Chapter Sixteen
Severin
My job is done.
For the first time in my life, those words don't feel like a lie. They are a relief I wasn’t fully prepared for.
All the tension I’ve always carried since I was a child, feels like it’s dissipated.
I’ve had to become a monster… but it’s worth it.
Everything is worth it if Maggie is my prize.
The war between Rizzo’s family is over. They have crawled into a hell hole of an empire, and I hope they stay there if they know what’s best.
My father throws his whiskey glass against the wall above my head and the little glass particles rain down behind me.
I don’t bother wincing. It would only show weakness and he would probably throw it directly at my head the next time.
“Are you stupid or just naive! She will drop you the second times get fucking hard, Severin.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I taught you better than this. Never follow pussy.”
I scoff. “Yeah, you taught me how to be a hard man and so closed off that I’m one of the hardest people to love. You taught me how to doubt everyone’s word around me and to never show weakness.” I motion around the room. “This is your life, Dad. I want no fucking part of it.”
He sighs, leaning against the desk. “There is no getting out of this for you, son. Once you’re in… you don’t leave unless in a body bag.”
“That’s all myth. Look at Ramero, he left and he is living a normal fucking life.”
He chuckles. “Just because Ramero’s father is a pussy and loved his son too much to kill him off, doesn’t mean I am. You have two options; either you get her to join the family and have her tied to you so that she can’t turn, or I kill her and she will no longer be a problem.”
Anger and hatred shoots up my neck. I stand from my chair and fist my hands at my side. “You won’t lay a hand on a single fucking hair on her head.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. “Who would stop me, boy?”
I incline my leather seat while the jet takes off, a glass of whisky in hand. I take a long, slow drink, enjoying the smooth burn as it slips down my throat.
The plane settles above the clouds, and I pull out my phone. A smile curves my lips when Maggie appears on my home screen in her candy-can babydoll gown. I scan her body, and my cock hardens. But I don’t have time for these thoughts right now. I scroll to Matt’s number and hit call.
He answers on the first ring. “Hey, Boss. How did everything go?”
“Well, the old man is not happy about my decision,” I say, taking a long sip of whisky. “A lot of heated words, plus, some broken glasses in his study, and a few requests for letting me come back and play house, as he put it, means I get to return to Maggie.”
Matt barks out a laugh. “Sounds about right for him.”
“Listen and don't argue,” I say looking out the window at nothing but the sky and clouds. “You are to leave immediately and return back to New York.”
“Boss,” he says, going silent as if thinking of the right words to say. “My job is to protect you. By your father’s order.”
I squeeze my whisky glass tightly. I knew he would respond like this. He is very loyal to our family. “Not anymore. The order has been dropped.”
Matt clears his voice. “What was his other requests for you to be able to step down, Boss?”
The words hit like a bucket of ice water being poured over my head as I remember his exact words. She’ll either join us or she will die. My muscles go rigid. “What do you think? She is his leverage.”
Matt curses under his breath. “Shit boss.” He sucks his teeth and sighs. “What does she have to do for him?”
Of course he jumps straight to that. He knows my father the same way I do.
He’s seen every cruel scheme, every game of power, and manipulation my father has used to break men bigger than either of us.
He knows my father doesn’t give second chances unless he receives something in return.
For my father, that's taking away Maggie’s life and bringing her into our dangerous one.
“Binding her to our god forsaken family. He wants no loose ends and no one walking away with secrets.”
“Jesus, boss. This isn't good,” he spits out. “Ask her to marry you.”
“He gave me two choices. Bring her in the family or end her. Right now, I don’t want war with my father. It’s far too dangerous for Maggie.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. My temples are throbbing with rage.
Matt is silent. He knows what war with the Don looks like. It’s a blood bath massacre.
“You think she will agree to this?”
I stare out the window with anger but also worry. “I’m not sure. We have only known each other for few days. I’m not sure if she should.”
“What happens if she says no?” he whispers.
“Then, war with my father.” I’m not giving her up… ever.
I end the call before anything else can be said.
I can live with losing my father, but I won't survive if she is a casualty.