Chapter Four
Secrets Of Cyprus
Willow
A m I a pawn in my husband’s games? Yes.
Does he use me to throw anyone and everyone off kilter when he wants to get his way? Yes. Is my sexuality just another weapon in his arsenal? Yes it is, and yes, I am.
Do I care? Not one fucking bit. My husband is his own man and as the Don of the Gallo Familia he has to do whatever it takes.
And I’m his ace in the hole, the one thing that no one ever expects.
It tends to unnerve his competitors and his supporters to find me in every meeting whether I am clothed or naked, and Rafe uses that to his advantage.
It helps that he allows me to make decisions for myself and repays me in orgasms. I know if I ever said I was uncomfortable with a situation, Rafe would go to the ends of the earth to rectify whatever was bothering me.
He uses me the same way I use him. My sexuality is constantly put on display to throw his enemies and his cohorts into disarray, and I use the fear it provides everyone else for him to gain the upper hand whenever needed.
Both of us give and take from the other to ensure that our families remain at the top where they belong.
“I heard you met some of the wives,” Regina says as she walks into the lounge where I am reading a book on a ridiculously comfy wine-red sofa.
I take her in. It’s been a while since everything happened and Devon died.
She is looking better and finally speaking to me again.
Her baby bump grows by the day and although I know she is terrified, she is taking it all in stride, though I suspect the only person who knows is me. Rafe remains oblivious.
“I did. What do you know?”
“Not much. But I always thought that the women in our world knew more than they were saying.”
“That’s an understatement,” I reply with a sigh. “If Armand were still alive, Cyprus would be burnt to the fucking ground.”
“That bad?”
She takes a seat beside me before grabbing one of the chocolate chip biscuits off the tray on the table.
“Worse. The men here have been running rampant. Brothels, drugs, gun running, and more, without paying a tribute to the Gallo Family.”
“Have you told Rafe?”
“Not yet. He knows I know something,” I explain, “but he is giving me time to figure it out. I need to work out how to handle the men without the women or children ending up as collateral damage.”
For the longest time, we sit in silence, both of us trying to figure out a way to fix a mess we didn’t create.
“What would Armand have done?” I ask softly.
Regina laughs, a sad smile crossing her features. “He had a flair for the dramatic as you well know,” she muses. “He would have thrown a party, a ball perhaps, and made an example of those who thought to cross him.”
“That’s perfect!” I jump up and head out of the room in search of Rafe. “Thanks for the help,” I call back as I walk out.
Heading to the den, the one Rafe has commandeered as his office, I knock softly. He doesn’t like working out of his father’s office and I know it’s something we will have to discuss eventually. For now, I leave him to his own devices.
“Enter!”
Opening the door, I take in the two men before me as well as the woman from the brothel. She is dressed much differently, demure. A grey knit dress hits just above her knees with pretty red peep toe heels. Her hair is in a sophisticated updo and her makeup is more natural.
“Wife,” Rafe says with a smile beckoning me to him with a crook of his finger. “This is Suzan. She will be marrying Eduardo.” I know I am supposed to act like I have never met her before.
I smile at her before turning to the man in question. “Marriage?” I ask Eduardo as I stand behind Rafe.
“It is what my Don requests. To be part of his family.” He averts his gaze but it’s not hard to see that he isn’t happy.
“And will you beat your new wife?” I ask plainly.
His blazing gaze connects with mine. “Never.” The vehemence in his tone soothes me, slaking my need to hurt him before he has the chance to cross the line I have drawn for all men in this family as well as the Hernandez empire. “I saw what my father put my mother through. I will not be like him.”
“Good. You will be married on Saturday.”
Rafe chuckles at my proclamation while Suzan and Eduardo sputter.
“I want to have a party,” I muse, cutting off their refusals. “We, as the Gallo family, have a point to prove. And I think a wedding will be a great reason for celebration while your Don is here.”
“Then everything is set,” Rafe adds. “Willow is great at planning these things and will assist with anything you need, Suzan. As for you, Eduardo, if I can offer advice?”
“Yes, my Don.”
“Stay out of their way. Simply show up where and when you are told.”
I slap his shoulder playfully. “You never know, he may actually have some input he would like to add.”
“None,” Eduardo adds. “I will do as I am told.”
With those words, he walks out of the den and closes the door behind him.
“This weekend? Really,” the woman who is now known as Suzan questions. “Why so quickly?”
“Because,” Rafe says quietly. “I need to return to the states sooner rather than later. Eduardo will hold down Cyprus and I need you watching his every move.”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea, Rafe,” she says.
“It’s the best idea!” I say with more enthusiasm than needed.
“I will help you plan everything, and you will help not just us, but your husband, keep our foothold in Cyprus. From your previous line of work, I know that you have more knowledge of this business and the men and women that run them than most.”
A blush steals across her cheeks before she nods. “Fine.”
We watch her exit through the same door as her soon-to-be husband before Rafe swivels his chair and snatches me down onto his lap.
“What is going on in that pretty little head of yours, dear wife?” he asks as his lips trace the shell of my ear. “What is this business with a party?”
Grabbing his face in my hands, I kiss him like my life depends on it, like I may never get the chance to do it again. “Like I said, it’s time for us to make a statement. Armand Gallo style.”
And then I proceed to tell him everything. Every last word the wives spoke to me, every secret they held close to the chest for fear of their husbands, and my plan to get this shit straightened out.
“Cyprus is more fucked up than I ever thought,” Rafe complains, rubbing at his temples.
I wish I could say that things will be better after the wedding, but I won’t make promises I can’t keep.
The door behind me slams open, Regina pales as she stands there.
“What’s wrong?” Rafe asks as he stands and lowers me to my feet.
She stares at both of us with pure terror scrawled across her features, her cellphone clenched in her left hand. “Konnor called.”
“Fuck my life,” I curse. “What did he want now? Haven’t we settled this matter?”
Regina sobs loudly and Rafe leads her to an emerald green loveseat beside the French doors that lead to Armand’s rose garden. It takes long moments before she calms enough to speak again.
“Konnor wanted to remind me,” she whispers, rubbing both hands over her stomach. “This baby is not only Gallo but Hennie as well.”
My heart drops to my feet. I know what Konnor wants. What they want.
“What the fuck!” Rafe roars, pacing the length of the room. “I should just kill him and be done with it.”
“That won’t help,” I say, drawing a glare from both of them. “This isn’t coming from Konnor. It’s his mother.”
Rafe nods before turning to Regina. “What do they want? Visitation rights?”
“No, Rafe,” Regina says sadly with a shake of her head. “He wants the last piece of his brother. He wants my baby.”