Page 30 of Heart's Temptation

I knew Niki had been lying all along about having an interest in another guy, and I’d been entertaining other possibilities about why she’d left, since our breakthrough that first night, but none of my guesses had included Liam Kelly.

I’d always found it odd that he and a few of his cousins had entered our school as it almost entirely lacked any Irish, never mind the Kelly family. He’d acted way too familiar with Niki right from the beginning, although when questioned, she said she’d seen him around her neighborhood, but vehemently denied any dealings with the guy.

“I lied to you and Marko when we first got together. I knew Liam from my old life.”

My old life. That’s what Niki called her life prior to meeting me and Marko.

“You know where I lived, it was full of white trash, including him and me. He was at the bottom of a huge Irish mob clan. I heard his parents had been killed and that was why he was doing petty street crime at the time, to feed his siblings. Being the eldest, it fell on his shoulders. I made the mistake of feeling sorry for him one time and he never left me alone after that.” She gulped.

Tears leaked from her eyes as her tale unfolded, while my fingers curled at my sides to keep me from tearing the room apart. Fucking Liam Kelly. I’d hated that piece of shit from the moment I saw him watching Niki with his beady little eyes. I’d threatened him many times to look elsewhere. He’d always laugh, but leave, and days, sometimes weeks, would pass before I’d catch him at it again.

“He followed me everywhere and would show up at my house, climbing the emergency staircase to my floor. I caught him a few times watching me through my window. It was creepy. When I was transferred to West Ridge and was able to leave all the crap in my life behind, I figured I was finally free of him. Then he transferred to our school and continued his creepy stalker habits. Because I was hardly ever at home, it didn’t bother me so much. Then football season started, so Marko wasn’t around as much, and you were busy training with your father, Gio. That’s when I started receiving threats from Liam. At least, I figured it was him, even though the notes were never signed.”

“Why did you think it was him? You seemed to also have bad blood between you and a few of the cheerleaders at that time as well.”

She nodded her head. “Yeah, Kimberly, who was Liam’s girlfriend, and, I assumed, jealous of his obsession and the way he was constantly watching me. I think she convinced the other girl to help her get me out of the way.”

“Right, so how do you know it was Liam and not Kimberly?” Something about her suspicions felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on why.

“Each note came with an inverted four-leaf clover stamped on the bottom. When we made the playoffs, those threats came with an expiration date. ‘Leave them, or else they will be killed after the last game’.”

Niki was pale, shaky, and looking like she might have thrown up, but she pushed through and continued telling her story. “After we won our first playoff game, I was able to confirm the threat came from Liam when he approached me by the girl’s locker room. He said that if I didn’t leave you two to be with him, then he’d kill the both of you. He showed me his gun. I told him I’d come willingly once we won the cup.”

“Jesus, Niki! Why didn’t you ever tell us?” Marko fired at her. “We could have dealt with this years ago, and it would have been over and done with.” I could tell he wanted to say more, but stopped himself.

“I figured I had time to think on how to get out of my promise. But by the time we were on the field for the last game, nothing had come to me, and I’d decided to tell you. Then, remember when I ran out onto the field and Marko held me on his shoulders?”

I nodded. Her eyes were laser focused on mine.

“He stood behind you with a gun to your head, Gio. At that moment I knew what I needed to do. When Marko disappeared into the locker room, I stayed and watched, making sure Liam didn’t follow him. After minutes passed, I turned to leave and found him waiting for me.”

I pictured that slimeball lying in wait for Niki at her most vulnerable moments. It was hard to control the rage that moved through me in palpable waves. I should have known and dealt with it. I’d obviously greatly overestimated the intimidation level I thought I brought into the equation by having the Vitale name. My girl had been mentally and emotionally tortured when we’d thought she’d been safe. Back then, her father had been the biggest threat, or so we’d thought. I couldn’t hold back the self-loathing that came on the heels of hearing the truth.

“I made an excuse about grabbing my bag from home and meeting up with him at the bus station. He left, and I grabbed the bag I’d stowed in a locker in the girls’ change room and ran for the bus station. I purchased a ticket for New York under the name Niki Swan, and drained what money I had in my bank account. Later that day, I arrived in New York and checked into a crap motel. The next day I went directly to the studio, auditioned for Empire Ballet, and was hired for the corps. Until Marko came, that’s where I’ve been all this time.”

As her confession spilled out, one thing became evident. The attack from the Irish was no mistake. Somehow Liam Kelly was a part of this, and I needed to let my brothers know. Still, it seemed extreme for a man like Liam to still be chasing Niki over a decade later. Why had it taken him so long to find her and why go back to making similar threats like he had in high school? Marko had been right when he said this felt like revenge.

Before I could form any kind of coherent response, Gaetano and Gabriella returned.

“Good news. There is nothing technically wrong with our patient. Bad news, your body is in starvation mode, but that's nothing rest and eating properly won’t fix.” Tano gave Niki a pointed look.

“Don’t worry Tano, Marko and I will take good care of Niki.” I gave our patient a meaningful gaze and loved seeing the pulse at her neck pick up speed. I hoped she was remembering how I’d dealt with her defiance on her first night at the penthouse.

“Why don’t you escort Niki up to my suite, and make sure she’s not alone.”

Marko nodded and I left the room with Tano and Gaby. When we were far enough away to not be overheard, I confessed we needed to talk.

“Fine, so let's talk.” Tano crossed his arms, waiting.

“In Malvasia, brother.” I’d never called a meeting to our war room before.

Tano’s eyes hardened. “Understood.”

When he and I returned to the dining room, only Vinnie remained.

“How’s Niki? Everything okay?”

“She’s fine.”