Deadly Secrets

By Amber Joi Scott

Eve Masterson, a best-selling author, is on top of the literary world. She stumbles upon a mysterious journal in Italy that contains the secrets of a powerful crime family that had settled in her hometown of Chicago. However, she had never heard of the family before. After hours of poring over documents in the library and courthouse, she doesn't find one shred of evidence of the Amato family.

Lucca Conti planned and executed the complete destruction of the Amato family. He was sure he had eliminated all evidence of the family, scrubbing their existence from the face of the earth. But did he?

In a flurry of the attack, Dante, the next heir to the Amato family, was taken away with the aid of his devoted nanny. She kept him hidden until he was ready to take vengeance for the death of his family. He devoted himself to creating a new, more formidable family to reclaim what was his, and exacting revenge on the man who stole his family. As the young woman inquires around town about the Amato family, he can't help but wonder how she heard their name. One evening, as Dante follows the young woman, he witnesses her being attacked by a Cunti assassin. Coming to her aid, her beauty and strength take his breath away.

Will Eve survive with Dante's help, or will Lucca silence her forever?

What happens when Lucca finds out his plan failed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amber Joi Scott
• Release date: May 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215846483

Amber Joi Scott

Amber Joi Scott or the Wicked Writing Wench, born and raised in the South with a snarky attitude and kiss my ass mentality.  Also, being born in the month of August, she embraces her Leo sign.  Her love for reading all kinds of stories, she became intrigued when reading the Fifty Shades of Grey series.  Deciding to research more about the community for her own book, she became appreciative for the BDSM community and what it means to a Dominant or submissive.   Her first published book was a mix of BDSM relationship with the Mafia Family.  She loved the story and characters so much that it became a four book series.  She lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley with her big, burly husband and her youngest daughter.  Raising her children to be polite, hardworking, young adults is and will always be her biggest accomplishment.  When deciding she needed a pen name, she decided to dedicate all her writing to her children, by using parts of their names as her pen name.  She enjoyed the being part of the Deeper Facebook Group and was happy to contribute her insight into the discussions, sometimes allowing life experiences to lend a different point of view on a particular topic.  She doesn't plan to stop writing anytime soon and hopes that people fall in love with her characters as much as she has. 

Book preview

Deadly Secrets

Deadly Secrets

AMBER JOI SCOTT

Copyright

Copyright © 2023 by Amber Joi Scott

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.

Vellum flower icon Created with Vellum

For all those who love a great mystery

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

About the Author

Also by Amber Joi Scott

Chapter One

The mighty Leonardo Amato lay on his home office floor, gasping for his last breath. His lungs were filling with blood, his heart struggling to keep beating, but he held his prized firearm in his blood-covered hand. Leo would fight until his last heartbeat, hopefully giving his wife and son time to escape this horrible nightmare. 

As he looked at his hand, he saw the bare little finger, where he had worn his family ring since the day he took control. He prayed that one day his son would avenge the many deaths that had occurred today. Leonardo knew who was responsible, but didn’t understand how Lucca Conti had pulled this off.

After years of planning, the Conti family was prepared to make their move. Initially, the plan was to attack in the dead of night, but the Amatos always had extra security in place during that time frame, so a daytime attack had been formulated. The takedown was planned down to the minute and deciding which Conti family member would be responsible for the death of which Amato family member had been fine-tuned. Lucca Conti had collected pictures of each of the Amato immediate family members and soldiers, putting them on boards in one of his warehouses on the lower east side, where they had been planning the attack. 

Lucca had also invested significant amounts of money in the arsenal needed for the job. He knew when he was in control of the turf the Amato family ran, his investment would be made back in spades. The Conti family will no longer live off the scraps the Amatos allowed them to have for many years.

The most substantial amount of money paid was to the government official at the courthouse responsible for erasing the existence of the Amato family. Leonardo Amato, the current Don of the family, would have never been born. His father, Caius Amato’s immigration records would no longer exist. The newest Amato, the heir to the family, Dante, would no longer exist. Any legal property owned by Leonardo Amato would be altered to show ownership had always been Lucca Conti. However, he knew it would take considerable money to bribe a banking official to change the Amato accounts. Lucca knew a vast amount of cash must be stashed throughout the Amato estate, along with the fine jewels, silver, and gold bars.

