Code of Silence: A Mafia Romance (The Dark Kingdom Book 1)

“I DON’T BELIEVE you,” I say, trying to keep the tears at bay, but it’s pointless.

He gives me a sly smile that just twists the knife that is already piercing my heart. “Ask your mother. There is DNA evidence.”

I shake my head. “No …”

“How about you do one?” He opens his top drawer and pulls out a small baggie. Lifting his right hand, he pulls a piece of hair out of his head and places it in the bag before he zips it. “You can see for yourself.” He slides it across the desk. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

My stomach drops, and the hairs on my arms stand. It feels like a million little bugs are crawling over my skin. “I want nothing from you,” I whisper.

He gives a rough laugh. “Everyone wants something from me, Haven. Whether that be protection or money. And you are no exception.”

“Why now?” I hear myself asking but can’t find the courage to look up at him.

“Because you have something I want.”

Closing my eyes, a tear runs down my cheek.

“Haven.” His voice is soft yet firm and demands my attention.

I open my eyes and look up at him through watery lashes.

“No Rossi will marry a Bianchi.”

His words are final. Like a nail in a coffin. The last breath taken. I will die, and it will be soon. I know what kind of man he is. I may not know him personally, but he’s just like Luca and his family. They will take out who they want, and they don’t care who stands in their way.

“I know you don’t want to be with that bastard,” he spits out, his hatred for Luca showing. “Daddy is going to take care of your problem. You have nothing to worry about.”

I’m sitting on the balcony of our room, smoking a cigarette. My hair still wet from my shower and up in a clippie. I have a pair of his sweatpants and a T-shirt on. I don’t know where Luca went, but I haven’t cared enough to call or text him either.

So much has changed since this morning. Who I am? Where did I come from?

My father is Alberto Rossi. A mob boss who runs the South Side of Las Vegas. And I’m engaged to my ex, who just so happens to be his enemy.

My life is shit.

I take another drag from the cigarette and slowly blow out the smoke. Resting my head back, I hear the sliding glass door open.

Luca walks outside along with Nite and my mother. My jaw tightens at the look on her face. Her tear-streaked face. The proof she’s been upset.

Fuck her.

She wasn’t lied to all her life. Sentenced to death for loving the wrong man. In the end, we’ll all have to answer to God for our sins, but mine will be for falling in love. Since when should you go to hell for that?

“Why is she here?” I ask him.

“Your mother needs to talk you.” His answer is clipped. I’m not sure who he’s mad at more—her or me—but at this point, I don’t care.

I look at Nite. “Why is he here?” He’s supposed to be protecting Mia.

“Your two newest bodyguards are being burned as we speak, so he’s been assigned back to you.”

My mother gasps. I take another puff of my cigarette. Wonder if they were dead or alive when their bodies were set on fire?

“Haven?” She sucks in a long breath. “Since when did you start smoking?”

I can’t help it. I throw my head back laughing. Out of all the things that have happened in the past twenty-four hours, that’s what she wants to focus on.

“You need to talk to your mother,” Luca says.

I look up at him. Now he wants me to be social? “She lied to me all my life. Why would I listen to her now?”

She sits down beside me and reaches out for my hand, but I jerk it out of her reach.

“I had to protect you,” she whispers.

I snort and take a drag of the cigarette.

“Haven …?”

“Was any of it true?” I snap, unable to keep it in. I threw that stupid piece of hair away, but a part of me knew he was right. I just can’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me. I thought we were close.

She bows her head. “No.”

I lean forward in my seat. “Start from the beginning,” I demand, needing to know. When she stays silent, I help her out. “The miscarriages?”

“A lie,” she whispers.

Unbelievable. “Who the fuck lies about that?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” she whispers.

“Try me,” I snap.

She takes in a deep breath, and her shoulders fall. “Your grandfather … he wanted grandchildren. He wanted your father to have an heir.”

There’s that word again. Heir. “This is bullshit.” I stand.

“Haven.” She reaches up and grabs my wrist. “I … please sit.” Her eyes plead with me to give her a chance, to forgive her, but I’m not sure I can. No matter what she tells me, I’m not sure I can give her what she wants right now. “I’m begging you. Please. Just listen to the truth. I’ll leave afterward,” she assures me.

I look at Luca for help—reassurance that he will kick her out once she finally gives me what I should have known all along—but I don’t get the answer I want. He feels sorry for her. I can see it in his dark eyes. And pity for me. I hate it. Letting out a long breath, I plop back down into the chair next to her.

