9. Santino
9
Santino
My knee bounces as I sit at my desk. Brows pinched between my fingers, I focus on how empty the room is when I’m completely alone.
There’s a leather couch against the wall with three cushions, plenty of space for Camellia to spread out on if she wanted to keep me company.
Half of my desk is bare thanks to her stunt of knocking plenty off, so she could sit there as well. It’s probably why I’ve yet to straighten up the room, the evidence of yesterday constantly surrounding me.
If cool leather or hardwood isn’t enough to satisfy her, I’m happy to lend her my thigh. So many options, yet none are used.
I’m in here suffering from my loneliness. How in the fuck have I survived this last decade without having her in my life?
My knee continues to bounce and the highlighter in my grip creaks beneath my grip as I look over a transcript of a phone call placed between the men at the docks and an unknown number.
I need to focus. How can I protect my own if I’m dealing with tunnel vision? The power Camellia has over me is unknown to her, but she’ll find out soon enough. I’m fucking putty in the palm of her hand. All she has to do is flutter those ocean eyes at me and I’d stop at nothing to give her what she wants.
That includes keeping my word on letting her roam freely. I won’t lock her up, even if I want to keep her far away from that damn sibling of hers.
Right now, I bet she’s trying to convince my future wife to run away with her.
If she can’t go back home, she’d try to take her anywhere else but here. If only they both understood my home is the safest place for them to be.
All of my problems would dissolve if I just went and killed Rocco Parada. He’s the reason for most of my headaches. The only thing stopping me is the fear eating at my chest. The fear that Camellia won’t forgive me for spilling the blood of one of her family members.
She looked like she wanted to cry when I tried to kick her sister out.
Capping the highlighter, I set it down and sigh into my hands. Everything has suddenly become complicated because I can’t solve things in the only way I know how.
Using my hands to solve all my problems has always been my go-to. What in the hell am I supposed to do now? My hands might as well be tied at my back until I can figure out some kind of work around.
There’s a knock at my door, and I don’t want any company. Not when I feel like I’m spiraling.
Knowing I already ordered not to be disturbed, there’s only one person I know who would happily go against my words without batting an eyelash.
“Now is not the time.” Sighing into my hands, I hear my mother enter. “What could you possibly want?”
She’s not here to find out about my plans for dealing with this attempt at infiltration. No, she’s here to push my buttons. I can already hear her words before she says them.
Luckily for her, I have a soft spot for family. Even if I don’t like their behaviors, I’m not going to dispose of my own blood to save myself a headache.
She settles comfortably on the couch, easing back and looking so smug.
“I don’t know what you’re up to.” Leaning back in my chair, my eyes narrow on her. “I do not enjoy you intervening. You’re trying to push and make things happen. I have everything under control.”
“Word is getting around, Santino. You know how much everyone loves to gossip around here.” Her mouth curves and those matching dark eyes grow a little lighter. “Is it true? Should I start planning a wedding? Will I finally have a daughter-in-law?”
I’m sure she’d love to take on a project, an excuse to keep her hands busy. Yesterday was more than enough proof to see that she plans on involving herself until she gets what she wants.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I lie as I avert my gaze. I may have declared that Camellia is mine, but that is a broad statement.
Mine to play with. Mine to fuck. Mine to use whenever I feed a hunger nothing else can sate.
In truth, she’s mine to love. Mine to need . However, those are weaknesses. I’m not the first to want to jump up and expose the best spots to inflict damage.
All my mother wants is to see one of her kids successfully submit to the same feelings she experienced with my father before he passed.
My brother, Lazaro, married his wife with hardly much of a warning. Between his desperation to give her our last name, and wanting to keep her from this side of his life, he did everything right under our noses.
My mother is still a little sore she’s yet to meet the woman who took him from us.
My sister, Valeria, slipped away from the family the moment she turned eighteen. Disappeared off the planet. Could be dead for all I know.
Then there’s Urzo. She and I both know he isn’t going ever to give up his job for a woman. He’s too serious for his own good. He’s a good asset, the same as what Lazaro once was.
“You all are made up of sharp edges, you know that?” She scoffs under her breath and huffs. “Your father knew how to keep an image for those who looked his way, but he was the sweetest when he didn’t have any attention his way. Such a softie.”
“I guess we must’ve got our personalities from you then.” Muttering the words, I couldn’t dare imagine myself as soft. Soft is a weakness.
There’s a reason she’s kept at the estate. She’s an important factor to this family. I can think of many names who wouldn’t mind killing her to hurt me. Hell, they’d chop pieces off one at a time and ship bloody parcels straight to my door to send a message once they’ve wrung her dry of information.
Now, I have another person on that list. If word is getting around, then more than just my inner family will know of Camellia. The guests of my party had seen her thrown over my shoulder, showing behaviors I normally don’t exhibit.
“I was stubborn during my youthful years; I’ll give you that.” She sighs and shakes her head. “I even denied my love at first as well, but I recognize it well enough, Santino. Marry her. Anything could happen, you know that as much as I do.”
She’s giving me her motherly advice, just like she always does. I don’t like how broad anything really is.
“They’re going to come for her one way or another. Especially now that the other woman is here. You can’t just hide them behind a closed door and pretend everything will be alright. If you bring her into the family, there isn’t much they can do.”
I’m happy to look for any excuse to tie the knot. My men will think I’m doing it to piss off Rocco. However, that’s not the issue here. “That doesn’t solve all of my problems.
“Eliza Parada.” My frown grows as I remember her right hook she landed earlier. “I can’t get rid of her. Marriage is off the table if I do.”
I would like Camellia to be a willing bride, and my mother must understand because she nods.
“I’ve heard she caused quite the commotion this morning.” Her mouth quips like she’s remembering something in the past. Soon, her shoulders square before a look of seriousness takes over. She looks like the woman who helped keep this family afloat while my father was still alive. “And the chance of her marrying one of our own?”
“Slim to none. She’ll get killed out of frustration before she can even get a ring on her finger.” My knee bounces. “Could fake her death and keep her as a prisoner. It doesn’t stop retaliation from occurring. She’s too loud to pretend to be dead, anyway.”
We sit in silence, and I roll my highlighter between my fingers.
No matter what suggestions she can send my way, I know most will end up with Camellia wanting nothing to do with me. Can’t be inhumane or cruel. Can’t be me.
“Something needs to happen. While I know our family is strong, I don’t want to see any fighting brought directly to our home. You understand, don’t you?”
I nod. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll get it figured out.”
I’ll have to kill Rocco. I had already made my decision, but this truly solidifies my plan. He’s been an issue I should’ve dealt with when he started trying to expand his area by merging into mine. If I can’t be the one to pull the trigger, then I need to find someone else. Or, better yet, I need an excuse that will allow me to be the one.
I really want to be the one to take his life.
“I hope you do. I like this woman.” Moving to stand, she sighs as her body cracks and hints at her old age. “The sweet and innocent type is not what I thought you’d go for. Nonetheless, I approve. Try not to scare her off, please. I’d like to have at least one grandchild before I wither to dust.”
Rolling my eyes at her dramatics, I flick my wrist, silently telling her to leave.
I don’t need any more distractions. What I need is to find someone who can track down the location of Rocco.
Something tells me his sisters won’t give me the information I need. Therefore, I’m going to have to track him down myself.
In the meantime, I’m going to have to figure out how not to lose my little bird while taking care of this problem.