Page 69 of Pretty Evil
Iwatch Serena leave with a heavy heart. There was something in her expression that told me I am losing her. She was resigned to her fate before she even tried to change it and that angers me. She should stand up and fight for what she wants, and I expect better of her. I know how her family works. Mine is the same, but my family allows a certain freedom that it appears hers does not.
As I head back up to my penthouse, I am angry, which surprises me. I don’t get angry; I operate with zero emotion and cold calculation. Serena Vieri is the first woman who has tested every emotion I own and I’m not sure if I’m happy or appalled by it.
I head back into the penthouse and stare at the fire, the couch in disarray after our frantic coupling. As I lift one of the cushions, I hurl it across the room, knocking a lamp off the table holding it.
“Alexei.” I turn to see Gleb watching me with a slight shake of his head and a glass of vodka in his hand that he offers to me.
“You will need this.”
“Why?” I growl, taking it anyway and downing it in one second.
“We have a problem.”
“Tell me.” I’m almost grateful because problems are something I thrive on and excel at. Emotions, not so much.
“I ran a background check on the Vieri household as you asked.”
I nod, wondering what he found. I instructed him to discover anything that could help me secure Serena by my side, so I could go to her grandfather with every weapon in my arsenal to get what I want.
“Serena’s bodyguard, Connor.”
My blood runs cold and I say quickly, “What about him?”
“That’s not his real name.”
“Tell me.” It’s as if ice is entering my blood and freezing me immobile as Gleb says in his usual expressionless voice.
“His real name is Marcello Lomas. He was a hit man for Carlos Matasso and operated under cover.”
“Fuck!” I stare at him in disbelief as he continues.
“When Carlos died, the family had no don, and the soldiers found other employment. Apparently, Giselle Matasso arranged for Lomas to be appointed as Serena’s bodyguard, vouching for him and his loyalty. When I checked his history, it was too contrived, alerting me to the fact it was probably re-written.”
He shakes his head. “I sent his picture and some prints I lifted when he was offered our usual glass of refreshment for such purposes. It came back with an ID as Marcello Lomas and his resume almost corrupted my server.”
“Why?”
Gleb shakes his head. “He is one of the finest hitmen in the country. His list of victims is long, and they are just the ones he is credited with. Usually, it means there are at least five times more bodies to add to the count of one. I dug a little deeper about this connection with Giselle and there was talk of a relationship between them several years ago. It appears they share a closer bond than most in their position, which is why I am concerned about Serena.”
“Why?” The blood is heating in my veins as I sense I am not going to like what I hear and Gleb wastes no time in getting to the point.
“Giselle Matasso holds a deep burning hatred for her family. She arranged the death of her brother by spreading rumors in the right circles that he ordered a hit on his family. She broke up his marriage, and it appears hasn’t finished yet.”
“Serena.” The pain hits me hard knowing I just sent her off with a man who may have been paid to kill her and Gleb nods, distaste flickering across his face.
“It appears that Giselle Matasso is hell bent on wiping out her family, and I believe Serena is in very imminent danger.”
I waste no time and reach for my phone, shouting, “Prepare the car, grab the guards and make sure they are armed.”
As I race to the elevator with Gleb close by my side, I call Serena in the hope she picks up.
There is nothing. It connects to voicemail, and I swear I age in seconds as I picture the worst.
As always, my men do not let me down and we head off in convoy, Gleb beside me, issuing my orders to the cars surrounding us.
“We must split up and cover every route to the Vieri mansion.” I order.
“Gleb makes the call and I continue trying Serena’s phone. In desperation, I make another call that I really don’t want to make and as he answers, I hate the steel in his voice, knowing I am about to light a fuse that will only end in devastation.