A Heart of Gang (The Centofanti Gang Book 1) Read online

  A Heart of

  Gang

  KAITLYN MILLER

  A HEART OF GANG

  Copyright © 2020 Kaitlyn Miller

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or used in any matter whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Any infringement of copyright is punishable by law.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and situations portrayed are either the work of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or places is entirely coincidental.

  CONTENT WARNING: not intended for audiences under 17 due to depictions of violence and murder, rape and sexual assault, and kidnapping.

  Contact Information:

  www.kemillerwrites.wordpress.com

  Email: [email protected]

  ISBN: 9798664511871

  ADVANCED READER COPY

  This is an advanced reader copy of the novel, which means it may go through a final round of editing before publication. Due to this, some changes may be present in the finalized manuscript.

  You've received this book from the author to garner early feedback and to increase awareness for its release. The ARC was sent in hopes that you will leave an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads, as well as other social media platforms that may be used, when you have finished. When you do, please be sure to follow the regulations set by Amazon and/or Goodreads by mentioning that you received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

  Release date: January 24, 2021

  Kindle Price: $2.99*

  Paperback: TBD

  *Also available part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

  DEDICATION

  For Jerry - thank you for creating

  the idea of Paul & Alpo, and for believing

  in this project since day one.

  CONTENTS

  Prologue: Shattered

  1

  Chapter 1: Ava’s First Christmas

  6

  Chapter 2: Gone Too Soon

  16

  Chapter 3: Pinky Promise

  22

  Chapter 4: Secret’s Out

  28

  Chapter 5: Truth Be Told

  34

  Chapter 6: Decisions & Consequences

  42

  Chapter 7: Asking for Help

  50

  Chapter 8: Meeting the Family

  55

  Chapter 9: Rescue Mission

  67

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 10: Stronger

  77

  Chapter 11: Starting Over

  84

  Chapter 12: Full of Surprises

  100

  Chapter 13: Missing Puzzle Piece

  110

  Chapter 14: Worth It

  119

  Chapter 15: Good News

  126

  Chapter 16: A Little Holiday Magic

  136

  Chapter 17: Wedding Bells

  143

  Chapter 18: A Christmas Miracle

  152

  Chapter 19: One Month Later

  159

  Acknowledgments

  i

  PROLOGUE: SHATTERED

  This truly was the night that would never end. I had been waiting for Paul for the most unforgiving three hours of my life. All I had to eat was a stale piece of peppermint gum, broken in half from being stuck at the bottom of my purse for who knows how freaking long. At least the car was finally starting to warm up; I had left in such a hurry, I had forgotten to turn the heat on despite the slight spring chill lingering in the air. I pulled the sleeves of my oversized grey college sweatshirt down to the palms of my hands as I watched the ocean lap against the sandy shore. Regardless of how many hours of waiting passed, I knew Paul would eventually show up. If not for me, then for Alpo, who ironically was also running late.

  Alpo, who someone somewhere had thought was a good idea to name after a brand of dog food, was the guy who always managed to steer Paul in the wrong direction. Those two were constantly getting into some kind of trouble, a “wrong place at the wrong time” kind of thing; nothing had changed from when we were kids growing up in the same neighborhood, not even after our high school graduation. Tonight, I felt in my gut, was no exception.

  I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel as I absentmindedly stared at the neon green light of the radio light, which now read 1:19 am. Paul was supposed to meet me at Salem, the local bar, around 10 pm. After waiting for an hour and half there, I knew something was wrong. He wasn’t answering any of my calls or texts, which wasn’t like Paul, so I got into my car and drove straight to the beach.

  There was a small, nearly secluded lagoon from the Little Mermaid-like spot nestled next to a large boulder that was our meeting spot from junior year, and if Paul ever showed up to Salem and noticed I wasn’t there, he’d come here. Deep in the pit of my stomach, I knew it was a bad idea to be waiting at the beach alone at this time of night. The daily news was nothing but horror stories of women getting kidnapped and attacked at night, especially in the big cities across the nation. But I couldn’t just ditch Paul and go home, even if he had technically ditched me first. I needed to see him…

  Thick dark clouds were slowly rolling across the night sky as I sat in silence, trying my best to stay warm; in hindsight, wearing shorts probably wasn’t the best idea either. In the distance, the low rumble of thunder could be heard loud and clear as if just above me and not miles away; every so often, an angry crack of lightning appeared on the horizon over the sea, sending a bright streak across the sky. I involuntarily shivered, my mind wandering back to my reflection in the bathroom mirror hours ago as the object fell from my hands, clattering to the countertop of the sink. Hastily throwing it into the trash can underneath some wadded tissues at the sound of a car door slamming shut. Body shaking as wave after wave of anxiety crashed though, bolting out of the house and into the night…

  I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice a dark figure rapidly approaching the car, trying to beat the incoming raindrops that began to splatter one by one on my windshield. I jumped at the loud rapping on the window and sighed with relief as Paul tugged the door open, sliding into the passenger seat. That feeling of relief began to slowly disappear as I took in the man in front of me.

