34. Matheus
The orchestral music cuts out and a blanket of silence falls.
Shutting out the heat causes the temperature to drop a few more degrees and a sinister shadow creeps over the guests.
My scalp prickles.
This is it.
A bearded man jumps to his feet and glares at us. He’s on the groom”s side of the chapel, which makes him an important Souza associate.
“Where’s the bride?” he demands in a panicked tone as he swivels to the guarded doors.
We all ignore him.
Carina isn’t allowed to step foot in here. Not today. Not ever.
Tomás slots a hand into his suit pants’ pocket and clears his throat, silencing mutters and halting the men who are trying to leave.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to clear up an important matter of respect.” His confident voice drifts to the rafters. “Our enemies thought they could challenge our steadfast Souza reign. After today, there won’t be any doubt about how we deal with opposition. Come for my family…” His head turns left, then right, eyeballing every agitated guest. “…and face the consequences.”
Tomás chuckles, low and foreboding. Not a lighthearted rumble, but more of a dark and dangerous warning.
If I wasn’t used to his demeanor, I’d think his soul was utterly black.
“Let me show you what happened to the bastards who tried to kill my brother André…”
André steps up beside him and announces in a gritty tone, “How we dish out justice to motherfuckers.”
I smirk and glance at Dani. Her eyes land on me one second and then cut to her frowning father.
Blanco sits sandwiched between my grandfather and Conal, the three powerful men trapped and oblivious to the chaos unfolding as we stand before them.
While we were planning a wedding, Giovanni sent a few of The Covenant agents on a special mission. They stayed under the radar and carried out his order, doing what they do best.
“The Lozanos tried to assassinate my sister-in-law, India.” Tomás continues. “Instead, they shot Dré and went up against Mat and his girlfriend Daniela Blanco at the hospital.”
There’s a collective gasp when he declares her role in our family. I’m showered in goosebumps whereas Dani’s lips part ever so slightly, the shock of his statement causing ripples amongst the associates.
“They did not succeed,” Tomás says matter-of-factly. “And for those acts alone, they deserved to die…but they also had the audacity to put my queen in danger…my woman…my fiancée.”
Darkness moves across his face.
“And that warrants death and fucking destruction.”
Tomás angles his head towards the wall mounted television while Giovanni connects his phone to it remotely.
Suddenly, a female news reporter appears on the screen.
The footage behind her pans across black body bags set out in an orderly fashion on a neatly trimmed lawn fronting a huge mansion.
The yellow ribbon scrolling across the bottom of the image reads, ‘Breaking News: Brutal Murders.’
Her professional cadence echoes around the four walls of the chapel.
“Colombia is at a standstill today following the graphic murders of Mr. Lozano and his sons. The bodies were found mutilated on the grounds of their estate earlier this morning. Deep cuts were carved below their jaws, and then their tongues were pulled through, left hanging on their necks like ties. Whoever wanted the family dead certainly made a statement.”
The guests start muttering to their neighbors. Some even reach for their cell phones, not quite sure whether they should clap or make a call for help because they’re unarmed.
They soon realize there’s no reception in here. They’re all sitting ducks.
When they arrived at the plantation, our team confiscated their guns and forced their security to stay behind.
A wedding venue should be a place of peace. However, peace translates differently for people like us.
Peace is satisfaction knowing those who had wronged us are dead.
Peace is educating traitors that the Souzas never back down.
Peace is going to bed at night with the woman you love—certain she’s safe.
“India Souza is now the main shareholder in the Lozano technologies company and can do whatever the fuck she wants with it.”
Tomás nods to Giovanni.
“But there’s something else we need to address today. It”s more troubling than a couple of wanna be gangsters. The Lozanos weren’t part of our organization…and they sure as fuck didn’t have the balls to attempt an uprising within our ranks.”
Four smartly dressed men from the back row shuffle and march to the locked doors. After a scuffle, and a lot of swearing, guns are pointed at their heads, and they’re manhandled back to their seats.
“What the fuck is this?” one guy yells. “Let me out of here!”
“Open the fucking doors,” another demands.
They just don’t get it.
Traitors die.
Shoulder to shoulder, Dani stands between me and Giovanni. The five of us form a line and move towards the unoccupied front bench on the groom”s side.
“A wise man once told my brothers and I that we would either become the hunter or the hunted,” Tomás announces.
