Mr. Zanetti, told me it wasn’t safe.”
“My brother has had an obsession with you for some time now. It’s kind of scary when I think about it.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
Jessica chuckled. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. We don’t even need Michele here, but he keeps her around so he can have you.”
Tessa stared down at Caesar. “Would you like me to leave?”
“You’re the only person in this family that hasn’t judged me for my decisions. For what I told you.” Jessica looked at her.
The pain in her eyes struck Tessa hard.
“You have no idea what that means to me,” Jessica said.
“I don’t think you hate your son,” Tess said. “I think … you don’t want to get attached to him because they’re going to take him away.”
Tears filled Jessica’s eyes, and before she caught them, some leaked out.
“I’m such a mess.”
“He’s your son,” Tessa said.
“The moment he was born a boy, he stopped being my son.”
“You can’t let them do this.”
“I don’t have a choice. My mother warned me, and look at Alonzo. He was never allowed near me. There are times he is more a stranger to me than a brother.”
Tessa was about to go and give her hug when the sound of a door being slammed open and Benedict’s angry growl filled the air.
Jessica quickly handed Caesar back to her and got to her feet.
“Where are you, bitch?” The door opened, and Benedict, looking so filled with rage, advanced toward Jessica. “You think you can just do what you like, is that it? You think your pussy is made of gold.”
“Go, Tessa. Take Caesar to play.”
She hesitated.
“Now!”
“Get the fuck out,” Benedict said.
Being yelled at always made her cry, so as she made her way to the door, tears filled her eyes. Caesar started to whimper.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh cut Tessa to the core. She couldn’t stop Jessica from getting hit, but she wasn’t going to stand by and let anything happen to her. Running out of Jessica’s quarters, she charged down the main stairs. Without waiting for an invitation, she pushed past three guards and walked straight into the library.
Alonzo sat with Demetri, Cole, and a couple of other men.
The moment he caught sight of her, he got to his feet.
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
“You have to stop him.” Alonzo grabbed her arm and marched her out of the library. The door slammed closed with a resounding thud. “Stop. Listen to me, Alonzo.”
“It’s Mr. Zanetti right now, Tessa. Remember that.”
“Stop it. You have to go to Jessica.”
“What the fuck has my sister done now?” he asked.
“Benedict is hurting her.”
Alonzo just stood there. “She’s his wife, Tessa. There’s nothing I can do.”
She stared at him in shock. “You’re not going to do anything?”
“There’s nothing I can do. What goes on between a man and his wife, stays there.”
“She’s your sister.”
“My hands are tied.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. There’s no way he could be saying these things, let alone believe them.
“I can’t … that’s not possible.”
“Go and take care of Caesar. I’ll see you tonight.”
Benedict could be killing her. Raping her.
She had walked away.
“Dad, do you ever stop what you know to be wrong even if it’ll get you in trouble?” she asked.
“That’s a tough one. If you see something that you know to be wrong and you can stop it, and you feel you can’t walk away, then you’re not going to be able to live with yourself. You have to do what is right. Even if it’s scary, you have to step up.”
She pushed Caesar into Alonzo’s waiting hands. Even as tears poured down her face, she was so angry and disgusted with him. She didn’t care that they were in front of witnesses or that he was the boss.
“You’re a coward.”
She turned on her heel, and before he could stop her, she ran back up in the direction of Jessica’s quarters.
Hearing the truth spill from Jessica’s lips a few days ago, knowing she wanted to love her son but couldn’t, it had changed something within her.
Maxwell Brown didn’t raise his daughter to be a coward.
He raised her to do the right thing, to know right from wrong.
A man beating up a woman, that was fundamentally wrong. But for her, what made it even more so was Alonzo doing nothing.
She didn’t know if he followed her or what would happen for her disrespect. All she knew was she had to make Benedict stop.
Stepping into Jessica’s quarters, she heard the cry, the unmistakable sound of a punch hitting flesh.
Grabbing the lamp next to the door, she disconnected the cord and charged into the room. Jessica was curled up in a ball, and Benedict was on her, his knees keeping her locked into place as he drew his fist back and kept hitting her.
She’d had enough.
As he raised his fist, she used the lamp like a bat, slamming it against his face.
With a sickening thud, Benedict collapsed away from his wife. Panting for breath, Tessa stood over Jessica.
Jessica may be older than she was by nearly five years, but right there, Tessa would protect her as she would any child.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Benedict asked.
She may not have hit him hard enough.