  His bottom lip was swollen, caked with dried blood and a sticky alcoholic liquid I couldn’t quite place; his right eye was heavily bruised, especially above his cheekbone where the imprint of someone’s fist had begun to form. There was a long, narrow cut smeared across his left cheek from the bridge of his nose to his jawline, probably from an object breaking his fall. He honestly looked like he had been through hell and the sight of him so messed up terrified me to my core. As I leaned over to examine his face more closely in the dimming overhead light, he shook his head and shifted away from me, pressing his body against the car door.

  “Jade, I’m begging you… please. Don’t ask what happened, okay? It’s for your own safety that you don’t know the truth,” Paul pleaded, his gaze lingering on the sea outside the windshield. I stared at him in disbelief, my hand frozen in midair. Shaking my head, I dropped my hand to my lap and inhaled a sharp breath, glaring at him.

  “For my own safety?!? What the hell are you talking about, Paul?” My eyes flashed in anger as my voice rose an octave. “I’ve been waiting for you for three damn hours! No phone call, no text, nothing to let me know you’re running late or not coming at all! And when you do finally show up, you’re bruised and bloody, and I
’m not supposed to ask questions!? Seriously, that’s such bullshit, Paul, and you know it!”

  I stared him down, my chest heaving from the adrenaline coursing through my veins, a roaring fire in my gut. Guilt flashed across his face as he considered the situation at hand.

  “Jade, I’m so sorry I’m late,” Paul grabbed my hand and gave it a slight squeeze, trying to be comforting. “When we mad plans to meet earlier, I had completely forgotten I had a meeting with Alpo and one of his connections tonight, too. I promise you, I had every intention of making it to Salem on time… it was only supposed to be a quick in-and-out meeting.”

  “Of course, you were with Alpo!” I rolled my eyes, huffing out a frustrated breath. “That boy gets you into so much trouble, I can’t believe you’re still friends after all these years.”

  Paul let my snide remarks go as he struggled with resuming his explanation.

  “Just tell me the truth, Paul. I deserve that much, at least.” I said, resigned.

  “But then, Alpo was running late, so I decided to just wait a little longer at the pub with the other guy. Around 11:30, Alpo finally showed up and he was way past drunk. He fell into another man, who shoved Alpo against the bar, and a fight broke out. Things got out of hand and I jumped in to help Alpo out of the mess. He was so drunk and hot tempered from the fight, he turned on me and punched me straight in the jaw. That’s why I’m all messed up.”

  He paused as he gestured to his lip and black eye, taking a deep breath before continuing.

  “My uncle Leo had to come bail Alpo and I out of jail, and it took longer than expected. The police department had a lot of paperwork that needed to be filled out before my uncle could take us.”

  “Okay… so why not just tell me the truth, instead of being all mysterious and saying, ‘it’s for your own safety?’ We’ve been a couple for three years now, and we’ve known each other since we were kids… you can tell me anything. You know that.” I rested my head on his shoulder, trying to get him to meet my gaze.

  “I do know that Jade. It’s just that…” Paul sighed, running a hand through his hair as he debated internally for a minute before he rushed on. “The whole situation is messed up. I was being honest with you when I said it was for your own safety… ugh, screw it. You deserve to know… what I just told you is the truth – the bar fight did happen – but it’s not the whole truth. That man that Alpo fell into and started a fight with… belongs to a gang. That gang is probably going to be looking for revenge now because he is still behind bars and Alpo and I are not. I didn’t want to put you in harm’s way if they came after me.”

  “Wait, how do you know all of that? What do you mean, come after you? Paul, what the hell is going on?” I stared at him confusingly, turning my body to face him as my mind tried to process his words. Paul looked at me with a hint of sadness and regret in his eyes.

  “Please understand that I can’t tell you the whole story, because I really am trying to protect you. The gang is led by a man named Ramsey, who is the rival leader to my uncle’s gang. Which I’m a part of, because the Mafia is a family business. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping you in the dark.”

  His words slowly sunk in and I blinked rapidly, speechless. In the three years we’ve dated and the twelve years I’ve known him, I never knew Paul was a part of the Mafia, let alone in a gang. He kept a big secret from me and while part of me understood why, the other part of me shattered at the realization that I barely knew the man sitting in my car. I wondered briefly what else had Paul kept secret from me all these years.

  My hand absentmindedly flew to my stomach as my eyes widened in fear as I realized the potential danger that now loomed over me. Paul’s eyes focused on my hand before flickering to my face and back. I could see the wheels turning in his head as he put two and two together, a light bulb turning on in his bewildered gaze.

  “Jade, are you--?”

  I was out of the car and running down the beach before he could even finish his question. As I ran away from the only man who I had ever loved, I heard him calling my name; his voice full of despair a harsh contrast against the storm charged air. Still, I ran as tears streamed down my face, not looking back to see the pained look on Paul’s face as he hopelessly watched me disappear into the night.

  It was only after I had disappeared from his line of sight completely that it had started to rain.

