Chapter 14 Stellan
STELLAN
Matteo slurps his coffee with ugly, pinched lips.
He looks like a fucking fish when he does that.
I have to struggle to keep the revulsion from my expression as he digs at his eggs with his fork.
“I hear the lots have been busy,” he comments as a waitress walks past balancing a dozen plates on her big tray.
It’s right in the middle of the breakfast rush and the place is mobbed.
“The council’s been pleased with the income. ”
“I’ve been pushing for development nearby. There’s a new movie theater and a few restaurants. They’re bringing in extra traffic.”
“See, that’s exactly what we need from a new Don.” Matteo sighs, shaking his head. “But the council’s too damn stubborn to get it.”
“The council doesn’t matter,” I say, which is borderline seditious, but Matteo just waves me away.
“You’re reckless, you know that? You’d better hope I’m not reporting every word you say back to them.”
I give him a flat look and he hunches down over his food again.
“What do you know about a man named Isak Vural?” I ask, changing the subject.
Matteo’s brow furrows. “The Turk? He runs a solid outfit up north. He does business with some families around here but nothing unusual. Why, what’d he do?”
I tell him about Hector and Yusuf. When I’m done, Matteo leans back with a stunned expression.
“That makes no fucking sense,” he says softly, shaking his head.
“This isn’t some soft turf war. The Vurals smell weakness.”
“But we’re better capitalized. We have more foot soldiers. They’re not even based in the city. What the fuck are they thinking?”
“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. Vural’s coming whether we like it or not. I need you to inform the council. I plan on doubling our security detail and spreading the word to our men. I don’t want any more bodies.”
“Fine. That’s fine. Sensible.”
“It’s bad timing. I’m technically not the Don. I need the council’s backing if I’m going to start making these decisions, but there’ll be a time when I can’t wait for their response.”
“This won’t make them move any faster, you know that. They’re a bunch of stubborn old fucks.” He waves his fork in the air, glaring around him like the council’s somehow listening. “Maybe Vural’s smarter than we realized.”
“Either way, I need capital, guns, and manpower. Make the council understand.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“And Matteo, in three weeks I plan on moving the Black Book.”
His eyebrows shoot up. He leans forward, voice going soft. “What do you mean, move it?”
We don’t talk about the Black Book. Not normally, at least. It’s always there in the background, its existence the beating heart of Corsetti power in this city, but it’s rarely mentioned.
To talk about the Black Book is to weaken its strength.
The Black Book thrives on secrets. Its legend grows in the shadows.
“Somewhere more secure. I’ll inform the council once it’s done.”
He seems uncomfortable. “They won’t like that. I mean, I know its location is entrusted to your father—”
“But my father’s dead, which means it’s entrusted to me now, whether I’m the Don or not. With Vural making moves, I want to put the Black Book somewhere it can’t be touched.”
“Like it’s actually vulnerable right now?”
“You better hope not, but in three weeks, I’ll be sure.
He lets out an uncomfortable laugh. “The council’s going to be pissed.”
“Good. And another thing.” I level a hard stare. “I’m getting married to Kira Santoro.”
Matteo actually chokes on his hash browns. He coughs and has to swallow coffee before he finally stares at me in pure shock. “Santoro? Are you serious? You don’t mean that Santoro?”
“That’s right. Kira is Bryan Santoro’s daughter.”
“Fucking hell.” Matteo shakes his head. “Absolutely not. There’s no way.”
“It’s already decided.”
“The council’s going to go insane. Bryan Santoro’s fucking daughter?! What are you thinking?”
“Bryan was good to me.”
“That doesn’t change a damn thing. He was a fucking traitor.”
“But his daughter’s not. She’s a good Italian girl who had a tough life growing up. She doesn’t even know what her father was.”
“Come on, Stellan. You’re going for legitimacy. Why the fuck would you marry the daughter of a traitor?”
I grind my jaw and look away. The cooks are busy in the back as the waitresses move around the front of the house.
I don’t want to think about Bryan. His betrayal nearly broke my father, and it took me years to get over what he did.
That man practically raised me. He taught me everything I know.
He took care of me in a way my actual father never did.
And then he broke my fucking heart.
“She’s got no clue what happened back then,” I say through clenched teeth. “Kira’s going to be my wife. The council will accept it. Spin it as an act of mercy.”
“Nobody gives a fuck about mercy. Not for traitors. She should be dead after what he did.”
I reach out fast as lightning and grab Matteo’s wrist with my right hand and snatch his ring finger with my left. He grunts in shock as I wrench the finger back, twisting it hard.
