A Sinner's Promise (De Bellis Crime Family, #1)

by Kylie Kent

The cold bastard lined us up on the sofa, looked us dead in the eye, and said, “Your mother is dead. Don’t cry for her, never cry for a fucking woman. Ever.”

She was… fucking fun? Fun to fuck? Fuckably fun? Point is we had a good time.

“That’s not what you were saying last night when you were screaming my name.” The blonde looks at me. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just giving you what you wanted to hear. I’m a people pleaser.”

There ain’t enough fucking prayers and goodwill in the world to prevent my old man’s soul from travelling downward instead of up.

It’s the same direction I know I’ll be going. I’ll see him again one day and hopefully I get the opportunity to torture his fucked-up soul down there. I might be able to broker a deal or some shit. After all, everyone has a price, even the devil himself.

in. I give them nothing, my face devoid of emotion. The only thing I feel right now is fucking hot.

“We should know who works for us, and staff should greet customers,” he says. “She’s probably nervous. I mean, with the way you’re looking like you’re ready to rip someone’s head off, it’s not surprising she didn’t speak up,” Gabe says.

“Oh god.” “Tell me… what has you this excited?” he asks again. “You,” I whisper. “Good girl,” he says and then slams his lips onto mine.

If I want something, I’m going to have it, and the thing I want more than my next breath right now is her.

The truth is I was up. I spent hours on my laptop, looking up every bit of information I could find on Ellie. And then I spent another few hours wondering why I even care. It’s actually pissing me off that thoughts of her have been filling my head for the past two days.

I look up and down the street. It’s a habit ingrained in me. One I won’t stop. Looking for danger before my brothers get out of the car. I would much rather be the one to take a bullet aimed at us.

All thoughts leave my mind. Well, most thoughts, because she’s still fucking there.

“Tell me to stop and I’ll stop. Tell me that you don’t want to, not that you can’t.”

“But I mean what I say, Ellie. Nothing will happen to you. I will make sure of that.” He seems so sincere, and I want to believe that he can follow through on his promise. But that’s the thing. I don’t trust easily and this is a man I don’t know. My body might react to his in ways it never has before, but I don’t know him.

“Ellie?” “Yeah?” “Get up and lock your door,” he says before cutting the call. I jump out of bed and run from the room, over to my front door. It’s shut but the deadlock isn’t in place. How the hell did he know that?

I don’t give a fuck if he’s talking to ghosts, as long as he doesn’t become one himself.”

Unmoving. He doesn’t say anything. I wait. He needs time to process this. Then he drops to his knees and buries his head in his hands. I fall next to him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, and let him cry. He can’t hold himself up right now, but he doesn’t have to. Because I’ll be here to do it for him, until he can do it for himself again.

“We’re friends first.” “We’re not…” Gio holds up a hand. “I swear to God, Ellie, finish that thought and I’m going to come over there and show you along with everyone else in this bar just how fucking friendly we are,” he grunts. “Fine,” I huff and look down at the wings, wondering how I’m going to eat them without making a mess. I wasn’t planning on having company.

“You can’t be serious.” She gapes at me. “Do I look like I’m joking?” “No, which just makes this situation even more insane,” Ellie says.

“This is the strangest date I’ve ever been on,” I say, breaking the silence. “This is not a date,” she tells me. “Sure, it is. You’re here. I’m here. We’re eating dinner together. That’s a date.”

“Well, shit, Ellie, guess I need to step up my game.” I laugh. “You do.” “So, how about Friday?” “What about Friday?” I thought the question was obvious but I explain anyway. “For this date.” “Sorry, can’t. I’m busy.” “Doing what?” “Laundry,” she tells me.

“You were meant to stay turned around.” “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have choked on your food,” I tell her as I snatch it back. “Oh my god, will you stop that?” “Stop looking after you? No.” “Do I really have that much sauce on my face?” she asks me.

“I like you, and when I think about you being with anyone else, I want to rip heads off. I don’t want to share you, which means you and I are exclusive.” It’s simple as that. “You do realise that both parties usually have a say in things like this, right?”

I pull out and see Ellie’s name flash across the screen. She’s never called me before. Why is she calling me now? “Santo, shut him the fuck up. I have to take this,” I say. Santo shoves a cloth into the guy’s mouth, muffling his sounds, while I click answer on the phone. “Are you okay?” “Ah, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Her voice is sweet, innocent. It belongs nowhere near this fucking torture room. “You’ve never called me before.”