“You’re going to stop hitting her.”
“She’s my fucking wife. I’m an Adesso. You think you have power here? You’re a fucking nanny. A piece of shit that is not even worth my time. They will have you spread for any man to fuck.”
“I’m a Brown, and I will not stand by and watch you hurt her anymore.”
He came toward her, clearly thinking she was joking, and she hit him again.
Just as he grabbed the lamp from her, Alonzo, Cole, and Demetri entered Jessica’s quarters.
“It’s about time you got here. Take this whore out of my rooms, now. I’m dealing with my wife.”
“Get your hands off my woman, and leave my house.”
Benedict let her go. He was in shock. Tessa stayed perfectly still, aware of Jessica between her thighs, in pain.
“You know the rules. No man interferes with his business with his wife.”
“You had your hands on my woman, Adesso. To be honest, I think it’s safe to say that this marriage between you and my sister is best put through the divorce courts.”
“We don’t divorce. Our families will never allow it.”
“I’m the boss of my family, Benedict. You have brought me nothing but shame. Don’t think I’m not aware of what you have at the docks. I am, and this, this is over. Get out.”
“This isn’t over,” Benedict said.
“Oh, it is. I’ll be talking with your father, so you better start kissing his ass.”
When she felt it was safe, Tessa went to Jessica. The woman’s face was bloody and bruised.
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
Ignoring Alonzo and the men, Tessa helped Jessica to her feet. She was holding her body.
“I’ll call a doctor,” Alonzo said.
She ignored him. He could call a doctor, but for now, she would take care of Jessica.
****
Alonzo finished the call with Benedict’s father. By their mutual agreement, they would terminate the marriage and together they would form a united front to the rest of the families to make sure no disrespect was shown. Benedict’s father wasn’t aware of his son’s extracurricular activities in working with the Russians on the trafficking market. Any business deals that required to go out of the family circle, had to be voted on. What Benedict had done was tell the families to fuck off in his ventures, and in doing so had provided Alonzo the ability to terminate his sister’s marriage.
Now the only problem came with Caesar. Benedict had shown no love for the young boy, and after he saw Jessica’s face and the doctor had informed him that she suffered from three broken ribs, there was no way he’d allow that bastard to have his nephew.
This was a fucking mess.
Leaving his office, he walked back to his sister’s quarters. She was on the sofa, a bag of peas in her hand. The television was on, and he saw it was on a steamy romance.
“You still watch your trashy romance stuff,” he said.
There was no sign of Tessa.
“If you’re looking for Tessa, she’s with Caesar in the nursery.” She winced as she moved. She hugged a pillow against her.
“She hates me right now,” Alonzo said, lowering himself into the chair opposite her.
Jessica kept wiping away her tears. “She doesn’t understand our rules, Alonzo. You forget she’s a soldier’s daughter with his views and opinions.”
“I should have stopped him.”
“Alonzo,” she said. “You and I both know no one could stop him. What is going to happen to Tessa? She’s a sweet woman. Her heart is always in the right place. I hope you don’t have to punish her too severely for helping me.”
“She’s not going to get punished, Jess.”
“She’s not?”
“No, and this marriage of yours, it’s going to end.”
Jessica laughed. “Yeah, probably with me in a casket.”
“No. I failed you today, and I’ve failed you a lot over the years. I know you didn’t want this marriage. Dad was dying. I should have taken over sooner. It was his dying wish to bring us closer together. Benedict, he is an asshole.”
“We can’t have a divorce, you know that, Alonzo.”
“I found out that Benedict was making deals with the Russians. He wanted in on their human trafficking. To bring men, women, and children, here, to use them. To sell them.”
“Oh.”
“It was a deal that wasn’t accepted by any of us. None of the families would agree going into business with the Russians.”
“They wouldn’t?”
“No. We won’t even work with the cartels, Jess. We’re not going to work with Russians like that. It’s not going to happen, so he’s out. His father is pissed off.”
“What about Caesar? He’s a boy.”
“He’s your son, Jess. I wouldn’t take him away from you. If you want him to live with Benedict, that is up to you.”
“Are you going to marry me off anytime soon?” she asked. “Is this another part of a family expansion? Adesso wasn’t good enough.”
“You’ve got no reason to trust me.”
“She came back, Alonzo. With a damn lamp, she came back for me. You didn’t.”
He’d had to make sure Caesar was safe before he followed Tessa. He was pissed that she’d gotten here before he had. How she stood over Jessica, she looked like a damn queen. He’d never seen her look so fierce. She was a force to be reckoned with.
