Chapter 113 The power to undo it all.
CHAPTER 113
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
I wake slowly to warmth.
Goosebumps break over my skin, and I lean into the familiar softness. Roman.
“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, pressing his soft lips against my cheeks.
I wake slowlyand smile. He’s hovering over me, his hand on my hips, cheeks flushed, but his eyes tell a different story.
I sit up and realise how late it is, “Are you just getting home?”
He exhales and sits beside me. He doesn’t have to tell me anything. I already know it was a stressful day. I carefully straddle him, cup his cheeks, and let him rest on me. He grips my hips softly and presses his lips to my forehead. I hug him tight and run my hands over his back. I thread my fingers through his hair, and he groans softly, holding on to me a little tighter.
“Tell me everything, baby.” I urge, concerned and worried. I want to carry his pain and wear his burden like a dress.
“There are a lot of problems with Sterling Aviation. Someone was controlling availability, selling us out, moving my clients like puppets on a string.” He expresses calmly, “The top-class aircraft we use was manipulated. A lot of embezzlement, but I’m more concerned about the insight they had. It’s invasive. We were able to trace the core to … Emiliano.”
The air leaves my lungs at the name, and I pale instantly.
“W … what?” I wheeze, shocked.
“I know. We were shocked, too. I spoke to Luca, and we don’t know why he’s targeting me, but we will get to the bottom of this.” He avows, determined, “You have nothing to worry about, Scarlett. I’ll protect you. I’ll keep you safe. I always keep you safe. This is my mess, and I’ll clean it up.”
Fuck.
He thinks this is his fault?
Fuck.
Emiliano is coming after us, after me, with full force. I need to contain him, but how? The sole purpose of my contractual agreement with Roman was to get enough resources to fight back, but everything is a mess now. He is watching me. The media is watching us. Emiliano is waiting for me to make a move. He haspeople on the inside. I am backed into a corner, and the only person who can truly help make a difference is Adeline. We are wrapping up this little fight tonight.
“What’s the implication of his disturbance? How can I help?” I whisper, cupping his face.
He smiles fondly and kisses me.
Butterflies explode in my belly and almost drown me. Instead, I chose to drown in him. He threads his fingers through my hair firmly, holding me softly as he kisses me, as he makes me come undone. He undoes me. I am putty in his hands. I grind down on him as he slips his tongue into my mouth. Heat settles in my core, and need rages through me.
I grind down slowly, feeling his hard-on.
He pulls away with a shudder, cheeks flushed, eyes filled with lust, “I want nothing more than to indulge in your sweetness, but I can’t, not now.”
I smile, kiss him softly, and get off him.
“Why don’t you go take a long shower? I’ll whip you something delicious.” I suggest.
He nods and gets up. He kisses me hard and walks away, leaving me hungry.
I put his food in the microwave, and call Adeline.
She picks up on the third ring.
“Hello, whore,” she greets, coldly.
I roll my eyes and clench my jaw hard. I need something from her, so I will not allow myself to be baited.
“Emiliano has been controlling availability, manipulating the aircraft we flew on. We, Adeline, you and your husband, included. Did you know that?” I demand, fingers digging into my palm.
Herr silence tells me all I need to know.
“What the fuck?” She curses, surprised and displeased.
“He knows where I am,” I glance at the stairs to make sure Roman isn’t hearing. “He knows where to find me. He has people all over. He is watching me, yet he hasn’t struck. Why? Why is he holding back? Why is he hurting Roman because of me? If he wants me, then he should come and get me.” I seethe, chest aching as my heart pounds painfully.
“He can’t just get you, Rose. Have you been apart from our world for too long, and you’ve forgotten how things work?” She sighs and breaks it down for me.
I lean against the counter, the cold tile pressing against my back. It grounds me.
“You are Diaz’s daughter, the only surviving Diaz. Emiliano came into your home with his thugs, he held your father down, hurt him, hurt your mom and killed them. He came for you, not just because he finds you attractive enough to fuck, no, he came for you, to kill you, Scarlett.”
Her words hit me hard. It’s still surreal to hear all that was done to my family. My father. My mother. They were not bad people. Dad didn’t continue his father’s damned legacy. He paved his own path. He made the best with what he was given. He was a good Don, and they killed him. They killed my father. They are all going to pay. I am going to bleed them dry for what they did to him. My hands ball into fists. My chest tightens, and I drop the phone on the counter.
Adeline understands and allows me my silence.
“Emiliano came for us, he attacked us, kidnapped us.” She continues, “His actions are purposeful. He has made the first move, and he’s waiting for us to retaliate in kind.”
My brows furrow, “Attack them? Go to war? This is not Mexico. He can’t be that stupid.”
“Of course, he’s not expecting a war, but he’s expecting something, Scarett.” She chooses her words carefully, but I do not understand.
“Expecting what?” I snap, irritation flaring hot in my chest.
“He thinks you have something on him,” she confesses calmly, “We all think Diaz’s daughter is alive and holds a flashdrive.”
“A flash drive? What flash drive? The one we got on the ship?” I question.
“No, Scarlett. Another flash drive. The original. Here’s what people think – Diaz had a copy of all Emiliano’s crimes, his partners, connections, alliances, plans for world domination. Emiliano found out and had him killed. Now, the flashdrive was never found, which makes us believe your father gave it to you, or kept it for you, or you had it all along.” She discloses carefully.
My brain blanks, and the ground feels unsteady.
“He … Dad gave me nothing … the fire was a lot … he told me to run … there was nothing,” I whisper, heart aching painfully, grief curdling in me.
“I know, Scarlett.” Addie whispers, “I know. Emiliano can’t attack you again because he believes you hold the power to undo all he has built, but he’s not working alone, and his partners might not think the same way. Either way, coming for you is a death sentence because you have the La Cosa Nostra and Sterling.”