Chapter 23 #2
Her hard slap across his face echoed in the room.
“How fucking dare you. Spawning me wasn’t enough.
You arranged for my mother to be under your control, hiring the man I know as my father to marry her.
Then you called him into service when you couldn’t force your hand with Alexander’s father, trying Baptiste in a court of law.
Only you failed.” Her laugh was bitter and her frankness hit him harder than the crack of her hand.
“I had my reasons for doing so including the protection of my family.”
“Against what?” she demanded. “Another monstrous organization who wanted in on your narcotics territory? You wanted supreme control so badly, you were willing to sell off your own daughter. You disgust me.”
“Does she not understand what the Bratva is capable of?” Russo asked me, finally studying me with concern in his eyes.
“She knows enough, although she should never have been forced into this world.”
“The alliance was a win for both families. Don’t you see that? Ivan Barishnikoff will stop at nothing to destroy this city. This is our home.”
Was the man actually trying to prey on my love of New Orleans? The worthless bastard. I took a deep breath before turning my full attention to my bride to be. “How would you like to handle this, my angel?”
She folded her arms. “I think you should explain how things are going to go and who will be in charge if this… unholy alliance is allowed.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” I crouched down so I was more at Russo’s level, enjoying the fact he was unnerved by my presence.
“The Barishnikoffs were never really on our radar. They knew better than to attempt to roll into our territory as we had the skills and manpower to crush them like bugs. However, they were certainly more interested in making the attempt when you agreed to provide them with additional manpower. And by promising your long-lost daughter to the Pakhan’s son. ”
I hadn’t been able to confirm what I’d just tossed out.
Now I didn’t need to.
He’d done so with his eyes.
“Fucking bastard.” Her hiss was well deserved.
“I want you to know I always looked out for you. I made certain you had everything you needed when I could. But your father was a proud man. He wanted nothing to do with me.”
“Or your money,” I offered. “But you managed to find a way to blackmail him into doing your bidding.”
“I cared!” Vitelli snapped, his chest immediately heaving from the exertion.
“Are you trying to tell me you loved me? Bullshit. There’s no love in a man who rapes a woman.
None. You’re nothing to me, Vitelli. You’re not my father.
Just a horrible man who did an even worse thing.
But that’s fine. I’ll spend the rest of my life ensuring that men like you are sent to prison for the rest of your miserable lives. ”
“I did what I—”
“Bullshit,” I snapped. “You can stop right there, Russo. There’s nothing you can say to make the situation better. You played one family against another in a dangerous game of chess. But you lost. And so did my father. But the game’s not over.”
“What are you going to do, kill me?”
“What do you think, Sinclair? Should I kill him or set him free from his obligations as an Italian Don.”
Sinclair huffed, taking his time to answer. “I say turn the other cheek while taking everything he owns.”
“Good idea. I’m going to honor the contract you and my father signed, Vitelli, but there will be some changes made that you will agree to.
I will take charge of your holdings and your business.
There won’t be a single decision made without my approval.
And when you die, everything you own will become mine.
While I’ll allow you to keep your title and a prominent role within your company while alive, you will report to me. There will be no negotiations.”
“My sons.”
“If you do what I say without pushback, I’ll take care of your sons.” For the time being.
“You don’t know Ivan Barishnikoff like I do. He will come for my daughter. There is nothing you can do about it.”
I slowly stood, peering down at him, reminding myself he was an old man with no conscience.
Just like I’d been on the way to becoming before meeting Catherine.
Before an alliance had been sealed in blood and death.
“Then he’ll need to go through me, Vitelli. Because soon, as required by my contract, your daughter will become my wife.”
“One last stop,” I told my lovely bride as I pulled into the parking of the Ritz Carlton.
“Dare I ask what you’re planning?” She gave me what I knew would be her signature warning look, a reminder to be on my best behavior.
As if that was possible.
“Nothing dramatic, my angel. Simply a verbal wedding invitation.”
“Shouldn’t the bride be with you?”
“I’d say you should relax since the rest of the day you’re going to be plugged in and stressful. As long as you do what you’re supposed to do.”
“Are you doubting my acting abilities?”
“Not in the least.”
Her smile was wistful. Cunning. “It’s funny. I don’t call ruining a man’s career stressful. I call it invigorating.”
Shifting, I pinched her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Be careful, sweet Catherine, or one day you’ll look into the mirror and your reflection will have a haze of darkness you won’t be able to ignore.”
“That haze will have your name all over it.” The rebellious tone of her voice threatened to derail both our plans.
“My defiant fiancée. Does that mean you believe you’re exactly like the man you’re about to marry?”
“You mean the man who abducted me, forcing me into taking illicit vows?”
“Something like that.” I brushed my thumb across her face, forever marveling in her beauty. But the woman certainly could hold her own. “I want you to know how sorry I am that you were forced to discover your true identity the way you did.”
She tried to pull away, but I refused to allow her.
“Are you really, Alexander? Is there any way you could possibly understand how I feel? You talked all about betrayal, yet you know who your family is. You know you can trust them. I don’t know if I can trust my mother any longer.
I certainly can’t trust the man who raised me. ”
“Your mother was a victim, my angel. That’s the way of this world.”
“A world I want nothing to do with. You have an uncle forcing you to marry me or you’ll lose all your wealth and power.
