Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Malice
Three weeks later
I approached Ma, who sat at one head of the eight-seat table in her dining room, and leaned down to kiss the top of her head before moving to my seat at the other end.
Vincent sat on my right, and our younger twin siblings, Cameron and Lorenzo—who were spitting images of our father apart from Cameron’s dyed dirty-blond hair—sat next to Vincent.
The left side was vacant for Benjamin and his family.
So far, my men had nothing to report from his activities, which was good—for his sake anyway.
He’d no doubt be along shortly, since he liked to arrive late with his wife, Savanna, and their brat of a child, William, who was twelve and one of the younger Garcia family members.
Ever since our father’s passing, we tried to get together for dinner with our mother every few weeks.
Not that the feisty old lady would admit to wanting company, but I knew that deep down she appreciated these dinners. The only time she could have done without was when I shot Ben for disrespecting her in front of one of my guests.
Father’s death had been hard on us all, especially Ma. They’d married at a young age through family arrangements, promising to expand the family’s reputation. What was unexpected was the true love and care our parents had for each other.
In our world, a connection like theirs was unique. Hell, my uncle, Torment’s dad, frequently cheated on his wife in their loveless marriage. Yet they stayed together, for some fucked-up reason.
I wanted what my parents had.
A love that could stand up against the fucking ugly and demented things that happened in our world.
“Where’s Benjamin?” Cameron suddenly asked.
With an eyeroll, Vincent commented, “Who cares.”
We shared a look as I chuckled. Vincent and I had always been close growing up—another thing Benjamin hated.
But having any type of relationship with our older brother wasn’t possible when he was an entitled fucking prick with a rod shoved so far up his ass, everything got on his nerves.
He’d only ever seen us as his younger, annoying siblings who he wanted nothing to do with and showed many signs of distaste for us all.
With a sigh, Ma said, “He said they’ll be late again. So, we’ll begin.”
Without hesitation, Ma’s wait staff walked into the room, carrying trays full of food. Meat, pasta, vegetables, salads. As soon as dinner was on the table, everyone started piling their plates.
“How are things with Charlotte, Vin?” Ma asked.
“Got rid of that bitch. She was—”
“Language,” I clipped, with a nod toward Ma.
Vincent gave our mother an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Ma. I got rid of her last week. I caught her with another man in our bedroom.” He grinned before adding, “She’s now in the hospital, and he’s at the bottom of a lake.”
Ma nodded like it was normal for her to hear her son hurt a woman and killed a man. Which really it was. She was all about justice. Plus, she hated anyone who wronged her sons. “I never liked her anyway,” she replied after swallowing her mouthful of food.
“How about your life, Cameron? How’s things going at college?” I asked as I carved into my medium-cooked steak.
“Yeah, not too bad. Classes this semester have gotten a little tougher, but nothing I can’t handle.” He smirked. “I’m still passing, so that’s the main point. Just another year and I’ll have my bachelor’s in business.”
“That’s great, my sweet boy. Your father would be very proud,” Ma said with excitement in her tone.
I hummed in agreement before I said, “Well done, Cam.”
“And for you, Lorenzo? How’s your law degree coming?” I questioned.
“I’ve got some assessments due over the next few weeks, so I’ll have to seriously focus. And just like Cam”—he nudged his brother—“in another year, I’ll be finished and have my degree done, and then I’ll start preparing for the bar.”
“My brilliant boys.” Ma smiled.
I nodded at them. “I’m proud of you both.”
These two would do good for the organization.
Cameron would establish his own businesses, using them as fronts to funnel a large portion of our drug trade, while Lorenzo would be busy legally protecting our people.
Years ago, when they’d turned seventeen, they were given a choice if they did or didn’t want to be involved with the family business.
They could have had a normal life without all the stress and death threats.
But both had refused my offer and sworn their loyalty to our organization and to me, not as their brother, but their leader.
When the dining room door swung open, we were halfway through dinner already.
Benjamin entered with a flare of arrogance.
His wife, Savanna, who was dressed in a tiny red dress that was obviously two sizes too small to fit her fake ass and tits, scuttled in behind him.
William followed with his eyes glued to his phone.
Silently, they took their seats.
Benjamin scoffed. “I see you didn’t even think to wait for us.”