  CHAPTER 1: AVA’S FIrst christmas

  Christmas music softly played throughout the house as I hung green garland decked out in multicolored lights across the doorway separating the living room and the dining room. Opened boxes of decorations were scattered on the floor throughout both rooms as I quietly worked, humming to the joyful tunes. The tree was already placed in the stand with its branches fluffed out, patiently waiting for ornaments to be hung on it. I was saving that task for when my mother arrived for the holidays; it was one of our annual traditions Mom insisted on having since my early childhood and one I kept even after I moved out of her house two years ago.

  Ava was sleeping on a pile of blankets and pillows I had put on the floor the night before for movie night. She looked so peaceful curled up with her blanket Mom had given me the day I came home from the hospital, a small sleepy smile on her face. I couldn't help but gaze at my daughter’s face lovingly, my own lips forming a smile as I took in her tiny form. My precious little angel, who unknowingly saved my life. If only her dad knew...

  No, I told myself. Don't go there. I couldn't tell him and risk putting her in danger. I couldn't lose my child. It was bad enough I had already lost him… Stop, the little voice in my head chided. It's Christmas. Be happy, for Ava’s sake.

  As I gave myself that little pep talk, the doorbell rang. Grinning, I hurried over to the door and flung it open. Standing there was my mother, Sofia, who looked beautiful as always; her soft chestnut hair flowed freely from under her winter hat, strands of silver illuminated by the warm white icicle lights wrapped around the porch. I smiled as I noticed she was dressed in dark blue jeans and a forest green sweatshirt I bought her under her black coat. She smiled back at me and I gave her a quick hug.

  "Hi, Mama. I see I’ve started to rub off on you with the jeans and sweatshirt. How was your flight?" I asked as I grabbed her bags off the porch and helped her inside.

  "You were right; they are pretty comfy for a plane ride. The flight was good," she replied warmly. "I slept most of the way."

  "That doesn't surprise me," I giggled. "Ava's asleep in the living room. Why don't you wake her up while I put your bags in the bedroom?"

  "Leave that one out," she pointed to what appeared to be a red sack. "Those are presents to put under the tree."

  I left the Santa bag with her and made my way to the spare bedroom, which I turned into my mom's room shortly after I moved in about a year ago; excluding my best friend, Skylar, Mom was the only person who ever stayed overnight when she visited. Skylar, on the other hand, lived directly across the street from me, so having her stay the night was not a big deal like it was having Mom stay over. Once everything was put away, I went to the living room and saw Mom playing peek-a-boo with Ava. The sight made me smile as Ava squealed with laughter, delighted to spend time with her grandma.

  "She's beautiful," Mom directed towards me as she held onto Ava, making kissy faces to keep her laughing.

  "Yes, she is," I said as I sat down next to her on the couch.

  "You're going to have to tell him eventually," she said softly, somehow echoing my thoughts from earlier. "He deserves to know. It’s been over a year since you’ve talked to him, Jade."

  "You know why I can't do that. He doesn't want to be around her or me. He never cared. If he did, he would've looked for me. Besides, even if I wanted to, I don’t know where to start."

  Before Mom could say anything, the house phone rang in the kitchen. Silently thankful for the interruption, I got up quickly and picked it up on the third ring.

>   "Hello?"

  "Jade? It's Sky.” There was a slight pause followed by a thud and Sky swearing under her breath as a rustle crackled over the line. “Sorry, phone slipped. Anyways. Apparently, Daniel's family doesn't like me, and he forgot to mention that. So, I'm coming home for Christmas. Alone.”

  "What?! Okay, just come here. The more, the merrier. Mom's here, too. Do you know what time you are getting back?"

  "I'm at the airport right now, waiting for my luggage. So, it'll be maybe a half hour? An hour at the latest, depending on the roads."

  "Okay. I'll see you in a little bit. Be careful."

  We hung up and I sighed deeply, rubbing my forehead in annoyance at his lack of regard when it came to Skylar and his controlling mother, who seemed to have made it her personal mission to tear Sky down every chance she could. Daniel was an idiot sometimes; what Skylar ever saw in him completely baffled me, but he made her happy. For the most part. I couldn’t argue with that.

  "Who was that?" Mom stood in the doorway, watching in amusement as Ava clumsily waddled toward me. I bent down and held my arms out to hug her tightly, blowing kisses on her cheek to make her laugh.

  "Skylar. She's going to be joining us for Christmas, after all.”

  “How is she doing? Is she still with Daniel?”

  “She’s doing fine and yes, she’s still dating Daniel.”

  Mom and I shared a look, both of us knowing that Sky could do so much better. Skylar and I had been best friends since elementary school, and Mom even adopted Sky as her own when Sky’s parents died in a plane crash. Even though we had our difficulties and nearly called it quits after a huge fight once, Skylar was the closest thing I had to a sister; especially growing up with three brothers, I needed a girl to keep me sane. Our moms used to joke about how we looked like twins, even though I had caramel brown hair with hazel emerald eyes and Skylar had auburn hair with forest green eyes.