Chapter 19 #2
“To ensure I would fall for someone so you could marry me off. Now, given you’re very well aware that a true prince of Russian descent is actively considering a semi-permanent move to New York to work alongside his cousin who already has a presence in the city, you became notably concerned.
With the Armenians closing in on one side, the Russians on the other, and both with several highly lucrative successful legitimate businesses, you’ve already felt the squeeze in the only place that truly matters to you. Your pocketbook.”
I’d learned a long time ago from my father about nervous tics. Paying attention to them was very useful, including in my business. Doing so had helped me know when to keep my mouth shut around my father over the years.
My uncle was shocked that I’d honed in on his concerns. He was chauvinistic enough to think women couldn’t get a handle on business matters of the underworld.
He silently took a swallow of his drink before motioning the two closest men to back away. As usual, he didn’t want anyone to overhear him being challenged.
When he leaned over the table, lowering his voice, I knew whatever he had to say was done with a limited amount of animosity. “Did you know I’ve told Kathleen more than once that she should emulate you and your life, your morals and your professionalism?”
I hadn’t been prepared for his words, but I knew they were a double-edged sword. “Kathleen is a very intelligent woman. If you’d pay attention, you’d learn she would make an excellent employee, which is something she’s always wanted. To work with her father.”
“There is no place in my world for women. They are too…”
“Soft? Is that what you were going to say?”
“Precious, Vivian. Women are the reason every man fights for his territory and his place in this world.”
“Not my father.” I made the statement with more bitterness than I’d intended.
“Because your father grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has no appreciation of hard work. While I value his loyalty, he is a true Neanderthal when it comes to women.”
Now I laughed. He was right. “You value his position, Uncle. His money and his clout.”
With his eyes twinkling, he reached across the table gripping my hand. The action wasn’t loving but enough of a warning I fought the building tension. “You are right. As always, a truly astute woman.”
“A woman you hoped to use to your benefit. What I can’t understand is why you had Gabriel murdered. That is what happened. Isn’t it?” The death four years ago had been planned. I’d always known it.
He seemed genuinely surprised after four years I’d brought it up. “What would make you think I had anything to do with his death?”
“Because he wasn’t true Italian royalty. He’d pushed against his family’s regime as I’d done with mine, which didn’t allow you to gain any additional position within the Cosa Nostra. So you had him killed.” I wasn’t ready to bring up anything about Kirill, but the conversation would need to be had.
My uncle rarely allowed anyone to see any real emotions within him. In the light of the bar, I witnessed a moment of true sadness that disappeared almost instantly. “I had hoped this conversation wouldn’t be necessary.”
“And I should have insisted I learn the truth four years ago. What happened? Was Gabriel not good enough? Were you trying to punish me for wanting to have control over my life? Or did you just need an alliance so badly that you killed the one man I cared about?”
“Our world is complicated, but that’s where you’re wrong, Vivian. I’d never want you punished for engaging in a life you so obviously adore. I applaud you. However, Gabriel was very involved with his family and a very dangerous man. He was lying to you the entire time you were together.”
“Lying about what?”
“He was about to become the Don of the Lorenzo Cosa Nostra. A very powerful position.”
“I don’t believe you.” But as soon as he made the statement, my mind unwittingly shifted to the past and to the concerns I’d had about his secretive actions.
I felt myself recoiling. “He left the family. He was doing things his way. He was…” I cut myself short with the same thoughts I’d had years before.
“You know what I’m saying is true. He didn’t leave his family.
He was banished, Vivian. There are reasons that no longer matter, although rest assured his banishment was necessary.
Had either your father or I learned about his existence in your life earlier, we would have attempted to prevent your heartache.
However, you were both very good at hiding your relationship even from the soldiers who kept an eye on you. ”
You bet I’d kept my relationship private for this very reason.
“What are you saying? That Gabriel was using me?”
“Yes, he was. I’m saying that Gabriel Lorenzo was a psychotic killer, a man with two very distinct sides. Did he not meet you at the airport for your trip to Hawaii? He was gone for a couple days on business beforehand. Correct?”
“How would you know that?”
