Chapter 6
Chapter Six
After that world shattering announcement, it doesn’t take long before we return the way we came. The four of us are silent, but I hear the five men muttering behind us.
“Mr. Maricuso is going to lose his shit,” Lance says gleefully.
“I don’t know, man. Isn’t this everything he wanted? To take over the Russo family? What better way than for him to take the name,” I hear one of the others reply, and I look at Xavier sharply. Is this all just a ploy? He shakes his head slightly, giving my hand a squeeze of reassurance.
It isn’t until we’re in the car and halfway home that I finally get my wits about me. I was staring down at the beautiful rings on my finger in wide-eyed awe, running over everything that happened in my head since the moment I first met them over a year and a half ago.
“So what now?” I ask, cognizant of the fact that the car is bugged.
“We go home, have a nice family meal to celebrate, and then you have some announcements to make. In the wake of Gio’s death and our marriage, you are appointing your husband temporary CEO of the Russo empire in your grief,” Xavier tells me flatly.
Gone are all of the emotions I thought I saw during the wedding.
Fuck, have I been played again, or is this in case we’re being monitored?
Colton scoffs. “I guess Gio’s death is actually working in our favor. If he were still around, making you CEO of the Russo empire would have been a little trickier.”
“Colt!” Vienna snaps. “How can you say that?” She sounds devastated.
“He isn’t wrong.” Xavier gives me a sideways glance. “You really did us a favor.” He doesn’t sound as upset as Vienna is, and I feel a prickle of warning. Why isn’t he as upset as Vienna?
I eye him suspiciously, but he continues. “Don’t defy Mario, Tori. He really will make your life hell. Just be a good little wife and do as I say.”
I sneer at him, and he throws his head back, laughing.
“There she is. I knew that little docile lamb performance was all an act. Glad to see the fire burning inside you again.”
“The only thing burning will be you four when I get my revenge. You will never see it coming,” I threaten, and the amusement turns to a smoldering burn.
“I can’t wait,” he growls, and I squirm in my seat. Fuck my life. My head is a fucking mess. I just need a moment alone to get my thoughts in order and come up with a plan, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
The car falls into another awkward silence, and I close my eyes and lean my head back.
I’m fucking exhausted, and I doubt I can return to my room to plot.
I don’t have the energy for a dinner with my enemies.
I can’t believe it was only hours ago that we were lowering Sage’s coffin into the ground.
I’m extremely close to tears, and I never cry.
I haven’t shed a fucking tear since I thought my father died.
Even when Mickey told me about the others, I just raged, but now I’m kind of done.
I think I need to let it all out, and maybe a good crying session is just the key, but again, that is going to have to wait.
Xavier pulls the car into the estate. I see two guards look over the vehicle, but I don’t recognize either of them. I guess Mario has already started replacing all my staff. I wonder if he even realizes I sent them all into hiding.
Xavier leaves the vehicle in the same spot it was in previously, and the four of us get out. Colton wraps his arm around Vienna and leads the way. The two of them have their heads together, murmuring about something, but I don’t have the energy to listen in.
The men following us take their vehicle into the underground parking, so Xavier and I are finally unsupervised for the first time since this all occurred. He grabs my arm and stops me as I approach the front steps.
“We need to talk,” he says quietly, looking toward the front door. “But not now. Now, you need to act like you’re going along with everything. If Mario suspects even a small bit that you aren’t being compliant, your father and Carla will pay, and so will Addison.”
A rush of anger breaks through my apathy. “He’d really hurt a little girl?”
“He’s done it before and won’t hesitate to do it again. He has no morals. He’s a psychopath. Addi doesn’t deserve to pay for our sins.”
“How did you even end up in this situation?” I ask, wanting to know everything. I think I deserve to really.
“I promise we will tell you everything when I can from the beginning, but right now, I need you to put on a good show. And Tori, just assume everything you are doing or saying is being monitored. He’s going to push for that warehouse, especially since we can’t get into the safe.
Maybe think of a way to distract him,” Xavier suggests.