His gaze sweeps across the unsettled faces and lands on our grandfather, who’s scowling from the other side of the chapel.
This was unexpected by all our guests, even him. And if there’s one thing about Mad Mick Hennessy, he hates being ambushed.
“We, the Souzas, are forever the hunters,” Tomás adds.
After offering our grandfather a respectful nod, Tomás’ attention returns to the cocky fucks we’d invited to the plantation for a fake wedding.
Following extensive digging into their daily activities, the bastards were monitored for weeks and even met with our undercover agents who recorded their shady dealings.
These fuckers had the nerve to use our name to help themselves climb the ladder—while planning to assassinate my brothers and me to fill the gap we’d have left behind.
Back when I’d asked André to find the man responsible for torturing Dani, he unearthed a faction of conspirators—all working with Eduardo and his nephew.
Killing those two fuckers wasn’t enough, not when the betrayal ran so much deeper.
These men had made their choice long before Dani got her revenge.
“Wait…” A bald man scurries out of the middle pew. “I shouldn”t be here…” he pants. “I’m loyal. Always have been.”
André sighs loudly.
“I don’t agree, motherfucker,” he growls. “I shut down Project H months ago, but you thought you’d be Boris Big Balls and disobeyed my order. You kept a strand of it alive, didn’t you? You’re using Souza logistics to smuggle teens out of Colombia and sell them to high paying clients.”
The guy gulps and his face pales. “No…I—I—I…let me out of here.”
“Nope,” Dré replies. “Not gonna happen until you and everyone else gets the fucking message.”
“What’s the message?” the guy hisses, gripping the old wooden backrest as if he’s about to topple over.
“The message is simple.” I step forward. “Don’t fuck with any of us…ever.”
I sink to my haunches, sensing Dani to my left. She hitches the fabric of her long dress to help her bend and lowers too.
We’re always in sync these days.
Together, we both grab a machine gun each from under the bench and before we straighten, our gazes clash.
The silver color of her irises is cracked with threads of black and her pupils flare.
Carina had given her a bottle of Chanel perfume to use on the wedding day, and for some reason, the light scent seems stronger than before.
Feminine and sweet.
A contrast to the way my lethal woman stands brandishing a semi-automatic, ready for warfare.
I resist the urge to bury my face in her neck and inhale her scent deep into my lungs.
I fucking love this woman.
Beside me, my brothers collect their pre-stashed weapons too, all of us ready for Tomás’ order.
Rising to my full six-foot height. I wink at Dani and sling the Uzi strap over my shoulder, ready for action.
“As of today, all of your plans have gone to shit,” Tomás continues. “Your homes are currently being raided by the DEA. They will not find anything linking your criminal activity to the Souza organization. You acted under Eduardo. As a result of your criminal activities, your families will likely be moved into protective custody unless we find them first.”
Tomás points his Uzi at the gaping mouths before us.
“You guys fucked with the wrong family.”
On his last word, bullets fly from his machine gun. The rest of us start shooting too, ensuring our aim stays directed at one side of the chapel.
André targets a guy who’s heading for the doors, shooting him in the back while Giovanni skirts the stone wall, and pumps lead into a few other fuckers who were trying to hide.
Dani and I keep formation, standing shoulder to shoulder, and Tomás tightens the ranks by moving in tighter to my right side.
Together we obliterate the fuckers left frozen in the pews and we don’t stop until every single double-crossing bastard is riddled with bullets.
I’m breathing heavily when the ceasefire signal from Tomás welcomes stillness and the reporter”s voice continues to filter from the television.
On the groom’s side of the chapel, blood is splattered up the walls, traitors slumped in their seats and a few bodies are left littering the outer aisle far from our other guests.
In the middle of it all, Giovanni dumps his Uzi, pulls out a shiny blade from under his pant leg and climbs over a pew to reach a guy moaning in agony.
Some fuckers just won’t die.
When my brother slits his throat and continues to scan the bodies for more survivors, I don’t feel anything other than vindication and a buzz of power.
Mama sits safely on the bride’s side, unfazed. She wasn’t surprised by the attack—and her over cautious bodyguard had understood the brief too.
Shane had automatically pointed his handgun at the pews of slaughtered men, guarding his own family, whereas Blanco lit a fresh cigar and quietly slid his gaze from the carnage to his daughter.