Sir, we are ready to begin, Ricky said.

Lucca looked out the window to see that it had begun to snow, not fine, fluffy flakes, but large, wet ones. It was the type of snow that would pile up quickly. Pointing out to the storm, Lucca turned to Ricky. Does everyone know to wear their white gear?

Yes, Sir. I am excited to see the snow start before we attack. It will give us some cover, even during the day. Dark skies and snow make it hard to see anything other than a few feet away. Our men will sneak up on the mansion and the other designated locations to take out the assholes without them being able to sound an alarm, Ricky said with a wicked grin. 

Alright, in two hours, we hit them, make sure the men know I will not allow subpar performance. There will be dire consequences if any man fails to kill his target. Do I make myself perfectly clear? Lucca asked. No one ever wanted to be on Lucca’s bad side, and Ricky had witnessed on many occasions the evil which resided inside of Lucca. 

No sir, we will not let you down, Boss.

Lucca smiled at the sound of Ricky calling him Boss. By nightfall, he would be the Boss of the Conti Crime Family and the most powerful man in Chicago. I will be close at hand, and let me know when you have Leonardo. No one takes the kill shot, and I want to be the one to put the final bullet in between that fucker’s eyes. The last thing he will know before leaving this earth will be that I am now in control.

Sure thing. Let’s go take these motherfuckers out, Ricky grinned, then began paging all the men to ensure they knew what to do and where to be.

Lucca called his inside guy at the police department and informed him of the time frame. Mike would delay any cops showing up on the scene at the Amato mansion while the siege took place. He had already received the first envelope with fifty thousand dollars, and when this was all over with, he would receive another hundred thousand dollars. Fuck, this was more money than he could even possibly make in eight years on the force. Lucca had also promised that if he continued to provide him with information and keep the cops off his back, the money would continue to flow.

Leonardo had just finished up the last of his paperwork. He had moved the family’s main office to the mansion years ago when he married. Family always came first, and his wife was his true family. He wanted to be there for Silvia if she needed anything. When Silvia became pregnant with their first child, he took every precaution to ensure she was happy, healthy, and safe. Nine months later, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who would be the next Don of the Amato family. Leonardo knew as soon as he saw his son what he would be named, Dante Lucas Amato , after his great-grandfather. Dante Sr . was a legend, teaching Leonardo how to be a great leader. To be the man who always puts family first and protects them until their last breath.

They brought Dante home from the hospital and enjoyed being parents. Leonardo insisted they hire a nanny to help with Dante. Silvia at first protested that she could take care of him without help. However, she changed her mind after a few weeks of no sleep and a colicky Dante. Who knew that a baby could be so much work? Every mother who had spent sleepless nights walking a crying baby, that’s who.

Silvia had a list of requirements and qualifications for the nanny position, while Leonardo needed the person to be a member of the family in some form. The nanny must be trustworthy and uphold the code of silence regarding the family business around law enforcement and any other potential threats against the family. After the list was made, the interview process began. One after another was disqualified for one reason or another, and they thought they might not find someone that would fit all their qualifications. That was until the afternoon when Maribella Sinclair walked into the office.

Maribella was the daughter of one of Leonardo’s capos. She was twenty-five; however, she had no desire to get married. While in college, she had been attacked by a group of frat boys who had beaten and raped her. The effects of the attack had stayed with her, and she was scared to be alone with any man. Leonardo and her father ensured that the low-life scum who had attacked her had a first-hand introduction to retribution. After they got through with the frat boys’ torture, nothing could identify them. Even though Maribella knew that her attackers were dead, it still didn’t heal the wounds they had caused her spirit. Maybe one day, she would feel differently.

Maribella’s father, Bruce, had been so worried about her that when he heard Leonardo was looking for a nanny for Dante, he thought it might be just what she needed. 