“Your father and I had an arranged marriage. He didn’t love me. I didn’t love him. The wedding was to forge two businesses as one. I felt lonely. He would never touch me, never look at me. He had different women over all the time. His father was pressuring us to have a family.” She swallows. “One night, I went out to a bar and got drunk. I met the owner, who just happened to be a guy I had seen around your father. He had been to our house before.”

I know who she’s talking about. Alberto Rossi. “They were friends?”

She gives a rough laugh and plucks the lit cigarette from my hand, taking a drag. My eyes widen. “I wouldn’t call them that. They did business together. He used your father’s bank to launder money.”

I look at Luca, and he runs a hand through his hair aggressively.

“Then what happened?” I ask.

She gives a wistful smile. “He treated me how my husband was supposed to, and I fell in love.”

Silence falls over the balcony. I look back up at Luca, and he turns, giving us his back as he looks out over Las Vegas, but his white-knuckled grip on the railing tells me he’s pissed. Nite stands over in the corner with his arms crossed over his chest, silently listening to us.

I shift in my seat and look back at my mom. “I don’t understand.”

“I opened up to him, and he let me cry on his shoulder. I found myself going back to that bar night after night just to see him. I just wanted to talk to him, but then one thing led to another. He told me all the right things. Three months later, I found out I was pregnant. I went to his bar and told him the news. I was going to have his baby, and I wanted to leave my useless husband.” She shakes her head. “It was all a lie.”

“How?” A lie?

“It was a setup. Rossi informed me that Jimmy knew I was sleeping with him. He told him to knock me up, so he wouldn’t have to do it.”

I jump to my feet. “They what?” I yell. “He told Rossi to fuck you? His wife?” I seethe not understanding. Yes, my parents have had their arguments, but I’ve never seen them not in love. Was all that a lie too? For me? For my grandfather? He passed years ago. Why continue with the ruse if they no longer needed to fake it?

She looks up at me, tears filling her eyes. “You need to understand. Your grandfather was pressuring him to produce a child. He needed me …”

“He played you,” I growl.

She bows her head and shakes it. “I can’t … I can’t hate him for what he did.”

“Why the hell not?” I snap.

She looks up at me and stands. Gripping my hands, they shake in mine. “Because I got you, Haven. You were everything I ever wanted.”

My heart pounds at her words.

“Your father and I decided to tell you that you were adopted.”

“The papers? You have adoption papers that you keep in the safe. I’ve seen them.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Fake.”

I take a step back from her, and my hands drop to my sides. “Why?”

“You father and Rossi had a deal …”

“Jimmy is not my father!” I shout.

She wraps her arms around herself. “He and Rossi cut all ties. Rossi paid him cash to pretend you were adopted, and we came up with that story. But please, Haven … please believe that you were always wanted. We wanted you from the moment we found out I was pregnant.”

I snort. “Of course, he was. He had his friend knock you up. On purpose. To make his dad happy,” I snap, disgusted but somehow not surprised.

“But Rossi couldn’t stay away.” Luca finally speaks.

My mother turns to him, and she swallows nervously. “He did for a while. But… he—”

“He what?” Luca demands, taking a step toward her. “Why did he come back into her life twenty-four years later? I can’t seem to stop asking myself this question. We dated years before our engagement party, and it wasn’t any secret. The media has always been in my life. And pictures have surfaced in the past with Haven on my arm. Why does he care now?”

“Rossi called me a couple of years back. Said he heard she was dating a Bianchi and for me to forbid it. I lied, told him it was harmless, and that it would fizzle out. Just to give it time. But …” She pauses and looks over at Nite who still stands like a statue over in the corner. “He wanted to get Luca away from you.” Tears run down her cheeks.

“What did he do?” I demand and look at Luca. “I don’t under …” But one look at him lets me know he does. Perfectly.

He takes a step toward my mother, hands fisted and eyes now black as the night. “He set me up too,” he growls.

She sniffs. “You have to understand. There was nothing I could have done. He and my husband agreed. I had no say.”

“Bullshit!” he snaps.

Why am I the only one lost? “Luca—”

“I had to keep her safe,” my mother wails, interrupting me.

“I could have kept her safe!” he shouts. “You should have come to me. Been honest.”

“You’re in the Mafia!” she shouts back at him. “I know what you’re capable of. And how much your father hated you two together.” She shoves his chest, but he doesn’t move. Fresh tears run down her face, and she looks at Nite. “At the time, I felt helpless. My hands were tied, and I couldn’t lose her. Luca couldn’t have run forever. If his father wouldn’t have found him, Rossi would have.”

I look back at Luca, confused. Why is she talking to Nite?

