Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
NICO
When the women leave, they suck all the joy out of the room as my father hands us all a cigar and waits until they are lit before he speaks.
With one hand on the cigar and the other cradling a glass of bourbon, and as the fire crackles in the grate, he says with a dark undertone, “The Spinellis are becoming a problem on the East side.”
He turns to Simeon. “What can you tell me?”
Simeon leans forward, his face an inscrutable mask of no emotion.
“They attempted to muscle in on the protection aspect of the business on the East Side. They kidnapped Sonny Stevens’ daughter and held her to ransom until he agreed to set up a contract with them.
Word spread, and other businesses followed, and now they’re paying two forms of protection, meaning they will go out of business shortly in the new year. ”
“And your solution to this problem?”
My father’s voice is low, but his tone is ominous.
“On Christmas Eve, the Spinellis sail their motorboat from Long Beach to Catalina, where they host a party for their business associates and their families. This year will be a blast, so I’m told.”
My father nods, a thoughtful gleam in his eye as illuminated by the lit end of the cigar.
He turns to Julius. “What about the Colombian program?”
“On schedule to hit on January fifteenth. It’s all agreed, and Diego is finalizing the details now.”
“Any surprises expected?”
Julius shrugs. “You know, Diego, I’d be surprised if they weren’t.”
My father nods, exhaling smoke rings toward the painted ceiling.
“Joseph.”
My younger brother shifts as the focus is now on him.
“Business is good in London?”
“Of course. We are on track to exceed our goals and have opened an office in the Canary Wharf financial district.”
Finally, he turns to me and sighs heavily. “Nico, you are a loose cannon, and yet I cannot fault your contribution. Twenty-five million dollars in one night is impressive even by your standards.”
“Thank you.” I accept the praise while anticipating the takedown, and I’m not wrong as he says wearily, “Regina. Does she know about the business?”
“No.”
His frown burns into me, and he shakes his head. “When she discovers the nature of it, you will have a problem. She is not of our world, which is why I am against your marriage.”
“Leave Regina to me. She will accept this life and adapt to it.”
He raises his eyes. “She is stronger than I first thought; I’ll give you that, but remember who is coming to stay tomorrow.”
My skin prickles with disgust at the thought of Desiree Bendetti anywhere near Regina, and my father hisses, “It will be a test. Whoever wins will be your bride. If Regina decides it’s not for her, you marry Desiree, and that is final.”
I catch my brother Julius’s eye, and if anything, he appears sympathetic. Probably because this conversation will involve him next time, and it’s up to me to break the cycle for their sakes as much as mine.
Regina is strong and will be more than a match for Desiree.
My inner voice reminds me of the urgency as I vow that I will do my best to ensure that Regina doesn’t fail. The stakes are high—too high, and failure is definitely not an option.
When the women head back into the room, I breathe a little easier. The cigars have been clipped, and the bourbon drained, and as the maids deliver coffee and Amaretti, Regina sits beside me and rests her head on my shoulder.
“I missed you.” She whispers, and I’m surprised to discover that I feel the same.
I’m not even sure what’s happening to me, and as we are served our coffee, I struggle to place her where she belongs.
Regina is a tool in my weaponry and nothing else.
She will deliver on our agreement, but that is all.
She’ll become my wife to set me free, which is all this is, and I must not lose sight of that for both our sakes.
After tedious small talk, my father stands and nods to my mother. “Come, it’s late, and we have visitors arriving tomorrow.”
Mom stands and smiles, her pleasure when we are together evident in her expression.
“Good night. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
We all stand, kissing her on the cheek, and she follows my father out of the room, leaving us to breathe a little easier.
“Fuck! Thank God that’s over.” Julius grumbles, heading to the door. “I’ll be in the gym if anyone asks.”
Simeon follows him without another word, and Joseph sighs heavily. “This is why I live in London.”
“You do?” Regina’s eyes light up with excitement. “I’ve always wanted to travel there.”
“Then ask Nico to bring you for a visit, your honeymoon, perhaps.” Joseph grins, his eyes lit with merriment, and I stare at him with an irritated growl. “Good night, Joseph.”
He winks at Regina and heads off, and she turns to me, her eyes shining.
“Alone at last.”
“You did well tonight. That wasn’t easy.”
We start walking, and I’m surprised by how natural it is with her. I’m not used to having friends—especially a woman, and yet Regina appears to make the impossible easy.
“Your mom is very talented.”
Regina’s enthusiasm is amusing.
“She showed you her tapestries then.”
To be honest, I’ve never paid much attention to them, and Regina nods. “As well as her talent on the piano. It’s sad she never pursued her dream of playing professionally.”
“She never had a choice.”
It saddens me knowing that Mom has many regrets.
Hell, it’s one of the reasons I hatched this plan in the first place.
I will break the cycle, be my own man and not my father’s puppet to control at will.
That is why Regina is so important to me.
She will play her part in that, and yet the more time we spend together, the more I’m not averse to the situation.
“Nico, um–” Regina hesitates, and a prickle of alarm hits me like an itch waiting to be scratched. What now?
“This, um, marriage, well, it’s not real is it?”
“Of course it is.”
“Seriously!”
She stops and stares at me in shock, and I shrug. “You’ve met my father. He won’t be satisfied with a promise. No, the sooner the better really. Possibly early in the new year.”
“But–”
Her mouth drops, and I don’t give her time to process my words as I say confidently, “Come, I have something to show you, remember.”
She is silent as we head through the vast spaces of the mansion.
I anticipate a fight on my hands both with her and my father, one I will win because the cost is too high.
Desiree arrives tomorrow with her father and will waste no time in asserting her authority and claiming what she believes is her right.
I’m hoping to thrust the problem of Desiree Bendetti onto one of my brothers, possibly Simeon. He is the man best suited for the challenge in my opinion because he’s a cruel bastard who doesn’t take kindly to being manipulated.
We walk in silence, and only when I push open the door leading to the stone steps, does Regina falter.
“Where are we going?”
I must admit the cool breeze that wafts up the stone staircase is off-putting against the cozy warm glow of the mansion, but the view is worth it.
“I told you. I have something to show you.”
“Should I get my coat?”
She’s apprehensive, and I suppose she does have a point. Once again, I shrug out of my jacket and, placing it around her shoulders, smile.
“Come, trust me, Regina, you will love this.”
She smiles gratefully, and yet I wonder what her expression would be if she knew who she was really involved with.
Perhaps now is the perfect time to enlighten her but with Desiree and Vito arriving in the morning, I want her to feel powerful and in control, so I push the idea aside and as I lead her down the stone steps, I have only one thing on my mind.