Twisted In Obsession (Marchetti Family Series Book 2), page 1
Twisted In Obsession
Sins and Obsession Duet
The Marchetti Family
Book 2
kelly Kelsey
Copyright © 2024 By Kelly Kelsey
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by Crowe Abbey Covers
Editing by Ce-ce Cox of Outside Eyes Editing and Proofreading
Proofreading by Mich
Created with Vellum
To all you good girls that just want a morally grey man that will burn down the world and never give up until he has you. Nico Marchetti is all that and more. You’re welcome.
Contents
Trigger Warnings
Playlist
Prologue
1. Ocean
2. Nico
3. Ocean
4. Nico
5. Ocean
6. Nico
7. Ocean
8. Nico
9. Ocean
10. Nico
11. Ocean
12. Nico
13. Ocean
14. Nico
15. Ocean
16. Nico
17. Ocean
18. Nico
19. Ocean
20. Nico
21. Ocean
22. Nico
23. Ocean
24. Nico
25. Ocean
26. Nico
27. Ocean
28. Nico
29. Ocean
30. Nico
31. Ocean
32. Nico
33. Ocean
34. Nico
35. Ocean
36. Nico
37. Ocean
38. Nico
39. Ocean
40. Nico
41. Ocean
42. Nico
43. Ocean
44. Nico
45. Ocean
Epilogue
Epilogue
For now…
***
Quick Note from The Author
About the Author
Books
The Jump Series
Thalia
Sweet Addiction
Knox
Madison
Sweet Possession
Asher
Remi
Sweet Temptation
Prologue
Eden – Age 18
Trigger Warnings
Somnophilia
Violence
Dubious Consent
Gun Use
Morally Grey Man
Red Flags Everywhere
Playlist
The Funeral – Band of Horses
Poison & Wine – The Civil Wars
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem, Rhianna
I See Red – Everybody Loves an Outlaw
Broken – Lifehouse
Ordinary World – Aurora, Naimee Coleman
Demons – Imagine Dragons
Way down We Go – KALEO
Play with Fire – Sam Tinnesz feat. Yacht Money
Mine – Dan x Toxic Love
Lose Control – Teddy Swims
Prologue
Nico
Two weeks later…
Loud sobbing to my left echoes around the cold, vast space, breaking the otherwise quiet of the church. The noise is so gut wrenching my chest cracks a little more. Tightening my arm around my mamma, I hold on to her grief wracked, trembling body, like my life depends on it. And it does. I will not let my mamma break further than she already has.
Though my papà was a monster of the worst kind, she loved him more than anything. Did he deserve that love? No. But it doesn’t change the fact that he was her husband or that she worshipped the ground he walked on despite his many transgressions. Sure, I wanted my papà dead, but not like this. Not by the hands of my enemies.
Two weeks ago, everything turned to shit. Not only did Ocean, my fucking woman, disappear without a trace, but the Bratva escalated their war with us and ruthlessly gunned down my papà and a couple of his men, in cold blood. And of all places, it was on the street, outside the salon I own. Bellissima. At the time, I was confused as to why he would be there, but I soon found out those reasons and it had everything to do with Ocean. My jaw clenches just thinking about what I found out.
Gio, the guard I had assigned to Ocean, had been knocked out cold during most of the chaos, but when he came around, he told me what he knew. That led me to Angelo, one of Papà’s senior guards. After learning that his Don was dead and I would be the new head of the Marchetti famiglia, he sang like a fucking canary and told me everything.
My breathing picks up, anger shooting through me and my blood turning hot when I think about how Ocean deceived me all those months. Nonetheless, and despite her deception, I have to admit I’m somewhat proud of what she achieved in those months I had her. No other before her, and I will damn well make sure that no one after her will ever be able to betray me in that way again. That doesn’t mean I don’t still want her deceitful ass. That I will stop at nothing until I find my lying little Tesoro. I will burn the world to the ground, inch by little inch if that’s what it takes. No matter what has happened or what is yet to come, she is mine. And when I finally get my hands back on her delicate little neck, she will realize exactly what being mine means.
“Nic,” a soft feminine voice whispers from my right. Glancing down, I meet my sister’s glossy, tear-filled eyes. Her lips tremble, worry all over her face as she jerks her head toward our mother. “Is she going to be okay?” she whispers shakily.