“Keep his attention elsewhere so we can figure out where he’s keeping Addi and your family.
If we can free them, he has nothing to hold over us. ”
“Why don’t I just put a bullet in his brain right now?” I ask, but before I can answer, one of the goons steps through the front door.
“Mr. Maricuso said to get your ass inside.” We can hear yelling through the door, and he winces.
Xavier and I hurry to do as directed, but he mutters a reply. “He has a fail-safe. If anything ever happens to him, they will be killed.”
“He’s pissed,” the goon mutters as we pass him, and Xavier nods. Hmm, maybe not everyone on Mario’s side is loyal to him. Good to know. Perhaps offering a place in the Russos after all this will be enough to get them to defect. “He’s in the big ass dining room. I wouldn’t detour.”
It’s late, and the sun is setting, so the house will go into automatic lockdown shortly. I wonder if Colton has hacked that system yet and if they told Mario what happens.
We approach the doors to the dining room, and Xavier holds out his hand. I look down at it and frown. “Come on, Tori. Let’s make this look good.” He winks, though I see concern in his eyes when we hear Mario shout again.
I sigh but put my hand in his as he pushes the door open. Mario’s rage cuts off as everyone turns to look at us.
“You,” he hisses. “Where is the fucking staff?” he demands as I glance around the table.
Apparently everyone is joining us for our wedding meal.
Penelope sits at the opposite end of Mario, who is seated in my father’s traditional place.
She looks down at our joined hands and smirks before clearing her expression and looking bored.
She picks up her glass of red wine and takes a sip.
I turn my attention to the others at the table. Stacey and Gregor look smug, and Tristan appears strained. Stacey is sitting next to him with one hand is under the table, doing who knows what, but if his face is anything to go by, it is unwanted.
Mario slams his hands on the table. Vienna flinches and cowers into Colton’s side as my gaze returns to him. His face is red, and if he could have steam coming out of his ears, I’m sure he would. I give him a confused look.
“What do you mean where is the staff? We don’t have any except Ben and Suzy and a couple of girls who come in during the week to dust. All the staff here today were contractors and left after the funeral.”
He clenches his teeth and sneers, “Where are the cook and the butler? They disappeared. We have no meal for dinner.” He waves his hand at the empty table, and I smother a scoff of amusement. Ah, he thought he was going to be catered to.
I shrug my shoulders. “I couldn’t tell you.
I’ve been with you or one of the others since you kicked them out of the office.
Shouldn’t you be keeping a better eye on your staff?
” I ask breezily, walking over to the table, picking up a bottle of wine, and pouring myself a glass.
I go to take a sip but pause as the tension in the room ratchets up.
I stop, and with a smile, I pass the glass to Xavier before pouring myself another one.
I lift it and salute him. “To us. May our marriage be long and fruitful.” I toast before taking a sip.
He smirks behind his glass and toasts me back before taking his own drink.
“This isn’t good enough. What are we going to eat now?” Stacey whines, glaring at me.
“I don’t care. Liquid dinner sounds pretty good to me.” I pull out a chair and slide into it, slouching indolently before taking another sip. “None of that is my responsibility anymore, and damn if it doesn’t feel good. Ask the boss.” I nod to Mario, and everyone focuses on him.
The dude is so red, he looks like he could be stroking out. His mouth opens and shuts a couple of times, but nothing comes out of it.
“Mario?” Gregor sounds concerned and stands up.
Mario roars, grabs the white tablecloth, and flings it up, tossing everything on the table around in a fit of anger.
Everyone moves quickly, getting out of the way of the destruction.
I’m fast enough to save the bottle of wine in front of me, but Stacey isn’t so lucky.
The bottle in front of her lurches to the side before tumbling over, spilling its red contents all over the skimpy white dress she wears.
She screams and lunges to her feet, looking like she’s now the victim of a serial killer.
A wave of satisfaction rolls through me.
She no longer has her hands on Tristan, and it gives me a preview of what she’s going to look like when I finally get my revenge.
Doesn’t it look as pretty as a picture? That’s definitely going in my fantasy bank for later.