I smile inwardly, toss the Uzi and reach for Dani. Taking her by the hand, I lead her down the middle aisle, both of us stepping over a corpse and stop near her father’s pew.
When Blanco’s brows rise, I lean in and kiss her cheek. She squeezes my hand and whispers, “Be nice.”
I chuckle at that and thumb her hand held in mine.
“Daniela is loyal to you, Blanco, but she will stand beside me forever. Rest assured; our families aren’t enemies anymore. But never forget this day because that…” I point at the massacre. “…is the future for anyone who crosses a Souza. And for the record, my future wife will take my family’s name, not yours. Daniela is mine.”
Blanco puffs on his cigar and glares back at me. I bet he’d love to challenge me right now. But he knows better.
Tomás appears beside us. He’s already dumped his Uzi and causally fixes his diamond cufflinks as he waits for me to finish.
“Mama,” he calls to her. “Come here.”
Our mother peels herself off the bench, draws back her shoulders, and side steps her way into the middle aisle to join us.
Her thin heels clip against the stone slabs underfoot and her putty-colored lips curl ever so slightly at the corners.
I sense André and Giovanni move into position behind us, as we face our family and friends. They were never under any threat, but the message is clear to everyone here.
“Grandfather,” Tomás proclaims, projecting his voice into the metallic scented air. “Our mother was born a Hennessey, however, she’s a Souza first and foremost. We are her only priority, and she is ours.”
Conal sighs and glares at us over Shane’s shoulder.
“We didn’t need to be here for this bullshit,” he bites out.
Tomás shrugs. “I disagree. Elias Souza was your puppet, Uncle Con. He’s dead and I run the show now. And I’m no fucking puppet.”
Our grandfather”s brows drift up and a slow smirk twitches over his thin lips.
“Congratulations, my boy. You’ve become everything I hoped you would be. A natural leader and a very powerful man. Word to the wise though, Tommy boy, you’re standing amongst the people who put you where you are today and supported you every step of the way. You’d do well to remember that.”
Tomás glances at me and nods. “Familia takes precedence.”
“Where is your bride?” Grandfather asks, unscrewing the cap of his hip flask and taking a swig of liquor. “Will we get to meet your woman?”
“She’s miles away from here,” Tomás says. “We’ve decided to have a ceremony where access is strictly limited. Believe me, you’d hate where we’re going next.”
“Fine. I’ll have to meet this woman of yours one day. Bring her to Dublin after your honeymoon.”
Grandfather’s eyes move across the faces before him and settle on Dani.
“I thought your kid was younger, Blanco?” he asks.
Blanco exhales smoke. “She was a late surprise.”
“Interesting.” My grandfather rises and stretches his back, obviously stiff from sitting. “Seems like my grandsons have made their choices.”
He waves his hand at Conal, gesturing to him to move out of the pew so he can get to us. Once he’s fixed his suit jacket and necktie, he holds out his hand to Tomás.
“We’ll be expecting your arrival in a few weeks.”
They shake hands.
“Of course. I’ll be honored to introduce you to my wife,” Tomás says. “Now, if you’ll excuse us. Our helicopter is waiting. Don’t worry though, I still have my eyes and ears in every city, in every country. No rest for the wicked, right?”
Tomás offers a tight smile and adds, “My bride deserves better than a ceremony at my father’s plantation. This is the home of nightmares, not dreams.”
He glances at the dead and then looks directly at Dani as if he’s reliving a familiar memory.
When he speaks, his eyes darken. “These men weren’t innocent. Not one bit. They wanted our blood––our empire. And we’ll do whatever it takes to protect them both.”
She nods at his comment, fully understanding why we did what we did. And why she was involved.
Dani had earned my brothers’ respect and her place by my side. Despite all that, I was the guy who had to prove myself worthy of the spot next to her. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Our mission today had been clear, and she was given a choice. Either take part or sit with Mama and watch.
Dani had listened to the countless cruel things those men had participated in and decided justice was a bullet that she’d happily dish out.
When André heads for the exit and clicks his fingers, one of our guys unlocks the doors for him.
Strobes of sunlight burst inside, settling over the dead.
Plucking a blunt from his tin and fishing out a lighter, he shouts over his shoulder, “Feed the fuckers’ bodies to the tigers! We’re out of here.”