Squeezing my mamma closer to me, I inhale when a heartbreaking sob bursts from her. My gaze meets my sister’s concerned one and I lean down, pressing a kiss to the top of Allegra’s head, trying to comfort her in any way I can. “She will be,” I murmur, my gaze dropping to where Dante holds my sister protectively, as if at any minute she could disappear. Guess he decided he has no fucks to give, now that my papà is no longer with us. His passive eyes lock on mine, but I don’t miss the flash of relief in them. Dante believes that now my papà has passed and is no longer in charge of my sister’s future, he can love her without restraint.
Unfortunately for him, I fear that won’t be the case.
Exhaling a breath, I tear my gaze away from him, glancing over my shoulder to where the Romanos sit. All the families are here to pay their respects to the fallen Don. Papà was not only the head of the Marchetti famiglia but also the commission. I will now take over both positions, making me the most powerful man in the city.
Riccardo Romano stands beside his father, tense in his stance. His jaw clenches, murder burning in his eyes as he stares at something or someone. I don’t have to follow his gaze to know who he is looking at, but I do anyway, finding exactly what I knew I would. My eyes land on my best friend and where he holds Allegra. My gaze flicks back to Riccardo and I know with everything inside me, he is going to be a big problem. Not just for Dante, but for me too. And I need to be prepared for that.
Father Michaels’ voice trails off, signaling the end of the service and drawing my attention back to the front where my papà’s coffin sits. If it were anyone else, we would now be heading outside to the cemetery to watch as he is lowered into the ground. That won’t be happening today. Only the family and a couple of Papà’s closest friends will be heading to a private service at our family crypt, located in the grounds of our Hamptons estate. He will be laid to rest alongside his papà and mamma. It’s the Marchetti family tradition and will also be my final resting place when the time comes.
“The Marchetti family would like to thank you all for coming today and for your understanding in their need to grieve privately. If you would all like to make your way outside, this concludes today’s service.” Father Michaels recites the words I asked him to say to our guests. We don’t need to be stared at or scrutinized like animals in a zoo any longer. Especially Mamma.
Today has been traumatic enough for her as it is. I refuse to let her be put on display in her grief, while these people pass on their fake condolences and faux concern. At a guess, I would say almost everyone here today is glad to see Lorenzo Marchetti gone. He was ruthless in his ways. Had become unhinged, and unpredictable, which is why our men began to turn on us in favor of our enemies. It was time for change and with Papà gone, I can start a new, stronger, better order. They don’t know it and I would never admit to it, but the Bratva did me a favor. I wanted him gone. I just assumed at some point I would do it myself.
“Are you ready, Nic?” Dante asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
Glancing around the church, I notice that it’s now empty apart from me, Mamma, Allegra, Dante, Papà’s consigliere Giuseppe, his wife Giulia, and the many guards I have stationed around the old church. “Yes. I just want to thank Father Michaels and make sure everything is in place to have Papà transported to the crypt. Have the cars brought around. We will leave shortly.” Nodding, he releases my sister, making his way to the back of the building where he will pass on my orders to the necessary people.
“What time are you planning on doing the private service?” Giuseppe asks, looking older than I have ever seen him. The death of Papà has certainly taken a toll on him.
Sliding my free hand in my pants pocket, I meet his eyes. “Around four p.m. You’re more than welcome to join us. I know he would want you there,” I tell him honestly.
He dips his chin. “I will be there.” His voice is weary, thick with emotion.
“I will let the guards know to expect you.” He gives me a curt nod before taking his wife’s hand and walking down the aisle.
Glancing at Mamma, I frown when I find her staring off into space. Her blue eyes, that are usually so filled with life, are now vacant and lost. I look at my sister as she steps toward Mamma, taking her free hand and squeezing gently. My chest constricts, a lump building in my throat. “Come on. Let’s say goodbye to Father Michaels and get you home.”
We move toward where the solemn looking priest stands. I ask him the questions I need to, and he gives me the answers I want, confirming that Papà is set to be transported back to our family home within the next thirty minutes. Not trusting the Bratva not to issue another attack, I made sure to have an armed guard surrounding him on his final journey. Not that he deserves it, but my mamma doesn’t need further stress, so I did it for her.
With everything arranged, I lead my mamma and sister out to the awaiting vehicles. Determination heats my veins when I notice all the soldiers watching me and waiting for direction from their new leader. Nodding, I slide into the car next to Mamma, my mind going to what comes next.
Taking over as Don.
Finding Ocean.
Or, if I am going by my recent discovery and her real name.
Emilee Ocean Caldwell.
Whoever she is, whatever her fucking name.
She is still mine.
