Chapter 26 #2
At least I wasn’t alone, his brothers Alexander and Sinclair providing a more classical edge to providing muscle. To have a huge majority of the Prince family behind me was a telling statement to any member of a crime syndicate.
There were only two guards standing outside the gorgeous facility and within seconds, they were disarmed, including their two-way radios. Some sense of secrecy would prove beneficial.
I’d never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d do a crash course in the world of the Italian mafia.
My father had told me very little. Girls weren’t supposed to be involved in such affairs.
With Jaxon’s assistance, and that of his fabulous computer technicians, I’d learned enough to pretend I had a clue about how the politics were handled.
Like any government, there were rules to follow.
Several of which my brother had broken.
My hope, as well of that of my… fiancé? Had Jaxon asked me to marry him?
Hmmm… My hope was that the other four families would handle the atrocity themselves.
In fact, I’d insisted that’s the way I wanted it.
Since my brother wanted the throne so badly he was willing to murder our father, I’d allow him to taste the wrath of power.
We’d purposely planned our arrival ten minutes late and could hear voices as soon as we walked in.
Jaxon flanked my side as the Prince family soldiers easily hijacked the men from various mafia families standing guard outside the room where the meeting was held. I almost laughed when he placed his finger over his mouth, silencing them.
Given my father’s funeral was being held in only a few hours, time was of the essence.
Which was why we wasted no time entering the room, soldiers filling the space and ensuring that there wouldn’t be any unwanted interruptions.
“What is the meaning of this?” While Don Capechi stood, furious at the interruption, I was barely paying any attention to him, instead concentrating on the expression of horror briefly crossing my brother’s face.
While short-lived, his body swayed as he rose to his feet. “Anastasia.” His voice was gravelly and for some reason irritated the hell out of Jaxon.
I grabbed Jaxon’s arm to keep him from reacting, offering him a look that shared our thoughts, our passions, and our connection. Or at least I hoped.
He nodded, taking a deep breath.
“Anastasia Scavullo,” Don Bruno offered. “Please allow me to provide my condolences to the loss of your father. He was a great man.”
Hearing my full name as I’d once heard so many times as a child pulled at the taut strings in my heart. I’d forsaken my legacy for a good reason, but no longer.
“Yes, he was,” I said, enjoying how my voice echoed in the hallowed space.
I’d been right all along. The building had once been used as a cathedral, the stained-glass windows still in pristine shape.
How ironic a dangerous group of men would sit and determine the livelihood of generations of men and women under sunlit artistry of a depiction of Christ.
“What are you doing here, sister?” Marco kept his eyes on Jaxon and his brothers and there was no doubt he knew who they were.
So did the others.
“Don Prince.” Don Capechi’s voice boomed in the wide-open space as he approached Alexander. “To what do we owe this honor?”
I’d come to respect Alexander. While he appeared gruff on the outside, very much like Jaxon, on the inside he was an incredibly loving man. I’d also had the honor of seeing him with his wife and child, doting on them in a way that allowed me to know they were his entire world.
Maybe that’s why the thought of having a huge family with Jaxon wasn’t so farfetched.
“Anastasia is part of our family now and as you might imagine, what angers her, angers us. What saddens her, saddens us. And if she’s disparaged in any way, well…” Alexander turned his head toward Jaxon to finish.
And the man I craved more than I had any other took his time walking toward Marco. I did so adore that my man was taller than my brother by several inches. The art of intimidation was quite useful.
“Then the person responsible will face our wrath. Such as yourself, Don Scavullo. A title that you were determined to claim at all costs.” At least Jaxon was managing to keep his cool.
“What are you insinuating? You do not belong here,” Marco insisted. He was arrogant enough to pull out a walkie-talkie.
“Don’t bother, brother. Your men aren’t coming. They’ve been detained. Just so you’re aware,” I walked closer, now speaking to the men still surrounding the round table, “my brother had no intention of walking out of this room without being given the title of Capo dei Capi.”
“That is not his call to make,” Don Mavetti stated, as if I was a fool. “We have rules. A vote is required and the title is not merely given.”
“Well, since he murdered our father in cold blood, I don’t think he cares about the rules.” I shifted my gaze back to my brother, who tried to act indignant.
