Becoming Mrs DeLuca novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

ADRIAN

Despite the cold weather, we took a stroll along the beach the next day. Sofia was strapped to Valentina’s front in the sling while Stefan and Milo jogged along the edge of the water. The dog barked at the waves, trying to snap at the frothing water.

What a stupid thing, but it made Stefan and Valentina smile, so it could stay for now.

Seagulls soared over our heads. Valentina held out her hand, and I linked our fingers after a moment of hesitation, worried about Stefan’s reaction, but he didn’t seem to care. His attention was on the dog and the

ocean.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out to find a message from Damien.

[Call me ASAP]

Frowning, I pushed the phone back into my pocket. The wind was roaring too loudly for a phone conversation.

“What is it?” Valentina asked.

“We need to head back to the house. I need to call Damien.”

Her face fell, and for half a second I considered ignoring Damien’s message, but I’d told him not to bother me unless it was important. “Oh, sure.”

I squeezed her hand. “We can head out tomorrow morning again.”

She nodded and then called, “Milo, Stefan, come here!”

Both the dog and my boy turned to her and skipped toward us. For a moment Stefan’s face reminded me of the past, almost as childishly innocent as back then.

The moment we were back in the beach house, I called Damien while Valentina cleaned sand off the dog and Stefan.

Sofia crawled on the floor, chasing a ball that rattled in the most annoying way. “What is it? I hope it’s important. I didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“While you were busy with your young wife, Rico went berserk. He killed his Uncles Louis and Peter, and that cousin of his whose brother’s throat he crushed.”

I leaned back, shocked. “What the fuck happened?”

“Nobody really knows. The men are not very forthcoming with information. It’s rumored Rico chopped up the entire new chapter of the Motorcycle club in Jersey too.”

Sofia tugged at my pants and slowly pulled herself up. I reached out to steady her as she grinned toothlessly

up at me.

“There are rumors that he’s on the hunt for traitors… some suspect it’s got something to do with his wife. This is hush–hush, but she went to Philadelphia where she met up with Rico’s arch nemesis.”

I braced myself on my thighs, my thoughts spinning out of control. “Do you think Aria was in on the betrayal?”

“She’s still alive.”

Rico and Aria had appeared happy on the outside, or as happy as a marriage in our world could be, especially if the husband was a man like Rico… or myself.

Valentina appeared in the living room, worry clouding her face as she looked at me. Slowly, she walked closer.

“I’ll be back tonight. Arrange a meeting. My father needs to be there as well.” If Rico went on a major killing spree like that, I needed to make sure my own city was cleaner than clean.

“Will do.”

I hung up.

Valentina sank down beside me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Your face says something else.”

“It’s business. Rico killed two Underbosses. His Uncles Louis and Peter.”

She jerked, eyes filling with shock. I realized how inconsiderate I’d been. They were her uncles too, but I’d never gotten the impression that she liked either of them very much, which wasn’t surprising. They had been sadistic egomaniacs.

“Are you sad about your uncles?”

She looked as if I’d pulled her out of her daze then gave a sharp shake of her head. “I’m worried about you. What if Rico gets rid of more Underbosses?”

“He won’t get rid of me. Not unless I give him reason to, and I haven’t.”

She nodded slowly, then her eyes widened again. “Kiara!”

“Who?”

“My cousin Kiara. She’s Peter’s daughter. What about her and my aunt?”

“I don’t know. Damien didn’t mention anything.”

She gripped my arm. “Adrian, please find out. Kiara is only twelve. What if she got hurt?”

“I doubt Rico would hurt a child.”

Her worried expression compelled me to pick up my phone again. Usually I would have called Rico directly, but that seemed unwise in the current situation. “Pack our bags and get Sofia and Stefan ready. We need to leave in thirty minutes. I’ll ask my father about Kiara.”

Father picked up at once. “Damien told you?”

“He did. That can wait until our meeting. I need info on Peter’s daughter and wife.”

“The kid is alive, but Peter shot his wife.”

Father’s voice held a note that set my teeth on edge. “All right. I’ve been talking to friends in New York, trying to get a feel for Rico’s current mood, if he’s done killing-”

“Everything’s going to be fine.”

“You should have told him everything, Adrian.”

“Father, it’s going to be fine. The past is the past. Telling Rico now would definitely be my death sentence.”

I hung up and went into the bedroom where Valentina was packing our bags. Her eyes were fearful when she met my gaze.

“Kiara is alive but her mother’s dead.”

Valentina covered her mouth with her palm. “What’s going to happen to her?”

“Rico still got a few relatives he could ask to take the girl in.” I took the bags from her. “Come now. I really need to get back.”

She nodded slowly, still looking a bit stunned. I walked over to her, cupping her cheek. “Everything will be fine.”

The drive back passed in relative silence. Valentina was lost in thought, and Sofia fell asleep as she usually did in the car.

Elia and Domenico were already in my house when we arrived. They helped carry everything inside. Valentina followed me as I changed into my usual business attire.

“Where’s the meeting taking place?”

I knotted my tie. “You don’t know the place. It’s a nightclub.”

I could tell that Valentina wanted to ask more questions, but I didn’t want to talk business with her. I kissed her lips lightly.

“Don’t wait up for me tonight. It’ll be very late.”

On my way out of the house, I called Damien again. “Everything set up?”

“Yes, everyone’s on their way.”

“Have our watchers said anything about movement in the clubhouse?”

“They seem to have a meeting. All the bikes are in front of the club.”

Now that Rico had destroyed an entire chapter in cold blood, the retribution of the MC was only a matter of time. They were volatile, bound by fewer rules than us. It was part of my life I didn’t want Sofia, Stefan, or Valentina to be part of. I’d do my best to protect them from it.