So you’re doing the right thing for your family.
You haven’t realized something important or maybe you have and just don’t care.
If we have children, which I’m certain you’ll want to carry on your legacy, this ridiculous life-altering contract signed in blood decades before will still apply.
Our firstborn son will be required to get married whether he wants to or not.
And I’m certain you will require I have children. ”
“Require? No. Hope? Yes. And you’re an attorney, Ms. Devereaux. I’m hoping by then you’ll determine a way to break this contract.” That is if I hadn’t killed my uncle long before.
He would soon learn he’d never be in power over me or the booming business my father had built.
She eyed me as warily as she had on the first day we’d met, but I could see the spark burning brightly within her. “I’m certain I can figure something out. As long as you know I might need to be very creative.”
“I would imagine nothing different. I’ll be right back. Oh, and in case you have any thoughts of escaping, don’t. My men will be watching.”
“Under the guise of protection?”
I wasn’t going to belabor the point as soon as Ivan Barishnikoff got wind of our upcoming nuptials, her life would be placed in extreme danger.
Her leash would need to be yanked after today.
“Something like that. Plus, you understand the consequences of disobeying me.”
She yawned on purpose and my fingers were itching to drag her across my lap right here in the middle of the bright sun. “You seem to forget that maybe I don’t mind challenging you.”
Fuck. I couldn’t get enough of the woman.
I didn’t waste any time exiting my vehicle, Jarvis falling in step. “How did Russo handle the terms of the new contract?”
My laugh was genuine for a change. “Like a champ. Of course he knows better than to try and defy me.”
“How are we going to implement the necessary changes with his company?”
“I don’t know yet. And do you want to know what’s interesting? I don’t give a shit about his company or the profits. None of it.”
We popped into the building, heading for the elevators and as strange as it seemed, I was lighthearted. When in the hell was the last time I’d managed to say that? Shit. I couldn’t remember when.
“Then what do you care about?”
I slapped my hand on the up button before answering. “The beautiful woman who entered my life. Making her happy. Making her smile. Huh. All new territory for me.” As I stepped into the elevator, I realized just how true that was.
“I’m curious,” Jarvis said as he pressed the button to the floor. “Have you told her that?”
“Told her what?”
“That the sun rises and sets on her and that she managed to cut through your usual bullshit?”
I turned my head slowly, lifting an eyebrow. “Be careful what you say to me.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Or you’ll beat my ass. It’s worth the risk. In one week that woman changed you. Correction, she reminded you that even your twin brother would want you to enjoy your life instead if thinking of the dead all the time.” He shuddered on purpose.
He had a point. “I’ll tell her.”
“Yeah, when you deem it so. By then, you might have lost her heart. Try and remember women are much more patient than men, but when their patience runs out, they shut down and you’ll never get them back.”
“Where did you learn that tidbit of information?”
We stepped from the elevator, heading down the hallway.
“That nurse I mentioned? She was the one. Yet I kept her on a string as if waiting for something better to come along.”
“Isn’t this where I’m supposed to tell you that it’s never too late?”
I stopped in front of the hotel room door, ignoring the rising tension and anger.
“Too late. She was married two months ago.”
With a snort, I knocked on the door.
“Alex. What are you doing here?” Uncle Armand eyed me carefully, his brow furrowed, barely glancing at Jarvis but noting his presence. He knew this wasn’t a social visit.
“Don’t look so nervous, Uncle. This is a celebratory visit.”
“I don’t understand.”
Good. I’d made him very nervous as he should be. “I just came to invite you to my wedding.”
Seeing him stunned was surprisingly entertaining. “I’m sorry. You’re getting married?”
“Why, yes. That is what you wanted. Right? Or were you more interested in obtaining power in a little over two and a half months when the terms of the contract were enforced? You know the one I’m talking about.
If that’s the case, I imagine you’re sorely disappointed.
” I crowded his space. Standing three inches taller than the man, I used that to my advantage.
“The business arrangement wasn’t forced on your father. He agreed.”
“Well, he’s not here to confirm that. Is he?” I crowded his space even more. “Surprised?”
“Truthfully, yes. Perhaps I underestimated you.”
“I’m certain you did. You know, it’s funny and I could be wrong, but I honestly think you had something to do with your own brother’s murder.”
“How dare you.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve heard that in the last week?
” I laughed. “Now, here’s the thing. You know me and what I’m capable of.
You also know if I have a single weakness, it’s that I care about my family.
Maybe too much. Enough I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep them protected.
That will include my wife. And if I find out you had anything to do with my father’s death, I promise you that you will learn the true meaning of the word revenge. ”
I patted his chest, my angel’s reminder to try to be nicer sticking in the forefront of my mind.
Turning away, I took a few steps then stopped, tipping my head so I could look him in the eyes one last time.
“Oh, and have a nice day. The wedding is on Saturday at the church where my parents were married. You do remember the location since you were his best man. Yes?”
Why bother waiting for an answer?
I’d laid the groundwork for a ceasefire, or in my world a clear and present invitation to end the war neither my father nor I had wanted anything to do with.
While I might never discover the truth about whether he’d betrayed the family with the Russians, I’d laid down a gauntlet and one he knew better than to cross.
If he didn’t, he would face the hand of black magic.
My way.