“There are no excuses for my behavior. I’m only grateful that she got here in time before he did any real damage.” He cupped his sister’s face, careful not to be too hard to hurt her bruises. Seeing the damage that bastard had done to her pissed him off even more. Benedict wasn’t finished receiving his punishment. The rules be damned. No woman deserved this kind of treatment and certainly not his sister, under his own roof.
“You care about her, don’t you?” Jessica asked.
“I do. She means a great deal to me.”
“She’s not suited to this way of life, Alonzo. If you have any care at all, you’d let her go.”
“Not going to happen.”
“You’re going to make her stay here?”
“I’m the only one that can make her happy.”
“And what if the price of that happiness is her pain? Would you do that to her?”
He gritted his teeth, hating that his sister spoke … logically. “I’m not a good man. I know what I want.”
“And to hell with everything else?”
“Be careful, Jessica.”
“Do you even love her, or is it about claiming her innocence? Don’t think I don’t know what game you’re playing. Benedict told me to men it’s about the chase. About owning something you never had before.”
“Don’t listen to that asshole. He doesn’t have the first clue what is going on here.”
“And you do?”
“I know more than you think.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m not going to sit here arguing with you. Jessica, I love you. Words are not going to make up for the fact I wasn’t here to protect you. I’ll do everything I can from this day forward to keep you safe. That is my vow to you.” He leaned forward and kissed her head, being gentle as always.
Getting to his feet, he left her quarters. He didn’t want to hear what that piece of shit, Benedict had to say.
He didn’t answer to anyone.
Not his father, who was very much dead.
His mother had run off when she couldn’t take over everyone’s life. She really had thought for a short time that she’d lead the Zanetti family. No woman had ever led this family, and no woman ever would.
It wasn’t just about being sexist. A woman would be killed in less than a day. Their world didn’t handle women leaders well. He’d seen some die in his time, and it was never pretty.
He made his way to the nursery where Tessa still was.
Again, no sign of Michele. That bitch didn’t do anything unless it was to benefit her, and he was growing tired of all of her fucking games. He’d have her fired.
He stood outside the nursery. The guard was there, but all of them knew not to look at Tessa. Not to do anything for her unless she asked for it, and certainly not to get any ideas in thinking they had a chance with her.
Caesar was in his bed fast asleep while Tessa was curled up in her chair. It looked like she was crying. Entering the room, she turned to look at him with a gasp.
“I’m not here to argue with you or cause you any pain,” he said.
“You’ll wake him up.”
“Then come with me.”
She shook her head.
“Then I guess I’ll wake him up. Either way, you’re not escaping me.”
“Why do you have to be so difficult? I can’t just leave him.”
He rolled his eyes and stepped out of the room, seeing the guard on duty. “Keep an eye on this little guy. If he wakes up, find his other nanny before I fire her ass. She gives you any problem at all, tell her I’m going to fire her.” Which he would be doing regardless.
With that, he grabbed Tessa’s hand, and didn’t wait as he pulled her out of the room. When she started to struggle, he did no more than put her over his shoulder and carry her down the long corridor, heading toward his own space.
“Put me down.” She slapped his ass, to which he did the same to hers. “Hey. That’s not fair.”
He slapped her ass again for good measure, and she let out a growl, which he found to be so cute.
Instead of slapping her ass again when she hit him, he started to caress each cheek.
“They are not yours to touch,” she said.
He smirked. “Of course they are. They are no one else’s, and last time I checked, I owned every single delicious curve on your body.”
“Put me down, Alonzo. Take me to my room. I want nothing to do with you.”
“No can do, I’m afraid. You’re stuck with me.”
“Why? I don’t want this. I don’t want to be with a man who can just stand by and let his sister get beaten.”
That made his jaw clench because he didn’t have a decent enough fight to defend himself. He hadn’t known it was that bad. Men were not supposed to interfere with marriages like that. If it wasn’t for Benedict’s current fuck-up with traffickers, he would be the one in trouble.
Marriage was private.
In their world a man could do what he wanted with a woman, consequences be damned. It wasn’t like they could go to the cops about it. No one was to know.
Once he got to his quarters, he put her down on the floor and stepped back, watching her.
She had no idea the kind of monsters he dealt with.
Where his world was flooded in darkness, hers was all light. He couldn’t let her go even though he knew it would make her happy. She’d find someone who was like her. Who loved. Who cared.
Letting her go wasn’t an option for him.