Chapter 2
Chapter two
Mauro
Silence.
It’s what I crave and yearn for like a drug I can’t get enough of—a comfort to the beast within me. And in a world filled with so much darkness, it’s the only thing that seems to keep the demons at bay.
I nod to the guards on duty as I accelerate through the prominent iron gate that surrounds the Alarie Estate.
A fortress unlike any other in the world, secured by impenetrable stone walls and protected by guards on every corner.
A piece of secluded land that covers a significant portion of northern New York.
And a place that my family and I call home.
My truck easily passes through the fresh snow coating the ground as I trek through the woods, but instead of taking a right before the lake, which leads directly to my home, secluded deep between the mountains, I bear left, heading for my eldest brother’s house.
Lowering my window, I enter a code on the keypad and wait for the gate to open before descending the stone driveway, circling the giant water fountain, and coming to a stop by the massive arched door.
My brother is not one for hiding his wealth, and anyone can see that in his house, which resembles more of a castle than an everyday home, if you ask me.
From its imposing size to the Portoro marble accents throughout, the structure demands attention.
Stepping into the frigid air, I shake off the snow from my hair as I take the dozen steps up and then pound on the door.
A moment later, the door swings open with Vincenzo on the other side. He drags his fingers through his dark, styled hair before crossing his burly arms across his chest. A slight grin appears as his eyes examine my attire. “You look like shit.”
I grunt and look down at myself, inspecting the spatters of blood across my white T-shirt. Blood that doesn’t belong to me but to the asshole who wronged my family. I zip my jacket, hiding evidence of my late-night adventure.
“I take it you and Leo found him, then?” he asks, his voice growing serious.
I nod and walk past him, rubbing a hand over my tired eyes.
Yeah, we found him. Hiding in the back of his motel closet like the coward he is, or, I guess I should say was.
The fucker actually thought he could use the dark web to put a hit out on my family without us finding out and live to tell the tale.
His first mistake was underestimating us.
His second was making a call on his personal cellphone, which pinpointed his exact location so we could find him.
Stronzo.
But as the muscles of this family, it’s my job to destroy those who wish to harm us. And I do my job well. Very well.
I stride through my brother’s house, walking past his dogs, Thor and Zeus, who snore loudly on their luxurious dog beds, before heading directly toward Vin’s office, where I know the others will be.
Walking in, I find Alessandro, aka Alex, my older brother, sitting in one of the russet brown leather wingback chairs by the roaring fire, his brows furrowed in concentration as he stares down at his phone.
Alex is the brains. The one with the highest IQ who uses his powers for the good of the family, always hacking into computers or doing whatever it is he does to keep us one step ahead in our world. He’s also the one you text in a panic when you spill marinara sauce onto your mother’s white carpet.
That was scary.
His grey eyes glance up, and upon seeing me, he slides his phone into his pocket. “Late night?”
I nod, collapsing into the matching chair across from him. A yawn escapes me as Vin walks in, taking his place behind his mahogany desk.
If he hadn’t called a meeting, I’d be tucking myself into bed right now and sleeping for the next three days.
But as the head of the family, when he calls upon us, we answer.
No questions asked. He acquired his leadership role over seven years ago after the murder of our father, and he’s done everything in his power over the years to keep us safe, even with daily threats and powerful enemies striving for our demise.
It’s a job I would never want.
He reaches into his desk drawer, pulls out a bottle of Macallan, uncaps it, and pours it into a few glasses. “You need a haircut,” he tells me. “And a shave. You’re starting to resemble a lumberjack.”
I flip him off and then drag my fingers through my shoulder-length hair, pulling half of it up. Unlike my brothers, who take pride in their appearance, I’ve never put too much thought into mine.
Never had a reason to.
Besides, the idea of someone holding a razor blade or a pair of scissors anywhere near my neck…
Instinctively, I reach up, running the tips of my fingers across the prominent scar that decorates my neck—the one I received from the same explosion that killed my father.
Not only did the shrapnel leave me with this physical reminder from that terrible day, but it took something from me as well. Something others cannot see: my voice.
“Irreparable damage.”
“Serious trauma to your larynx.”
“Lucky to be alive.”
I believe those are the words the doctors uttered as I was in and out of consciousness.