“I couldn’t stop what had already been done,” she goes on.

“What had been done?” I ask.

Everyone turns to me, but Luca is the one who speaks. “Rossi set me up. He kidnapped Nite and tortured him to talk about Mia. He knew she existed because he and my father were friends when she was born. He had threatened her life. But …”

“But what?” I ask breathlessly. My chest already tight.

“He knew I would run to her to protect her. But he was never going to touch her.” He shakes his head, his jaw sharpening. “No. He did it to get me away from you.”

My eyes slam to Nite. “No,” I whisper. It wasn’t Mia’s fault. She didn’t do that to him. It was me. “Oh, God.” I fall into the seat, but no one pays me any attention.

“Do you have any idea how hard I tried to find something you could use against him?” my mother asks Luca. “How I put my life in danger every day snooping around trying to find you some leverage?”

“And why was that, Misty?” he snaps.

“Because you leaving ripped my daughter apart!” she shouts in his face. “She loved you. She needed you. And I know you loved her too.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “Un-fucking-believable. Do you have any idea what kind of danger you put her life in?” he growls. “How me leaving left her wide open? A target? I thought … I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving her,” he continues.

“If you would have known the truth, you would have acted. Thought irrationally. I just needed some time. I knew where you went. You hadn’t run off with another woman. You were just trying to protect your sister. And I knew once I had the info I needed, you’d come running back to her.”

How does my mother know about Mia? I thought she was kept a secret. How … my chest aches. I hurt Nite. I was never friends with the guy, but he was used as bait because of me. They were all tricked because of me.

“I’m sorry.” I stand, looking at Nite with tears running down my face. “I’m so sorry, Nite. I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I hate that I hurt you. I hate that Rossi used you.” My voice breaks. “I’m so, so sorry.”

His eyes cut to Luca, and he nods once.

“We’ll leave you two alone for a second.” My mother looks like she’s about to argue, but Luca grabs her arm and drags her back into our bedroom, closing the sliding glass door behind them.

“I’m so sorry. I wish I would have known. I would have …”

“I forgive you.”

My eyes widen, and my lips part on a gasp. I stare up at him in shock as he kneels in front of me. Placing his hands on my shaking knees, he repeats, “I forgive you, Haven. Do you understand? It wasn’t your fault.” His voice is deep and rough but in a soothing way.

My wide eyes go back and forth between his. “You spoke,” I choke out.

He nods.

“Say something,” I demand, placing my hands on his broad shoulder, gripping them tightly, wanting to hear it again. I didn’t imagine it.

“I said I forgive you.”

“But … but, they cut your tongue out.” I can’t help but blurt out. “Because of me. Because.” My bottom lip quivers.

He gives me a cocky smile that lights up his face. Oliver Nite never smiles. Not even before …

He sticks his tongue out, and my eyes widen even more if possible. “There’s a difference in being unable to talk and choosing not to.”

“But … what … how?” my brain can’t comprehend what I’m hearing. All this time? Why is he pretending to be a mute? And what is he gaining from it?

“Another time,” he says, standing. Grabbing my hands, he pulls me to my feet. “Just know that I never blamed Mia. And I’m not going to blame you either. We all make our own choices, Haven. And I’m living with mine just fine.” Then he turns and walks back into the bedroom as well.

I go barging in to find all three of them standing in the middle of our bedroom. My mother and Luca are still arguing. Nite stands there with his arms crossed over his chest, looking like he didn’t just speak to me. He didn’t have to tell me to keep what just took place between us. A part of me knows that Luca knew exactly what was going to happen, and that’s why he ushered my mother from the balcony. But whatever that was between me and Nite is now over. He’s back to Silent Nite. And I will keep his secret.

“My …” I clear my throat. “Jimmy?” I ask. “How do we know he won’t double-cross us again?” I ask. I’ve received so much info in such little time. I need to prioritize it and figure out my biggest threat. He’s far up on the list.

Their bickering comes to a halt, and they all turn to look at me.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Luca assures me.

“He killed him,” my mother answers.

“What?” My wide eyes go to Luca.

His jaw sharpens as he glares down at my mom.

“I won’t tell her another lie.” She glares back up at him. “Or hide anything from her. He’s dead. The end.”

“I … did he hurt you?” I ask Luca.

He comes over to me and grips my hands in his. “No. He was going to sit back and let your life be ruined for fucking cash in his pocket. He deserved death.”

“So …” I swallow nervously and remove the clip from my wet hair. It falls down over my shoulders, instantly soaking the shirt I’m wearing. “What do we do?” I ask, trying to figure out how I’m going to use all this information.

