Chapter 11 Why is it so difficult to get one to act like he gives a damn?
Catalina
"Holy shit, that was you?" I could not keep the shock from my voice. "We were actually approached for that job at the Ropello wedding. We turned it down; the timing conflicted with another commitment. We heard the stories about what happened there. Holy fuck."
"Yes. So now you understand the name. I am called Chaotic because I will unleash absolute bedlam to accomplish an objective, and that day, my only objective was ending Stefani Caruso. Jenna made sure Rodrigo’s face was unrecognizable, so an open casket was never an option."
Viper let out a deep, roaring laugh.
"What is so funny? What did the doctor say? Can you leave today?" Jenna asked, walking in with bags of food.
"He said I can be discharged tomorrow, but I have to take things very easy for the next few weeks."
"Where are you planning to stay?"
"She is staying with me at the clubhouse," Viper stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"That is probably for the best," Jenna replied. "It is better than staying with Papa and his revolving door of female company."
"Leave him be. He has been lonely for a long time. I am glad he is finding some comfort."
"Finding some what?" My father’s voice came from the doorway as he entered.
"Papa, how did the hunt go?" I asked.
Instead of answering, he picked up the remote and turned on the television. A news reporter was standing in front of a familiar building, her expression grave.
"We are reporting a truly gruesome discovery here at Schuster Investments in the early hours of this morning. We are joined by the janitor who found the scene. Mr. Johnson, can you tell our viewers what you saw?"
The screen cut to a young man in his early twenties, looking dazed.
"Yeah, I was vacuuming the tenth-floor hallway. I went into one of the offices to clean it and saw a light on, which was weird because I was supposed to be alone. On the desk was a… a severed head. The eyes were gone, just empty sockets. And there were hands, just… lying there. It was so gross, but I totally did not throw up." He then waved at the camera. "Hi, Mom!" The station quickly cut back to the stunned anchor.
"Ti amo, Papa. Grazie," I whispered, my heart full of a dark, grateful peace.
"Qualunque cosa per te, figlia mia."
"You just had to use your signature move, Papa?" Jenna asked, a note of fond exasperation in her voice.
"Si, Maria."
I saw them both go still, their eyes snapping toward Viper.
He simply raised an eyebrow, then let out a long breath. "Your secrets, Celeste's, Maria's, and yours, are safe with me. I will not tell a soul, not even the President of my club."
"Why should I believe you?" My father’s voice was dangerously low. "I should end you now and take my daughters somewhere you will never find them."
"Because I am in love with Catalina. Revealing her secrets and getting her family killed would destroy her, and I would never do a single thing to harm my Old Lady."
He was looking right at me as he said it. A smile broke through my tears, and he leaned in to kiss me, his thumbs gently wiping the wet trails from my cheeks.
"You barely know each other," my father protested, though his resolve seemed to be crumbling.
"Papa, you and Mama had an arranged marriage," Jenna interjected softly. "You only knew her name when you wed, and you loved each other deeply for twenty-three years."
My father looked from me to Viper, his gaze weighing the truth in the room. "You will take care of her. You will protect her."
"With my last breath. I will protect both of them."
My father gave a single, decisive nod. He bent to kiss my forehead, then did the same to Jenna. "I must disappear for a while. They will recognize my work. I have faith you will both be safe. I love you." He gave Viper one final, measuring look, and then he was gone.
Jenna
Men are so fucking impossible. Why is it so difficult to get one to act like he gives a damn? My sister is over there trying to pretend she is not completely gone for Viper, and honestly, I do not blame her for being guarded. This has been a brutal month for both of us. She survived a vicious attack, and then Viper goes and claims her as his Old Lady right in front of me and our father. And now, the atmosphere at the club is a complete shitshow. These new club girls are causing chaos. None of the other women trust their men anymore, and frankly, I do not blame them. With fresh, willing girls around, I would not put my faith in any of the so-called committed Lords of Chaos either.
Watching Torque these past few weeks has been its own special kind of torture. For the first two weeks after Catalina came home from the hospital, he was in my bed every single night. It was incredible. The man is gifted in ways that should be illegal. My stupid heart had to go and get involved. I was with him one night, lost in the feeling, and right as I was coming apart, my treacherous heart took over. Instead of saying, "God, I love your cock," the words "God, I love you" fell out of my mouth.
The very next day, he stopped speaking to me. He would not look at me, and he never came back to my room. For the last two weeks, I have had to watch some skinny, bleached-blonde girl with ridiculous fake breasts and too much makeup draped all over him. Her name is Candy, which is a fucking stupid stViper name. She is always begging him for pool lessons, sitting in his lap, and the other night I saw her on some other brother’s dick, staring right at Torque and licking her lips. I have not seen him take her to his room yet, but it feels inevitable. New pussy always gets attention.
Tonight, I am setting up the taco bar when Beast approaches me with a smile. He is handsome, I will give him that, black hair styled in a faux-hawk, bright blue eyes, and tattoos covering every visible inch of skin, and I do mean every inch. That is how he earned his road name. He is known for his public escapades, which are admittedly hot to watch. He has piercings in his eyebrow and lip, and rumor has it, a vibrating one on his tongue.