His smile left no need to have my question answered. “I know because he’d just returned from Italy. By then he was on our radar.”
“No, that’s not true. I talked to him several times. He’d gone to Atlanta. I knew he was mafia and how much he hated his family. That’s why he left that life.” The same knot that I’d felt in my stomach all those years ago returned.
“No, he did not. He was simply building an army that supported him and he had one. A large one.” My uncle’s face held more compassion than I’d seen in my life. “You should know by now that when you are born into this world, you cannot just walk away.”
“I guess you’re right, Uncle Sean, but I tried and will continue to do so. You’re dying to tell me the full story so please do. Why was he in Italy?”
“To become a king. He slipped into the country, murdering his father and older brother, which paved a way for him to take over as the Don of the Lorenzo Cosa Nostra. They are the oldest and most influential syndicate within the five families of Italy. They have more control than the other four combined. With threats made by Gabriel earlier in his life, it was widely known he wanted control of every territory, which would have led to an expansion outside of Italy to Europe and eventually to other countries.”
While I should feel shock and disgust, I didn’t. Because a notion deep inside me had festered for years, an instinct Gabriel had been lying to me.
“Including the United States,” I managed.
“Yes, and with you as his bride, there would have nothing to stop him from achieving his goal.”
My stomach did a series of flipflops. “So that’s why you had him killed.” My relationship with Gabriel had been kept secret because I’d thought it real, the one person in my life who hadn’t been manipulated by my family.
I should have followed my instincts then.
My uncle shook his head. “As I said minutes ago, you’re highly intelligent.
While I was very well aware of your relationship, at first there’d been no way of proving his intentions.
He slipped through the cracks in heading to Italy, but as soon as I discovered where he was headed, I contacted the Don of another member of the five families. ”
“Dino Savoy. My sister’s new father-in-law and Don of the Savoy Cosa Nostra.”
His smile was meant as praise. “Very good. Unfortunately, Dino was too late, the murders already occurring and Gabriel disappearing. With plans to return with you on his arm.”
“But you knew where he was going. Hawaii. With me.”
“Yes.”
I sat back, sliding my hands under the table. Through the material of my purse, I wrapped my fingers around the gun, debating what I wanted to do. “You might not have pulled the trigger, but you effectively had Gabriel killed.”
“From your viewpoint, yes, I did. And I’d do so again.”
A laugh bubbled to the surface. “You’d do so for your business but not your family. That’s why and how you developed an alliance with the Savoy Cosa Nostra. A return favor.”
“That is one reason, yes. But it’s also good business. We can use the support here and they can use our connections for their business in Italy as well.”
“And Nikki’s marriage? In name only? An arrangement as a thank you for them keeping their territory intact.”
“I won’t lie to you that Dino and I had a conversation about forming an alliance, realizing even the best of intentions as partners might not last even years into the future. Therefore, an arranged marriage was mentioned.”
“What about Kathleen? Why not choose her?”
His laugh was unexpected. “That was the original plan and a meeting was set up. However, you know my daughter. She took one look at Enzo and walked away. Since Nikki was with her, she stayed and chatted with Enzo. Their friendship was a pleasant surprise. And from what I can tell, both your sister and Enzo are very much in love.”
“Please. Love isn’t possible in our world. It’s all a joke.” I thought about Kirill, now completely uncertain how I felt about him. Was there such a thing as love or was that nothing more than a weapon to be used? A weakness.
“That’s not always true. I adore your aunt. She is my rock. And believe it or not, your father loves your mother. In his own way.”
“Trust me. They hate each other. But none of this is the reason why I was summoned here. That would be because of Kirill Aristov. You believe him the enemy.”
“We have many enemies.”
“Yes,” I noted. “Including the Armenians, but the Russians are rich, powerful, and if I had to guess, I’d say you’re much more concerned with what they are capable of.”
At least I was offered not only a smile and nod of respect but also a lift of his glass in appreciation. Rare. “The Russians are… animals but well connected.”
“Especially since there is family here and in Russia.”
“You know more than I anticipated. What happened with this Russian who is in my hospital?”