And I won’t stop until I find her.
Chapter 1
Ocean
One year later…
“Lyra, I don’t want any more money from you. You pay me enough as it is.” Patty rolls her eyes, exhaling loudly in exasperation. We have had this conversation a couple times now and it’s always the same outcome.
I chuckle, shaking my head. No matter how much I insist on increasing what I pay her for the room I rent in her house, she always shuts me down. I lucked out when I met her six months ago and I know with absolute certainty that I would not have made it this far had Patty not come into my life.
After leaving New York, I ended up in Dale City, just outside Washington – though that only lasted a couple of months. Not only could I not shake the feeling of being watched – though in the end I think it was just my paranoia – but after learning some very unexpected news, Washington was not far enough away from New York, Nico and his father. I only had one option, so I moved on, eventually ending up in Charleston and meeting my saving grace. Patty.
I didn’t need to work, what with my savings from dancing at The Executive Club and the substantial amount of money Lorenzo had given me, so I wasn’t pinned down by a job and it was easy enough to move on. Though at the time, I felt dirty taking that bastard’s money, it has certainly made things easier. Especially when I found out I was pregnant.
Yes, pregnant.
Not three weeks after running from New York, I got sick. I thought it was from the stress of everything that had happened, but when I missed my period, deep down I knew it was more. Within the hour, I was at the closest drug store purchasing a pregnancy test which subsequently came back as I knew it would – Positive.
Those two pink lines stared back at me almost mockingly. Reminding me that I may have run away from Nico, but a part of him was growing inside of me and no matter how far I ran, or where I ended up, I would never get a chance to forget the man that turned my life upside down.
The irony of being pregnant wasn’t lost on me. It was cliché really. The side piece, carrying his baby. My head was telling me to find the nearest clinic and have it taken care of. But my heart? My heart whispered words of comfort and that everything would be okay. That my baby was meant to be and no matter what I learned about Nico, or what went down between us, I couldn’t get rid of the innocent life growing inside me. I would love this baby more than anything in the world. My little piece of heaven, who I would protect with my life. Even when I wanted to give up, succumb to the darkness, I would survive and live for my baby. There was no other way.
I glance down at the little bundle cradled in my arms, a smile curving my lips as pure adoration bursts inside me. Romeo, my four-month-old son, my world. I know with everything inside me that I made the right choice. I can’t imagine my life without him. His little fingers grip my pinkie and I smile wider. My heart expands with the feelings of absolute love I have for him. It is so profound it smothers me. He is without a doubt my life. And I know that all I have been through led me to this moment. To him. I was made to be his mom.
Glancing up at Patty, I remember I didn’t respond to her little outburst. Pinning her with a look, I sigh. “I don’t want you to think that I’m taking advantage of you. I am still paying the same rate as when I first got here and that was before I gave birth to Romeo. I am using extra electricity and water now that I have him.”
She grumbles something under her breath, waving me off. “Child, I won’t take any more money from you. I knew you were pregnant when I offered you a place to stay. Now enough about it, I don’t want to hear you mention it again.” Her eyes light up when they drop to Romeo. “Now hand me my boy. I haven’t had any cuddles today.”
I roll my eyes, handing him off to her. Patty is in her late fifties with no children of her own. She lost her husband three years ago and has been on her own ever since. I met her while heavily pregnant, looking for a job. I ended up in Patty’s, the diner she owns, and though she was unsure about giving me a job when I was not far off from giving birth, and without me having the proper paperwork, I managed to convince her. She thinks my name is Lyra, pays me in cash, doesn’t ask questions. If I am being honest, I know the only reason she took me on is because she took pity on me when I lied and told her that I’m on the run from an abusive ex-boyfriend. And though I wish I could tell her the truth, I can’t, so that is how it will stay. It’s safer that way. I am not naïve enough to think that Nico wouldn’t have the resources to find me if he wanted. Which is why I don’t use any of my real documents. I can’t leave a paper trail or anything that would risk him finding me… us. Panic surges through me just thinking about it, but I shake it away quickly.
I had only been waitressing at the diner for a couple days, when Patty found out that I was living in a nearby motel. It didn’t take her long to talk me into renting out her guest room. It was cheaper and safer than where I was staying. I know I won’t be with Patty forever, but for right now it works. For both of us.
“Do you want me to cover Tina’s shift tonight?” I ask, as I watch her coo over my son.
She shakes her head. “No, I already got it covered. Sheila’s gonna stay and lock up.”
