Chapter 37 #2
“Then we kill her,” she says easily. A red haze blurs my vision. I fight to remain still and not take action. She regards Imogen once more. Defending me as if it’s her duty. “But I don’t think that will be necessary. Will it, Mrs. Maroni?”
“No, it will not,” she agrees coolly.
“Lower your gun, amore. She is not our enemy. And neither is Rico or Pietro.” Her voice is calm, collected.
And it affects Constantine. While the crime underworld may believe he’s the man in charge, the true one in power is his wife.
Listening to her command he lowers his gun. Imogen keeps hers on Carina until Constantine places the weapon back in his holster. Satisfied, she hands mine back to me.
“Does this mean mom and dad aren’t mad at us anymore because—”
“Pietro, I’m still fucking pissed. Don’t make me go against my wife’s orders,” he says rather harshly.
He shrinks back, almost becoming one with the floor. “Bene, bene.”
“Explain yourself, Rico and it better be fucking good or I swear you will regret going behind my wife’s and I’s back.”
“If you are implying I will ever regret marrying Imogen, you are sorely mistaken.”
“You love her.” It’s a statement filled with a myriad of emotions. Confusion. Wonder. Surprise. They’re all there.
I stand slightly in front of Imogen to protect her if need be. “I do. I’m not here to ask for your blessing. I would have married her regardless. I will always choose her, Constantine. And you can’t fault me for it. Not when you feel the same way for Carina.”
“You will choose her over the Famiglia? Over me? After what I’ve done for you?”
I tread carefully but keep my voice stern so he makes no mistake. “If you and our Famiglia will not accept her then yes, I will choose her over the Famiglia. And while I will always deeply appreciate what you did for me, I will not abandon her. She is my wife, Constantine.”
A silence falls. One I don’t welcome. But it is my wife who fills it.
“I understand you feel betrayed,” she begins cautiously.
“I even understand your reservations about me. I have to earn your trust and believe me I will. But we have come here to help aid The Donati Famiglia. If you are asking me to choose a side, it's my husband’s. I will never betray him and in turn I will never betray you. But if you don’t listen to what my husband has to say then your entire empire will fall. ”
“Is this true?” Carina demands.
“Si,” I answer. Despite the malevolent storm of emotions Constantine is feeling he nods his head to hear what I have to say. “The Irish have aligned themselves with Kirill and they’re here in New York City.“
I watch as Constantine materializes himself to the ruthless feared Don he is. A menacing smile slashes across his face. His eyes become dark pools. An ominous energy radiates from him.
This is the man who has earned his namesake; The Devil of the East Coast.
“Let the bloodbath begin,” he proclaims darkly.
“And my wife,” I insist. “Will she be protected?”
Constantine and Carina share a conversation without saying a word. Carina steps forward, extending both of her hands to Imogen in an open invitation. Imogen glances up at me for assurance and I nod my head with a ghost of a smile on my lips.
Bravely she takes a step forward and accepts Carina’s hands.
“I see the truth has set you free. I understand you know what that means,” she says gravely.
“I do.”
“So if it comes down to saving your pa or Rico who will you choose?”
“Rico,” she answers without hesitation. “My Pa decided who is more important to him. He chose the family. I choose yours. I choose, Rico.”
Satisfaction shines on Carina’s face. “Then I officially announce you are protected under The Donati Famiglia. You are one of our own. You are family.”
Carina lifts her hands and to our culture of respect Imogen kisses both. “May I ask for one request, Donna Donati?”
“A request so soon?” Her lips twist with bemusement.
Imogen licks her lips nervously. I lay my hand on her hip to help settle her. “Do not kill my ma. She’s off limits.”
Carina's eyes soften. “You care deeply for your ma.”
“All she wanted was for me to live a life not filled with misery. It was her who had given me the idea to run away the night before my arranged marriage to Sebastian. And she had pleaded for pa to agree to your commands and release me. If anything I ask of you at all is to spare her. Please.”
“We’re more alike than you know. My mamma had tried to save me when I was only a little girl. A mamma’s love is a powerful thing. I will grant this request, Imogen. And all men of the Famiglia will honor it.”
“Thank you,” she breathes gratefully.
“So,” Pietro pipes out in a hopeful tone, “we’re all one big happy family?”
Constantine shakes his head but from the look upon his face he’s clearly amused. “Si, Pietro. All is well.”
Pietro blows out a breath and wipes the beads of sweat from his forehead. Collecting the cross from his neck he kisses it repeatedly.
“I must admit,” Constantine says as he draws his wife back in his arms, “I never saw this coming.”
“Neither did I,” I admit. “But I should’ve known the moment her hair captured the moonlight. She had unknowingly left her mark on me.”
“I know the feeling quite well,” he murmurs tenderly as he reminisces of how he knew Carina was the one for him. When he saw her on the streets of New York over ten years ago now. “But do not ever go behind my back again. I will not be merciful next time. Capisce?”
“Capisce.”
“Unfortunately the honeymoon will have to be put on hold. Rico, I need you to strategize immediately. Kirill is unpredictable but he’s not unstoppable.”
“Do we still have the location of Zhen?” I ask. Kirill will easily let loose of the bone and start hunting down for Zhen once he has confirmation she’s alive and well.
“I do.” His eyes flick to Imogen, hesitant on disclosing the information. I cock my head to the side, waiting for an answer. “But I won’t use the information until we absolutely have to.”
“Because of business?”
“Business with him is good, si. We have a great partnership. But I also need to keep this as leverage against him, Rico. It keeps him honest.”
Before I wouldn’t have understood. And while I understand now I have to disagree. “But we wouldn’t have to worry about the Russians.”
“Then we would have to worry about The Triads.”
“They’re not as barbaric.”
“Just because they don’t flare their violence it doesn’t make them any less threatening. We will find another way.” His tone is final.
“Bene,” I concede, still not agreeing with his decision but respecting it.
“On great news, Alvaro has given us one more chance with Bliss. If we are to fuck this up not only is our entire business relationship done, so is our personal. Set a meeting with Marquise tonight. Ask if he’ll handle the operation. Do not fuck this up,” he stresses heavily.
“Understood.”
“Then I suggest you head home and prepare for the meeting. I won’t bore you with small talk here.”
“Will you be attending the meeting tonight?”
“I trust you,” Constantine says. His eyes settle on Imogen and a surge of protectiveness rises within me. “My wife seems very fond of you. Don’t let that change.” The warning lays heavy in the air but Imogen doesn’t choke on it.
“Time for us to go home,” I murmur against her hair.
“Home,” she agrees happily.