CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
DAMIEN
Watching Cassie move about my bedroom wearing nothing but my shirt is fast becoming my favorite past time.
We were up pretty late last night. After the days spent apart, it was like neither of us were ready to let sleep be a barrier between us again.
“This one,” Cassie says, pulling a dark navy blazer and holding it against the light. “It’s giving dark, sexy mafia overlord.”
I smirk, buttoning my dress shirt, “I am a dark, sexy mafia overlord, sweetheart.”
She turns around, her expression soft with that glint of mischief in her eyes.
“Arrogance is not a good look on you.”
“Everything’s a good look on m, sweetheart.”
She wrinkles her nose but there’s a light smile playing on her lips. I let out a low laugh and walk over to her, taking the blazer from her hands and brushing a kiss across her temple.
“Do you want to have breakfast with me before I have to leave?” I ask her.
She lets out a small sigh, “Sure, I can go back to bed after. Remind me again why you’re leaving the house at the crack of dawn?”
“It’s 7am,” I remind her gently. “Plus, I already told you. We have a meeting. All the heads of mafia organizations and their second in commands. I called for the meeting because I’m looking for someone.”
Her brows furrow, “There’s so much that doesn’t make sense in that statement. First off, aren’t you supposed to hate each other? I always hear about gang wars in the city, isn’t that about warring factions in the Cosa Nostra?”
“There used be a lot of fighting,” I agree. “But in the past couple of years things have really calmed down. Mostly due to intermarriages between families. Plus, since we got a truce with the Bratva, it’s been easier to work together.”
“Oh, so you’re all friends now?”
I chuckle, “I wouldn’t say that, especially since my family’s usually on the outskirts of it all, but it’s pretty peaceful. That peace might not last long though and there are some among us that seek to destroy it.”
“Who are you looking for?”
“Traitors. I plan to weed out anyone working against me. I need to make sure there aren’t any enemies wanting to strike at me in the shadows.”
I also want to ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of Santori.
“You sound paranoid,” she teases softly.
“If by paranoid you mean careful, then sure. I need to be able to see any danger coming, to protect you and the family as well.”
She smiles wrapping her arms around my neck, “I feel absolutely safe now and it’s all thanks to you, Damien.”
“Good, I plan to keep it that way.”
We make our way downstairs, Cassie’s hand brushing mine as we move through the quiet halls. The two of us don’t speak, lost in our own thoughts. When we reach the dining room however, the silence is broken.
Sofia is already seated at the table, cradling a cup of coffee and reading something on her phone. What we don’t expect is the tall figure leaning casually against the back of a chair, with a wide grin on his phone.
“Ah. The lovebirds have arrived!” he announces, spreading his arms.
“Dante,” I say on an eyeroll. “You’re meant to be scoping out the building where the meeting’s taking place.”
As my second in command, it’s paramount that he attends the meeting with me. He flew in from Chicago yesterday but I hadn’t been expecting him to join us this morning.
“Luca’s already on that. I wanted to have breakfast with the family. Or am I not welcome?” he arches an eyebrow, daringly.
“Of course you are,” Sofia states, glancing at Cassie and I. “Everyone take a seat.”
“Good morning, Dante,” Cassie greets him and he offers her a short nod.
“ Cognata , stunning as always.”
There’s no bite in his voice though. I think we’re past his bitterness. He looks at her like he would a sister-in-law and I’m glad for it. His antics would not be met well if he tried anything else.
“Thanks,” Cassie murmurs, taking a seat beside me.
Renata’s made waffles, pancakes and a host of other delicious things that we don’t hesitate to dive into.
The family dinner turns out to be more light hearted than I expected.
It seems my brother and I’s troubles are behind us.
He’s his usual jovial self, albeit annoying and Sofia’s feeding off his energy as well, if only it wasn’t at my expense.
“You’re not going to believe how much of a nerd he was, Cassie,” he’s telling my wife, through laughs, “And he also didn’t have those muscles yet, scrawny little thing in high school my brother.”
“Dante,” I grit out.
Cassie grins at me widely, her expression full of mirth.
“Can I see pictures?”
“Absolutely not,” I quickly reply.
“Of course you can,” Sofia counters. I glare at her but she ignores me, winking at Cassie, “I’ll sneak you an album, Cass.”
Cassie shoots me a victorious look and I can’t help a smile. It’s been a while since I felt so full. It seems despite all what I’ve been able to achieve, nothing will ever compare to the comfort of family. We sit, the four of us, sharing a table that doesn’t feel heavy with tension for once.
Soon enough, Dante and I need to leave. Cassie follows us towards the front door.
“See you later, mi vida ,” I tell her.
She leans up to press a kiss to my cheek, “Be safe, okay?”
I nod and she walks away after a wave towards my brother. I turn to Dante, already expecting the look on his face.
“The two of you are disgustingly sweet. What’s it going to do for your rep when people find out how down bad you are for your wife?”
“Nothing, because they understand it doesn’t make weak. In fact, it makes me all the more lethal. I’ll destroy anyone that tries to hurt her. Anyone that stands in my path.”
“Which brings me to my next question,” Dante says, his expression sobering, “You’re planning something, aren’t you? Who are you going to kill?”
“No one yet. I need to find them first.”
He frowns, eyebrows crinkling. I wrap an arm around his shoulders, leading him outside.
“Let’s head over to the meeting. You got that dirt on Moretti?”
“Yeah. Cristian’s a cool guy though, he’d never do anything to jeopardize our alliance,” he informs me.
“I know that. I have no plans to hurt him. I just want information only him seems privy too. And we both know he won’t talk without some incentive.”
“Okay. But you’ve got to let me in on the plan.”
“The plan is simple, little brother. I’m going to smoke out some rats,” I tell him with a grin.
Although to be honest, I might not need to. Rats have a way of scurrying about with a belief that they’re getting close to their achievements. I’ll be waiting though, ready to squash them without any fuss.
Now, all I need to do is lie in wait for them to make their move.