“That is blasphemy!” Marco yelled, daring to take a step closer with his fist clenched. “The Camorra had my father murdered. They are trying to regain power.”
“You mean our father, brother. Don’t you? And that is a lie. The Camorra had nothing to do with his death.” The anger was fueling a powerful moment deep within. I was truly my father’s daughter, a woman coming into her own.
Jaxon reacted in a way that caused my heart to flutter. He wrapped his hand around Marco’s throat, lifting him off his feet.
The other four men and their Capos were stunned, but as soon as a few reached for their weapons, Alexander made it clear that they should be very careful in the choices they made.
Their exclamations of surprise also echoed in the space.
“Why would Marco kill your father?” Don Bruno demanded.
“It’s very simple,” Alexander answered. “Long ago emissaries from the Ivanov Bratva approached Francesco about an alliance. With the marriage of Anastasia to the Pakhan’s son, a very strong connection would be made that in turn would be far too powerful for either the Five Families or the Camorra to interfere with.
Francesco wanted nothing to do with it, even allowing his daughter to fulfill her dreams in the United States in hopes of keeping her safe.
All he ever wanted was to protect his children.
” He purposely threw a look toward Marco, who wasn’t bothering to struggle in Jaxon’s hold.
The rumble of voices was even louder. “My brother made it appear as if his death was done by the Camorra while enlisting the help of Carmine Russo back to Italy to act on the deal Marco made with the Ivanov Bratva. I’m supposed to be married to the Pakhan’s son in the upcoming days.
Aren’t I? Well, that’s not going to happen. I had another offer made.”
Jaxon laughed under his breath as he dropped Marco to the floor. “No one will ever touch her again but me.”
Marco stumbled backward, but before he was foolish enough to grab a weapon, he was held in position by two of Jaxon’s men.
The rumble between the men continued to increase.
Don Mavetti waved his hand at the others, quieting them down. He walked away from the table toward me. “You can prove such an egregious accusation, child?”
I didn’t correct him with his terminology, accepting the iPad from Sinclair who already had the video cued up.
“My father knew at some point his power would be challenged. He was smart enough to install cameras that few people knew existed. He did confide in the woman who’d all but raised me for years and thankfully so. See for yourself.”
I backed away while the group viewed the damning video.
The horror of hearing his murder for the third time was brutal, but Jaxon was right by my side. I refused to show fear and never would again for any man. I had every right to be here and to use my full name, a name I was proud of.
“What are your demands?” Don Russo asked. I found it interesting he wasn’t surprised that his nephew had been a part of the scheme.
“You fucking bitch,” Marco hissed.
“I would watch your tongue if I were you,” Jaxon snarled in return.
“It’s okay, my love. I am certain these powerful men know how to best handle the situation. You have rules that go back generations in how to handle betrayal. Yes?” I asked, knowing the answer.
Don Mavetti smiled. “Yes, we do. We handle any infractions within our organization.”
“Then my request is simple. Please handle my brother’s sins as you see fit. As far as my father’s estate, I would like to leave the opportunity open for the possibility that my firstborn son will be considered an acceptable member.”
The Dons knew exactly what I was suggesting, all four providing nods of respect. Not only to the former Capo dei Capi’s daughter, but also to the family of royalty standing behind me.
“A child born of royal blood will be very welcome in our organization and we will handle the infractions.” Don Mavetti approached with the others behind him, the white-haired man taking my hand. “You are very much like your father. Strong. Resilient. And wise. What of your mother?”
The knot in my stomach lingered, but I was slowly coming to terms with knowledge of my dysfunctional family. “I’ll handle my mother.”
“Very well, child. Go in peace. Mr. Prince, I will ask that you take care of her. Italian blood generations old is a powerful tool.”
“Yes, sir. I am very well aware of the gift I’ve been given,” Jaxon told him as he backed away from Marco, wrapping his arm around me. “I plan on keeping her very happy and safe.”
Safe.
For the first time that I could remember, I felt safe.
I also felt loved.
For a little girl who’d dreamt about the man who’d awakened her from the nightmare as in Sleeping Beauty, Jaxon had come as a surprise, but one I would cherish and hopefully for the rest of my life.