The man I’ve called my father all my life is dead. My biological father can’t be beat, or he would already be dead. I’m not sure how this can end well for any of us.

“We go to Kingdom. Pack a bag,” Luca orders.

“It’s almost two a.m.” I say wondering why in the hell we’re going there.

LUCA

Removing my suit jacket, I lay it across the back of the couch in our hotel suite on the thirtieth floor at Kingdom. Her mom goes over to the sliding glass door, opens it, and steps outside for fresh air. Haven follows her.

I turn to Bones and Titan. “Thank you.”

Bones nods. “You know you are welcome here anytime.”

Titan crosses his arms over his chest and adjusts his stance, widening his legs. “We’ve got two guards standing outside of your room and snipers on the roof …”

“Why do we need snipers?” Haven asks, re-entering the suite.

“Safety,” I answer.

“Luca. What are you not telling me?” She looks around the room. “Why are we here at Kingdom and not at home?”

I want to feel happy that she referred to my house as our home, but I don’t have the time. I run a hand through my hair. “He doesn’t plan to let you live.” Her eyes widen. “Rossi is planning on taking more out than just me and the Kings at the ceremony.”

“What? No. He told me—”

“He lied,” I interrupt her. “You think he’d protect you? He never wanted you. He hates us.” I point at my chest. “You’re marrying the enemy. Either you die as collateral damage or are killed on purpose. I’m not taking that chance. There is better protection here. The numbers are bigger.” Plus, Rossi won’t step foot near Kingdom. He may want the Dark Kings dead as well, but he wouldn’t do it on their territory. He’s too much of a coward. He knows he’s outnumbered here. We just took out more of his men, so he will have to regroup and think of a new plan. And we’ll already be executing ours.

She bows her head, running her hand through her hair. “What if …?” She bites her lip in thought. “What if we get married now? Go to the courthouse and get it over with as soon as they open? Will that make a difference? Isn’t there some unwritten rule about going after a Mafia wife?” She rolls her sleepy eyes at that. “Not saying it’s still not done, but he may think twice if he knows the consequences are worse.”

Her mother steps into the room and five sets of eyes stare at her. “What?” she asks, looking around at all of us.

I step forward. “We’re already married.”

“Luca, this isn’t the time to …” Her words trail off, and her eyes go big. “What?” she whispers. Recognition dawns on her face, and she places her hand on her head. “The contract … it was a marriage license?” Her eyes narrow on me. “I didn’t sign anything.”

I take another step. “Your name is on it. Whether you signed it is not the point.” On paper, she is my wife.

She tilts her head to the side, tears building in her eyes. “You tricked me.”

I say nothing.

She looks around the room. “And you all knew.”

Again, no one speaks because they all did. Even her mother.

“Mom?” She turns to face her. “You knew this?”

She nods softly. “I had to …”

“How could you?” Her voice cracks.

“I told you at the clubhouse. You needed to be a Bianchi—”

“No,” she interrupts her. “You could have told me. You could have …”

“I couldn’t say anything. It would have cost you your life!” she shouts, getting angry. “Why can’t you get this through your head? You know what kind of weight has been on my shoulders ever since I got pregnant with you?” she screams. “Haven.” She lowers her voice and walks over to her. Grabbing her hands, she continues. “I prayed every day that he wouldn’t want you. Even after he allowed your father to adopt you, I still feared he’d come for you.” Her eyes go to mine before returning to her daughter. “I needed Luca to save you. He was the only one who could. So I did what was best for you.”

She rips her hands from her mother’s and turns to face me. “So, what? The wedding was just going to be a formality?”

“Yes,” I say simply.

She looks at Bones then at Titan, but they stay quiet. This isn’t their fight. They may have known my plans, but their loyalty is to me. Not her.

Her brows pull together in deep thought, and then her brown eyes fill with fresh tears as she looks up at me. “Did you know he was my father?” I open my mouth, but she continues. “Is this why you did this? Picked me?”

“Haven …?”

“Your family has been fighting with Rossi for years. This would be the ultimate fuck you. Marrying his daughter and posting it for the world to see. Rubbing it in his face.”

I take the three steps to close the small distance. Placing both of my hands on her tear-streaked face, I cup her cheeks. “No. You know this.” She’s already asked me this once. “I’ve always loved you, Haven. You are a Bianchi now. And I will protect you until I die. If that means lying to you, then that’s what I will do.”

She pulls away from me, and my hands fall to my sides. Then without another word, she turns and enters the master suite.

“Haven …” her mother calls out, following her.

She slams the door in her face, and the sound of the lock follows.