With excruciating pain, I’m able to get out a word or two at a time. Maybe three if I’m willing to suffer the consequences. But nothing more than that. No sentences. No aloud thoughts.
My fingers press into my throat as I remember the day that changed everything for me.
“You’re just jealous,” Alex states, standing to retrieve both glasses. He hands one to me before taking his seat. “If I recall correctly, you tried to grow out your hair when you were eighteen but cut it off only after your then-girlfriend complained that your hair was prettier than hers.”
Vin chokes on his drink, patting his chest. “Vaffanculo.”
I grin as I throw back the dark liquid, savoring the burn while it slides down my throat.
“Where’s our drink?” Leo, my youngest brother, asks as he strides into the room with his best friend Eli by his side.
Leo’s a hunter. An apex predator on the streets of New York who’s responsible for finding those who harm our family. And trust me when I say they can never outrun him.
“You get one when you arrive on time,” Vin answers, placing his empty crystal glass on a coaster. “I believe you and Mauro left at the same time, yet it’s he who sits before me.” Vin’s blue eyes regard him with authority.
Leo sits on the edge of the desk, crossing his tattoo-covered arms over his chest. “I had to inform Scarlett I was back.”
“And you couldn’t have done that with a phone call?”
He smirks. “Nope. We had some ah”—he scratches his head—“unfinished business to attend to.”
Vin pinches the bridge of his nose. “Your sex drive should be examined. It’s not healthy.”
Leo shrugs. “I feel my wife may disagree with you on that.”
Eli, my sister’s bodyguard and husband, rolls his eyes, taking a seat on one of the chairs before the desk. Not only did he grow up on our property, earning himself a place in our family, but that man has and would take a bullet for our sister, which is why my brothers and I respect him so much.
A knock pulls our attention to the door. “Sir.” Vin’s right-hand man, Samuel, stands at the opening. Vin arches a brow, waiting. “Sorry to interrupt, but your one o’clock is here early.”
“Shit.” Vin looks at his watch. “I forgot all about them. Have them wait in the foyer. We’ll be done here shortly.”
Samuel dips his chin and exits.
“Anyway,” Eli starts, “can we get this meeting started? Madeleine’s taking a nap, and I’d like to be back before she wakes. Dr. Rose wants to remove the stitches.”
Silence fills the room.
Madeleine is our baby sister. The financier of our family, who takes pride in running the casino, ensures all books are kept clean, and that everyone on our payroll is paid accordingly, which includes half of New York’s finest.
But a few weeks ago, she was on the brink of death after getting kidnapped and shot by a woman with an unhealthy obsession with Eli. And that was after she spent the past year engaged to that woman’s twin brother because he blackmailed her in order to save Eli.
What a fucking mess.
My fingers tighten around my glass, barely registering the crack splintering on one side.
At least neither of those monsters is breathing air into this world anymore.
I glance over at Alex, who casually adjusts his glasses as he stares at the fire.
His calm, composed demeanor has been a little shaky since he shot and killed the woman responsible for shooting Madeleine.
He’s the reason our sister is alive right now, yet I know he’s struggling with the knowledge that he took a woman’s life.
Something none of us in this room has ever done.
“I’ll make it as brief as possible.” Vin leans back in his chair.
“First, the head of security at the Alarie Estate, Amadeo, will be retiring in two months. He has served our family with the utmost loyalty and professionalism, and I have made it a point to ensure he and his wife will have everything they need to guarantee a smooth transition as they will be moving to Florida.”
Leo arches a brow. “What does ‘everything they need’ mean?”
Vin waves a dismissive hand. “I purchased them a condo on the beach as a retirement gift.”
Alex scoffs. “Your extreme gift-giving skills never cease to amaze me.”
Leo and I try to contain our laughter, which only makes Vin red in the face. I mean, who buys all four of his siblings military-grade tanks for Christmas?
“You fuckers don’t appreciate anything.” He scowls and leans forward. “The reason I bring this up is that I would like to offer the position to you.” He turns his attention to Eli.
Eli’s eyes widen. “Me?”
“You’re more qualified than half my men out there. Plus, you have an asset inside these walls, aka my sister, that will guarantee you will do anything to uphold our family’s safety while here on the estate.”
“You know I would do anything for this family.” Eli rubs a hand across his jaw, thinking over Vin’s offer. “I’m honored. Really. I won’t let you down.”