Tension filled the room immediately.
I placed my fork and knife on my plate, then rested my arms out beside them, and in a no-nonsense tone, I said, “You’re late.”
Benjamin glared. “Fine,” he snapped like a sulking toddler.
The three quickly filled their plates and began eating while I stared at my brother.
With a flick of my gaze, I noticed Ma, Vincent, and the twins had averted their attention away from the new arrivals. They’d ceased eating, too, sensing my annoyance rising as I went back to watching our eldest brother.
“What?” Benjamin asked around a mouthful of food.
“Apologize to Ma,” I demanded.
After swallowing his food, he sighed before turning to our mother. “Sorry for being late, Ma.”
She didn’t reply.
Benjamin glanced at me. I nodded and picked up my utensils to continue to eat. It wasn’t until after my first bite everyone else followed suit.
There were a few moments of silence before I caught Vincent grinning mischievously just before he said, “So, Benny boy, what’s been happening?”
I refrained from snorting, realizing that was what Vincent’s look was for.
Benjamin had hated the nickname since we were kids. He used to yell and scream at our parents, saying that, since we were younger, we should show him more respect and do as he told us to.
However, my father’s response had always been the same: “Grow up.”
Ben had never changed, though.
Useless dickhead.
He didn’t deserve respect.
My younger brothers helped the family. Benjamin did minimal work and expected everything for it.
“Don’t call me that,” he yelled at Vincent with food flying from his mouth.
Vincent winked. “But it’s your name, Benny boy.”
The twins chuckled softly. They’d also grown up with animosity toward their older brother. Not surprising, since he also never treated them with an ounce of care.
Benjamin glowered some more. “You know I don’t like that fuckin’ name.”
Savanna draped her hand over her husband’s arm and tried to soothe him. “Ignore them, darling.”
He huffed in annoyance before he shoved more food into his mouth.
Fucking hell.
I shouldn’t want to punch him every damn time I saw him or when he spoke or even goddamn breathed, but I did.
Did I feel bad about that? No, not at fucking all because he’d done nothing good for this family or our businesses. He worked under our top accountants and even complained about having a job to begin with.
I looked at my brother’s family. Neither his wife nor son had greeted Ma in her own home.
They made me sick.
The little shit was still on his damn phone while stuffing his face full of Ma’s food.
“William, get off your phone,” I ordered gruffly.
The boy had the nerve to give me an eyeroll as he said, “Not happening. This dinner is boring.”
He hadn’t been there the night I’d shot Benjamin for disrespecting Ma. And no doubt he wouldn’t have shared how he got hurt or else William wouldn’t act foolishly in front of me.
No, the kid hadn’t really seen me at my worst.
Maybe it was time I showed him.
Standing abruptly, I slammed my hands onto the table, but before I could do or say anything, Benjamin shot up. He grabbed his wife by her arm and yanked her to her feet. “Come, son. We’re done here.”
William slowly stood, brows pinched as he saw the concern in his father’s gaze.
Before they walked out, I called, “Benjamin.”
He stopped near the door, turning back to glare at me.
“Teach your brat some manners, or next time I won’t allow you to leave until I do your job for you.”
He nodded stiffly and shoved his son and wife out the door.
With an irritated sigh, I suggested to the others, “How about we move on to dessert? I feel like dinner’s been spoiled.”
Back home, I moved through my kitchen with Torment and Reaper at my back. They’d arrived as soon as I pulled into my garage. At the bar area in my living room, I prepared three glasses of neat whiskey and handed them out.
“Has anything come from Matthew’s and Roman’s deaths?” I asked.
Reaper had dragged them home a week and a half ago. However, only one had survived the trip, since Reaper had been more than annoyed that it’d taken longer to hunt them.
Somehow, they’d either seen or had been told Reaper and his team were on the way and ditched the hotel my hacker had sent them to.
Not that it mattered.
Reluctantly, I gave Gwen Reaper’s number, knowing she could assist them.
Which she had and only gloated about it for five minutes.
Of course, when I asked her to help them, I made one demand of her.
That was to lose Reaper’s number after the job.
Luckily, she’d listened, because if she hadn’t, Reaper and I would’ve gone head-to-head, and I wasn’t sure what the outcome would’ve been.