Sold To the Grizzly Don (Alcee and Bruno) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

“Because he knew you were fucking his brother!” Alcee snapped angrily. “Jesus Christ, Mom. He figured it out and he thought the proof was living right under his nose. He died hating me because of you. All I ever wanted growing up was to feel I fit into this family, to feel I was one of you. You were constantly using me as a shield in front him. He deserved to know the truth.”

ings I did to protect you. I arranged for your marriage with the Lozano family because I

I

“I protected you.” Her mother snapped back. “I did knew it would get you away from his misery and it would get him enough money he’d stop being a whiny prick. Christ. The minute the money started disappearing he was angry. Raw passion turned into rough sex which left me bruised and battered. He was violent and angry all the time because he knew he was a shitty Don, and he was hemorrhaging money. I would encourage him to take big risks, you’re right but it was because if I didn’t act as his damn cheerleader and scream his praises, he would question my love and loyalty. I hated him at first. I loved him deeply when the boys were little. I hated him again when he started really doing work for his father when the old started getting sick and it worsened when he became Don after his father died.”

“It’s why you hate me.” Alcee said quietly. “He hurt you, didn’t he. Rape?”

Her mother looked away.

“I was born of a rape?”

“He fucked up a business deal. He went to get his vasectomy and three days later, still hobbling around with a bag of went to meeting and fucked it up. His father was furious. He’d sent Edgardo to sort out a shipment while he was at a chemo treatment and said

peas packed in his pants, he

getting his prostate chemically treated was far more cumbersome than a god damned vasectomy,” she mocked her dead father–in–law’s voice. “Edgardo fucked it up. He was sore and cranky, and he pissed off the dealer. He was so angry when he came home, he found me trying on an extremely expensive dress. He’d just lost a five hundred–thousand–dollar deal and there I was playing dress up after a shopping spree. I don’t even know how he managed to have sex considering how much pain he must have been in, but he saw me in a five–hundred–dollar designer dress and went off the deep end. He was apologetic after.”

“He raped you?” Mercurio asked quietly.

“Just the once.”

Alcee shook her head, “you didn’t want to save me. You aren’t a murderer and I know somewhere in there,” she waved her hand at her mother’s chest, “is a heart who loves me somewhat but the reason you wanted to get rid of me, to send me first to Lozano and now to Pavlidis is because the further away I am from you, the further away your guilt and your hatred is. You feel guilty because you betrayed your husband and he took it out on me. You feel hatred because of what he did to you, and you were the one raising the repercussions of it. He got worse but so did you, Apollonia. You’ll forgive me, of course, for not calling you mom ever again.”

“Alcee, no. I love you. You were conceived with great anger, I can’t lie, but you grew in my belly with love.”

“But there was resentment there.”

“I wanted you away from him. I wanted you away from his anger. It was the only way I could protect you. You’re right there is guilt because I do feel tremendous amounts of it. Especially when I know you have your little boy. You were stronger than me. I feel guilty because the minute your father started doubting you, I should have taken you and the boys and left. I should have been braver and each day you were out there thriving and surviving on your own is a stark reminder of how much of a failure I am as a woman and as a mother. I wanted you away from Edgardo. I thought, I did, I really believed Torquato was forcing you. I heard the call the night he came into New York, and he threatened your father over Antero. I immediately started putting out feelers to find a way to get you to safety. I was scared he was forcing you Alcee and I didn’t want you to be forced.”

Alcee sighed, “maybe there is truth to your words,” she saw her mother’s eyes brighten and she took no pleasure in extinguishing her light, “but I don’t believe you or in you anymore. My entire life is a lie. It’s a horrible disgusting lie. I spent my entire life being blamed for something I was not part of. I never asked to be born or of this life and as such it was you as my parent who should have protected me. You’re right I am stronger. than you. I know how to protect myself and my son. I know what to do and who to align myself with. I grew up in a house where I was constantly on guard, constantly feeling less than and knowing I was and deserved better. I’m a whole person without you Mama and without Mariani. 1 didn’t need you to save me. I did it myself.”

She rose from her chair and gave a loud sigh and waved to Torq.

“I have only one thing to say after all of this. My wife and son are off limits to the Mariani family. I’ve aligned myself with families as strong as mine. Italian, Russian, a team out of Somalia and now if you can believe it the Greeks. Do not think for one minute any of you will stand a chance coming after her. This is the only warning this family gets. This is it. You burned a bridge, Mercurio. I hope you’re ready to accept the fallout.” He looked around the room, “for the record, I adore Alcee. You should have opened your eyes in the meeting I held with you and your father, Mercurio to see how much she means to me. I wasn’t holding her there as a warning. I was holding her to me because she is my fucking world, and I spent too long trying to find her to ever want her away from me again. She is everything. Try to take her from me again and the best

1/2

Chapter 174

forensic team on the planet won’t find a speck of you.”

With the dire warning hanging loud and clear, he gave a wave of his hand, and his men ushered Alcee out and back to the waiting cars.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify