Page 90 of Vicious Impulses (The Capo and Ballerina)
What other option did I have? Caelian would have fought tooth and nail against his cousin and the men Nero had armed him with. He would’ve put himself in more danger.
He’s in no physical health to fight a war against Nero and the others.
For as dominant and powerful as he is, he’s no match against his true might.
In a way, Nero’s already won.
He has Dad. If he’s sending crews of men to capture me and rigging Caelian’s estate with explosives, then his patience is running out. He’ll murder Dad sooner than later if he doesn’t get what he wants.
It goes against everything Mom and Dad have advised. But I made a snap decision in the spur of the moment that I can only hope works out.
Caelian’s alive and rid of the conflict at his doorstep. Maybe I’ll be able to persuade Nero into finally releasing my family from his tyranny, and in turn leaving Caelian be.
I sigh, my heart aching. Half an hour ago I had been flitting around the dance studio, losing myself in the music as I freestyled. Caelian had appeared and I’d felt a beat of passion darting into his arms. I had no idea it would be for the last time…
My eyes close and I lean my head into the cool window glass.
Carmelo takes notice, sipping from his bottle of sparkling water. “Cheer up, ballerina. I hear Nero gets sick of his women pretty fast. Your end’s probably gonna come on quick. Hopefully, it’ll be painless.”
“Stop talking to me.”
“Did you get mouthy like that with my cousin? Don’t let my civilized appearance fool you—I will bitch slap that little pout off your face if I have to. I’d rather deliver Nero’s possession unmarked, but respect is respect. He’ll have to understand.”
I ball up a fist in my lap. My mouth stays clamped shut despite my mounting temper. It leaves me flushed and full of pent up tension. I’ve never been an angry person but being forced to sit beside the man that’s taken me away from Caelian brings it out of me.
He won’t shut up as he boasts about his good fortune.
He tells me all about how Nero had approached him after their recent sit-down dinner and made a proposition.
“It came as a surprise,” he rambles on. “But Nero’s an observant man. He picked up on the dynamics in my family and he could tell I was his best option. I’m levelheaded and reasonable, unlike Caelian and Coreno. I’m not a lazy fuck like Cristian, and I’m no drunk like my Uncle Carmine. He gave me an out, so I took it. I’m looking at it as a job promotion.”
I shoot him a loathing glare. “Do you really think Nero’s going to reward you? You’ve proven how easily swayed you are by betraying your family.”
“Some thing’s are worth the risk.”
I’m forced to endure the rest of the limo ride listening to more of Carmelo’s bragging. At some point, I disappear into my thoughts and filter out anything he has to say.
The drive from Caelian’s estate deep into the city takes us almost two hours. It seems the next time I’m sitting up straight and pulling myself from my headspace, we’re braking outside the Dresden Performing Arts theater.
A building I know all too well.
My stomach lurches. I turn to Carmelo. “Why are we here?”
He shrugs. “Beats me. Nero requested you be delivered here. So that’s where I’m bringing you.”
As if the situation couldn’t feel more degrading, I’m passed off from the hands of Carmelo into the hands of Ignazio.
In the weeks since I’ve last seen him, he hasn’t changed. He’s as willowy and foreboding as ever, regarding me with dark, unkind eyes and a tight mouth. His skeletal fingers enclose around my wrist, and he informs Carmelo he’ll be letting Nero know I’ve arrived.
Some of the men Carmelo’s with—all of whom are dressed in all black with gelled hair and tough guy mean scowls—stay behind. The others leave with him. The former I’m assuming being Nero’s men.
They shadow me and Ignazio every step we take.
I struggle against his hold as he steers me into the back entrance of the theater. His fingernails pinch into my skin in punishment.
“Hold still, Nevaeh. You’ve no idea the amount of trouble you’ve caused.”
“Yousoldme,” I spit out, unable to disguise my anger.