Maribella, Sweetie, Leonardo, and Silvia are looking for someone to take care of little Dante. I was wondering if you might be interested in the job.

Maribella thought for a moment about what her father was saying. She hated the fact that she was such a bother to her father. She had lived at home after the attack, moving out of the dorms and finishing up her degree under the watchful eyes of the guards that her father had placed to protect her. However, she couldn’t see herself working with the general public now. Still, something was comforting about the idea of being surrounded by the level of security at the home of Leonardo Amato. The best soldiers would protect little Dante at all times and in the most secure home in the city.

Dad, I would love to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Amato, Maribella said.

Bruce was shocked but also excited to see his little girl showing signs of regaining her confidence. Before the attack, she was a fearless, independent, strong woman with a kickass attitude. I will contact Leonardo and set up an interview.

Bruce called Leonardo and told him that Maribella was interested in the job. Leonardo was worried she couldn’t handle the stress of caring for an infant, however, Maribella would be the perfect choice with her knowledge of discretion and loyalty to the family. Leonardo arranged for Maribella to come by and speak to Silvia and himself.

When Maribella arrived at the mansion, Leonardo was shocked to see that Maribella seemed to be recovering some of her old spirits. He had seen her before the attack and after, and the woman currently before him was Maribella before the attack. She held her head high and even had a smile on her face. Maribella, it is so good to see you again. Please have a seat.

Maribella sat down and smoothed her skirt, hoping her voice wouldn’t crack when she spoke. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Amato. It is nice to see you again as well.

None of that Mr. and Mrs. stuff. It is Silvia and Leonardo. After all, we are family, Silvia said softly. After that, the rest of the interview went smoothly. When they went into the nursery to see Dante, Maribella fell in love with the child. He had to be the cutest baby in the world, with reddish-brown hair, an adorable nose, and pouty lips. He was currently making a fuss, he always had a large set of lungs, screaming, but nothing seemed to stop him. Silvia tried to soothe Dante’s cries. However, he continued to bellow.

May I? Maribella asked.

Silvia looked at Leonardo, who shrugged his shoulder. Of course, dear. She carefully handed the screaming Dante into Maribella’s awaiting arms, and seconds later, he was silent. Looking up at her with his big, tear-filled green eyes, he cooed sweetly and yawned.

That was when Leonardo and Silvia were sure that Maribella was perfect for the job. Maribella was offered the position, which she quickly accepted. She moved into the manor as soon as she could pack and began helping Silvia care for Dante. 

Several weeks later, Maribella was in the nursery, tending to Dante , when she heard what she thought was gunfire coming from inside the mansion. Looking out the window through the falling snow, she saw men carrying large guns rushing toward the house. This couldn’t be happening, and suddenly, the door to the nursery burst open. Silvia rushed in, her light grey dress was covered in blood.

Maribella, we are under attack, Silvia cried. She had been in her library when she heard shots fired in the hallway. Sneaking through the door that led to Leonardo’s office, she found her loving husband lying on the floor with blood coming from his chest, with two dead men at the door. Rushing over, Silvia bent down and placed her hand over the wound, trying to stop the blood from pouring.

Darling, darling, are you okay? Silvia whispered.

No. I am not going to make it, sweetheart, he coughed. I need you to get to safety. Take Dante, use the tunnel, and disappear, Leonardo groaned in pain.

I won’t leave you. Leo, I can’t leave you, she cried.

You must. I know who is behind this, but I don’t understand how he was able to precisely take out my men. We have talked about and planned for this, my love. You have to protect yourself and Dante. When he is old enough, give him my ring and tell him about the family. He has my blood flowing through his veins, and he will want revenge, Leonardo coughed, blood spraying all over Silvia’s beautiful dress.

Who is behind this? Silvia asked, running her hand through her husband’s hair.

Lucca Conti, Leonardo whispered as blood dripped from his mouth.  

Please don’t leave me, leave us, Silvia cried.

I don’t want to, my love, but the devil has decided to take me early. Know that I loved you with all I have, and Dante has been the bright light in my dark world, Leonardo struggled, then heard the gunfire getting closer. Silvia, go, be safe.