“Who the fuck was that?” He scowls at me. “No one. Hurry this up. I have to go.” “No one makes you smile like that?”

I refuse to let her see me with blood splatters on my clothes. I won’t let her innocence touch the filth of the world I run.

“You’re serious?” “Yes.” I walk over to her, grab her face in my hands, lean down, and kiss her forehead. “You are fucking adorable when you’re embarrassed,” I tell her before I pivot on my heel and walk out the door.

“I’m not alone. I have my brothers.” “And me.” Ellie smiles. “And you,” I agree. I wrap my arms around her waist and press her up against me. “I meant what I said. I won’t ever let anything hurt you, Ellie. I will never hurt you either.” “I believe you,” she whispers before melting into my embrace.

“Ah, El.” “Yeah?” “How many drugs have they given me?” Jenni asks. “I don’t know. Why?” I look from my sister to our mum, who’s standing on the other side of the hospital bed. “There’s a god standing behind you, El. But don’t turn around. He might disappear.”

“I had James drive your car home,” Gio says. “Come on, I’m over here.” “What do you mean you had James drive my car home? How? You don’t even have the keys.” Gio smirks at me. “You underestimate my abilities, Ellie.”

“That’s not funny. You would not shoot your own brothers.” “Well, not anywhere lethal. But the shoulder, arm, somewhere that’ll hurt but not kill ʼem? You bet your sweet ass I would.” “That’s… don’t do that,”

“Your ego really is concerning.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” he says, handing one to Ellie. “Welcome to the family. Though if you were smart, you’d run like your life depended on it. Because it probably does.”

“Ellie, I want the whole fucking world to know that you are mine.” She blinks up at me. “Well, then, what are you waiting for?” she asks, spreading her legs wider. “This is your open invitation, Giovanni. Do your best and see just how loud I can scream.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask, wiping the tears from under her eyes. “You. You’re just too perfect,” she sobs. “It’s going to break my heart when this all blows up in my face, because I think I’m in love with you, Giovanni De Bellis. No, I don’t think. I know I am.” “Okay, first, this isn’t ever going to blow up in your face. I love you, Ellie, and I look after things I love. People I love. I will not allow anything to come between us. Ever,” I admit before leaning down to kiss the middle of her forehead. “See? Perfect,” she whispers. “You are perfect.”

Anyone watching would think I’m fucking kidnapping her. This isn’t me kidnapping her. This is me… Okay, it might be a little kidnappy. But, fuck, like I was going to let her just jump in some rando’s car…

“Because I’m fucking petrified of losing you, Ellie. I’m scared and I’ve never been scared of anything in my fucking life. But you… you scare the shit out of me.” I lock my arms behind his neck. “You are not going to lose me—well, you might if you keep being an ass. But you have to talk to me, Gio. Tell me what’s going on. Help me understand why you think I’m in danger.”

I can’t refuse to live my life because of what could go wrong.”

“How did I get so fucking lucky to find you?” I ask her, the backs of my fingers skimming down the side of her face. “Mmm, you burnt your family’s house down and needed to buy a new one.” She smiles. “Worth every fucking cent.”

She smiles, and I swear a strange sense of peace washes over me. It happens every fucking time I see that smile.

“It’s funny you think my brother would ever let you change your mind in the first place.” Vin laughs. “That man would have you holed up in a tower like Rapunzel if you even thought about breaking up with him.” “No, he wouldn’t.” I shake my head. “Live a pretty life in denial, El. Come on. I need to be at school early.”

I know I can’t hover over her, and I can’t wrap her in bubble wrap like I want to. I know that I can’t, because she’s told me as much.

“I know. But that doesn’t make me love you any less, and it sure as hell has nothing to do with whether or not you deserve me, Gio.” I pull at his belt and then undo the button and fly on his pants. “And you know what? Who cares if you deserve me? You have me, and you promised me you weren’t ever letting go. You are not allowed to break promises to me.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” I repeat. “I know. But what other choice do we have? You need to do this. It was selfish of me to ask you not to.” “You kinda own me, Ellie. You’re entitled to be selfish.”

Are you okay? Gabe: I’m good. You okay? Me: No, but I will be. Gabe: You will be.

“Ellie, if you want to spend the rest of our lives in the same room together, you will not hear me complain about it. I like having you close.” “It’s no way to live…” I shake my head. “It could be.”