8. Sloane
Sloane
W e’re all crammed into Cain’s SUV. It’s the biggest car that any of us own so it just makes sense for us to take it to New York.
Plus, that means that he’ll be the one that has to drive through the crowded streets of Manhattan.
The rest of us don’t really have the patience for that kind of traffic.
Nox and Cain are in the front, while Zane and I are on either side of Viv in the second row.
Cain just scratched the back of his neck as we stuffed everything into the car, muttering to himself about how he should have gone for a three row SUV.
But I don’t mind having to sit so close to Viv.
She’s snuggled between us with a fuzzy blanket thrown over her lap reading a book.
Zane keeps supplying her with books to the point she had to order a bookcase to keep them all on.
I finally convinced him to stop buying them until she at least finishes all the ones she currently has.
Looking out the window, I readjust in my seat trying to get comfortable.
It’s a sixteen-hour drive and we’ve already been driving for ten.
If nobody else cracks, I’m going to have to demand we get off at the next rest stop for a bathroom break again.
We stopped a little less than four hours ago, but I let the vending machines tempt me into getting a soda. I regret that now.
Viv chuckles, and I glance over to find her watching me squirm in my seat.
I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. There’s no way I’m going to break and be the one to ask again.
She rolls her eyes and leans forward in her seat, her hand gently settling on Cain’s bicep. “Can we stop for the restroom soon?”
He glances at her quickly over his shoulder, giving her a little nod, and she looks over at me with a quirked brow. I know she’s taunting me but I’m just glad I didn’t have to be the one to ask again. The guys always give me shit because I’m always the one who has to go first.
Viv settles back into the seat, or she tries to.
Zane’s arm ends up wrapped around her shoulders, forcing her to sit a bit sideways with her shoulder pressed against his chest as he leans his head against the top of hers.
There’s no jealousy between either of us as the need to also be touching her pushes me to place my palm on her thigh, tucking my fingers under her leg.
Before Viv, I never really considered giving dating a go, and I definitely never pictured myself wanting to share a girl with the three men that make up the family I built for myself.
But I find myself here anyway, more content that I have ever been before.
Nox glances over his shoulder at us and a small smile spreads across his lips, but he doesn’t say anything to draw attention to our cozy position. Facing back to the front, he just tilts his head toward Cain. “Want me to drive for a bit when we stop?”
Cain sighs as he flicks on his turn signal to get off at the rest stop. “Yeah. That would be nice.”
Nox nods his head. Neither of them are snipping at each other, which just shows how anxious we all really are over this trip. We’re literally vigilante mercenaries and we’re about to spend a week with the Italian Mafia.
He puts the car into park, and I don’t even hesitate to rush off to the bathroom, hearing Zane and Viv chuckling at my expense as I dash through the doors.
When I get back to the car, I’m the first one there.
So I take a few moments to stretch my legs, avoiding the temptation of the vending machines behind their wrought iron cages this time.
I walk back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the car because I’m not in any rush to get back into the sardine can, and I almost want to pout when the others get back.
Cain hands the keys off to Nox and we all pile back in.
Somehow, I manage to block out Viv and Zane’s whispered conversation about the best tools to use for dismemberment and slip off to sleep.
When I wake up again it’s to Cain in the front seat as car horns honk all around us.
The noise outside has increased tenfold, and I have no idea how I managed to sleep through it so long.
Eventually, we turn down a street lined with huge houses and the streets around us quiet down.
“Welcome to New Yorks Gilded Mansions,” Viv mutters next to me, looking distastefully at the mansions on either side of us.
We drive for a minute or two longer before Cain turns down a long driveway. There is a gate with an honest to God guard in a little shack. He pokes his head out and peers into the car. When his eyes land on Viv he smiles brightly. “Glad to see you home!” he says cheerfully.
Viv leans forward between the front seats to smile at him. He doesn’t look very memorable with his brown hair and eyes, nothing about this man stands out. But Viv seems to know him. “How’s Missy?” she asks him.
He nods his head with a small smile. “She’s doing well. Going into high school next year.”
Viv lets out a whistle. “She’s growing fast.”
The guard nods again, a bit more formally this time, dipping his head into a slight bow. “I’ll let you go now. Don’t want to keep the others waiting.”
Viv leans back in her seat as he ducks into the shack, and the gate rolls open before us.
Cain slowly drives up to the mansion. It’s not the biggest house on the street but it’s nowhere near the smallest either.
Cain stops at the top of the circular driveway, near the little patch of grass in the middle of it with a marble water fountain.
“Remember the rules?” Viv asks us as Cain goes to open his door.
He turns to look at her over his shoulder. “Leave our weapons at the door unless we’re instructed to keep them, don’t threaten your father in front of anyone, and most importantly don’t make fun of the fact that he’s a mafia Don named Don.”
Viv nods her head, and we all ease out of the car. Nox rounds it to grab the bags, but Viv puts a hand on his arm. “Someone else will take care of that. Come on, let’s get this over with.”
She leads us up the wide stairs, and just as we step up to the door, it opens. An older woman in a modest black maid’s outfit holds the door open for us, bowing her head to Viv while avoiding eye contact. “Your father is waiting for you in the study.”
Viv turns to her. “Thanks Elise.”
She gestures to a small room to the side of the door we just came through, and we walk in to find a literal armory.