Silvia bent over, placing a kiss on his blood-covered lips. I will love you until my last breath. Taking his ring, the symbol of the head of the family, Silvia stood and went to the desk and removed a gun from the drawer. Leonardo had taught her how to shoot; however, she had never had to in this type of situation. Going to the door leading her back to her library, she turned one last time to look at her love. He had somehow pulled himself up into a sitting position and held onto his prized gun, ready to give her as much time as possible. 

With one last look at her husband, she went toward the door. She opened it and carefully peeked into the hallway to see if she could cross without being seen. Thankfully, no one was alive in the hall, and she rushed across, opened the door, and slipped inside. She found Maribella holding Dante on the floor beside the large oak dresser.

Are you hurt? Maribella asked, looking up and seeing the blood on Silvia’s dress.

No, but we have to get to the tunnel and fast, Silvia whispered.

Leonardo Amato was a man who always planned for the worst possible event. That is why he had a secret tunnel that ran from his home half a mile away to a secret escape door in an old barn on the edge of the property. In the tunnel were cases of money and new identities for Silvia, Dante, and the recently hired Maribella. She had become such a huge part of the upbringing of Dante in such a short time that he wanted to ensure she was protected if someone came against the family. Leonardo and Silvia had sat Maribella down and explained everything to her. Maribella was shocked but honored that they needed to include her in their escape plans. However, she never thought she would have to use it ever, and never this soon.

Maribella stood up, grabbed Dante’s diaper bag, and stuffed it full of diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers, clothes, and his favorite stuffed giraffe. She put on his one-piece snowsuit and wrapped a blanket around him. Silvia reached into her pocket and pulled out Leonardo’s family ring, placing it into the pocket of the diaper bag. 

What about my father? Maribella asked.

Silvia had seen him lying in the hall outside of Leonardo’s office. She was sad that Maribella would have to see her father in that position, but at that point, they couldn’t stop and allow her time to say goodbye.

Walking over to Maribella, Silvia placed her arm around her shoulder. Maribella, your father gave his life trying to protect the family.

Where is he? Maribella cried.

He is in the hall, but we can’t stop when we leave this room. Please don’t let his death be in vain, Silvia pleaded.

Maribella nodded as tears flowed down her face while her heart broke at the loss of her beloved father. She would be brave for him and Dante.   

Once again, Silvia went to the door and was happy to see no one in the hall, but she could hear voices yelling and gunfire from the lower level. Thinking quickly, she felt that if they could get to the stairs leading to the kitchen, they could make it to the secret door off from the den on the lower level. 

Come, Maribella, we must hurry, Silvia pleaded.

Silvia opened the door and led Maribella out, carrying Dante into the hallway. Grasping Maribella’s hand, Silvia led her past Bruce’s dead body. A small gasp escaped Maribella’s lips, but she placed her hand over her mouth to avoid letting any noise escape. Now was not the time to cry, that would be when Silvia, Dante, and herself were safely away from the mansion. They made it to the steps and slowly walked one by one, listening and watching for those out to get them.

Finally, they reached the lower level. However, they needed to get to the den without being seen. There were strangers everywhere, kicking the dead bodies of Leonardo’s men, checking to ensure they were dead. If they moaned, the attackers would place another bullet into their heads. Silvia evaluated the situation and knew there was no way they could all get to the tunnel safely. Someone would have to be the decoy to pull the attention away from Dante, and only one could or should do this. A mother’s love for the well-being of their child would be such a person who would give them all to ensure that he was safe.

Leaning close to Maribella’s ear. Take care of him, love him, and tell him what happened here today, Silvia whispered. Tell him it was Lucca Conti who was behind all this.

But you are coming with us, Maribella said.

No, I need to give you a chance to get to the tunnel door. Remember to pick up the case, which will have the information about where more money is stashed. Keep a low profile and don’t trust anyone, Silvia explained. But there is one thing else that needs to be done when you reach the end of the tunnel.

What? Maribella cried, trying to wrap her head around what was happening. Silvia was going to give up her life for Dante and herself.

"There