He yelps in pain but catches himself before he can make a scene.
“Talk about her like that again and I will kill you.” I wrench harder until I feel a satisfying pop as the finger dislocates. “Understand?”
“Yes, Stellan,” he moans, sweating profusely from the effort it takes to keep himself from screaming in pain.
I release him. Matteo cradles his hand against his chest, gasping for air.
“Do your job. Tell the council everything we talked about today. If they have a problem with my wife, feel free to send them over to have a conversation with me directly. Otherwise, I will be shown respect and fealty and proclaimed the Don the day after my wedding is official. If they try to stop me—” I slide out from the booth and stand.
“I’ll leave a trail of corpses until there’s nothing left in my way. ”
Matteo stares at me, pale and waxy. All he can do is nod before I walk away.
The place smells like dog. Which shouldn’t be a surprise, since it’s a grooming shop. But still, it’s almost comical.
I find Kira set up in a booth in the corner of the main washing room. I get some stares but nobody stops me as I walk over to her. They probably think I’m the owner of the little white fluffy rat she’s cleaning. How anyone thinks that thing is a dog remains beyond me.
I lean against the wall and watch her blow-dry the little yappy animal. It squirms and twists, but she’s surprisingly gentle and patient. Even when the little shit tries to nip at her fingers. I’d probably throw the bastard off a cliff if it did that to me. But I’m not a nice guy.
She notices me once the dryer’s turned off. Her eyes go wide in surprise, and she looks around hurriedly, as if she’s afraid I might have been noticed. I step into her booth, arms crossed, trying not to let her see how amused I find all this.
“You’re covered in hair,” I tell her.
She looks down at herself, her face turning red. “I wash dogs. It’s kind of hard to keep the hair off me. What are you doing here?”
“Just checking you out. I’ve never seen you at this job before.”
“I’m shocked you haven’t stalked me here before now.”
I don’t mention that I have; I’ve just never come inside. “Where’s the ring?”
She grimaces and looks away. “I told you. It’s too expensive.”
“And I told you, I want you to wear it.”
“I will, okay?” She tugs a thin gold chain out from the inside of her shirt. The ring dangles at the end. “It’s right here in case you were wondering.”
“Keeping it next to your heart?”
“More like keeping it close in case I need to pawn it for quick cash.”
I can’t help but grin. This girl has a mouth on her. She’s got a sharp wit, and I have a feeling she’s going to get herself in trouble one of these days. But for now, I like it.
“Now that you’re mine, there are going to be changes. You’ll move into my house. You won’t have to work here anymore. No more dog hair. We can buy you all new clothes—”
“Slow down,” she says, holding up both her hands. “Move in with you? Buy me new clothes? This is going pretty fast.”
“What did you expect? Separate bedrooms?”
“For a start.”
“That’s not the marriage I want.”
“We don’t have a real marriage,” she mutters, glaring at me. “Look, I told you, I need to talk to Gem before we do anything.”
“It’s an easy conversation. I can come over and help if you’d like.”
“No!” Her eyes go wide. “God, no, please don’t do that.”
“Then tell her soon.”
“Give me a few days.” The panic in her voice makes me soften slightly. I want to move forward, especially now that the council’s going to hear about her, but I understand that things aren’t so simple.
“You have until Monday. Then my people will come to bring your things to my house.”
“Your people? No, never mind, it doesn’t matter. That’s too soon. It’s only Thursday.”
“Monday,” I repeat, pushing off the wall. “And don’t worry. I have plenty of space for both of you. Gem can have her own floor.”
“Her own… floor?” Kira’s eyebrows raise. “What about me?”
“You and I will be sharing the master suite.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
I shrug and turn away. “You’ll get used to it. You’ll also have to meet my family, which won’t be easy, but you’ll survive.”
“Family? You mean, like your siblings?”
“I’m an only child. I mean the people in my organization.” I give her a hard look.
She rubs a hand across her face. “Right, your criminal friends, got it.”
“This is your life now. You should probably learn to refrain from calling your husband a criminal.”
“That’s a fair point.”
“I look forward to waking up in the same bed with you Tuesday morning.” I move toward the door but hesitate. “You look good, by the way.”
She laughs nervously. “Covered in dog hair?”
“Exactly.”
I leave her there. As I wind my way back through the grooming place and out into the afternoon, I can almost feel the roots I’ve planted begin to take root in the city.
My plans are slithering through the concrete, and soon they’ll bear fruit.
I just have to be patient. Only when it comes to Kira, it’s difficult to wait.
I want all of her, and I want it all now.
Monday will have to do.