Cain is the first one to get the hint and begins un-arming himself.
His fingers twitch at his sides when he leaves all three of the guns he regularly carries on a shelf.
The rest of us follow suit, stepping toward Viv when we’re finished.
Her brow raises and she taps her foot expectantly as she stares Zane down.
He huffs and pulls three more knives out of his waistband to set on the shelf.
Viv huffs again and steps up to him. Crouching down, she shoves her fingers into the side of his left shoe, and Zane starts laughing, trying to pull his foot away.
“That tickles!” he argues, but Viv isn’t deterred.
Victoriously, she stands with a folded knife pinched between two fingers.
It’s Zane’s favorite, and I’m pretty sure it’s his version of a security blanket.
“No. That one’s special. I can’t leave it here. What if something happens to it?” He actually looks panicked over the idea of losing it.
Viv huffs and tucks the knife into her back pocket. “I’ll protect it with my life. I also have enough other weapons on me that if anything does happen while we’re here none of you will be unarmed.”
She turns, heading out of the small room, and we all follow behind her.
Zane starts bickering with her over what weapon she’ll let him use, and I ignore them as I look around the house that Viv grew up in.
The walls are a soft cream color that’s just a few shades richer than the paint on the walls back home, while the floors are black and look to be made from a fine white veined marble.
On every wall there are paintings or shelves with what look to be priceless artifacts, though I’m not cultured enough to know what any of it’s worth.
There is an elaborate plush, Turkish rug running the length of the entryway and up to the stairs.
Cain would probably love someplace grand like this, but I can’t help but notice that the house is so tidy and neat that it doesn’t look like anyone lives here.
There’s no personal touches anywhere in the rooms we pass.
No family photos or even a throw blanket.
It’s like these rooms are just here to exist and not meant to be lived in.
To our right is a large sitting room that looks like it’s never been used, and to the left there’s another hallway that leads to another part of the house.
Viv doesn’t stop to look around because she’s seen all this every day of her life before she met us.
I shake my head and hurry after her, leaving the rooms that are so full of things but feel so empty.
We climb up the stairs and I can’t stop wondering where Viv had here that actually felt like home.
As she takes twist after turn down halls, I realize I have no idea how to get back to the front door.
Normally this would give me horrible anxiety, but I trust that Viv will get us out of here alive if anything happens.
She stops in front of a large, ornate wooden door and knocks gently.
A moment later a familiar, scarred face pokes out and a wide smile crosses over it.
Enzo steps out of the room, leaving the door to swing open behind him as he pulls Viv into a tight hug.
Without any effort, he lifts her from the floor and spins her in a few quick circles before putting her back down, not bothering to brace her as she staggers from dizziness.
“I’ve missed you, Vivy! Glad to have you home for a bit. ”
Zane places his hands on her shoulders from behind to keep her steady as we’re all ushered into the large study Enzo just came out of.
It’s all done in warm golden wood and deep red tones, with just a spattering of cream to brighten up the space.
Viv is completely at ease as she walks into the room with Enzo to find her dad and an older man I don’t recognize already inside.
“Viviana, good to see you.” The unknown man ducks his head to her respectfully.
Viv gives him a smile. “You too, Frank. These are my guys.” She gestures toward each of us. “Cain, Lennox, Sloane, and Zane.” She turns her gesture toward the man then, adding, “This is Frank Woodall, our family lawyer.”
Most of us give out awkward hellos to Frank, though I’m reeling from the fact that Viv just claimed us as hers.
Cain doesn’t even bother looking in Franks direction though, too distracted by Viv’s words, while she seems completely oblivious to what she just said.
“What exactly are the plans?” Viv turns to ask her dad.
Don leans back in his chair, looking over our ragtag group.
“You guys can go ahead and get settled, we’ll be having dinner in two hours.
After the sit down tomorrow at the Diamond, you’ll make your announcements for the promotions.
Then afterwards we’ll have a party. I also know Enzo has been hoping to get you back into the gym, so please do try to make time for that.
And I had your personal shopper put together some outfit choices for the events this week.
” He looks over Viv’s jean shorts and T-shirt distastefully.
Viv rolls her eyes. “Fine. I’ll show the guys up to my room and we’ll get settled in for the week.” She puts emphasis on the last word, like she’s worried he’ll try to keep her here indefinitely.
Her dad clicks his tongue. “You can’t have four men share your room!”
Viv scoffs at that, cocking her hip out to the side. “Last I checked I’m an adult and can do whatever I want. They’re staying in my room.” She turns away from Don without another word to look at Enzo. “Did you get everything I asked for?”
“Yeah. Got it all set up and squared away for ya.” He grins that manic smile that just makes the scar down his face more prominent.
Viv grins back at him. “Sure you don’t want to be my underboss?”
Enzo’s smile grows. “And give up all the fun murder and torture? No way.”
Viv laughs before waving over her shoulder and leaving the room.
We pause there for a moment before giving quick goodbyes to avoid being rude and then follow after her like baby ducks.
We go up two sets of stairs on opposite sides of the house before she stops at a set of ornate French doors.
Taking a quick breath, she pushes the doors open and steps inside.
We follow, all looking around the grand room.
My eyes stop at the wall opposite her bed and I smirk.
“Not fucking happening!” Cain growls.