“I don’t know what you would do, Rico.”
Candor has always been a default for me. Now is no different. “I have no intentions on hurting her, Carina. Seamus needsto choose what is more important. Revenge for his son or the return of his daughter.”
She gives me a look as if I am too smart for what I had just said. “This means war and we all know it.”
“War is always expected. You know this, Carina.”
“I do. And I know most Made Men don’t care about the safety of their daughters, only that their pride and ego has been wounded.”
Although her opinion is governed by emotions and self experience, she isn’t wrong. The majority of Made Men see women as candy on their arms. Trophies to be admired and complimented but to never hold substance. And daughters are mostly used as pieces to gain political power or form alliances with famiglias. Their life is never their own. It’s chosen for them before they are even born.
And while Constantine has shaken that misogynistic way of thinking with Carina ruling by his side, that doesn’t mean every other Made Man has fallen in his footsteps.
“Seamus loves his daughter,” I remind her.
“This may be true,” she agrees. “But at the end of the day he’s just another Made Man. He’ll want war for not taking his daughter but because he was made a fool for how easy it was to snatch her.”
“You have little faith in men.”
Her lip curls with distaste. “Men are disappointing creatures.”
“And yet you don’t hold any of us in that regard.”
“I found a home here, Rico. I found a family. A real family. None of you treat me like dirt beneath your shoes. I’m not berated or abused. I’m not a pawn. I’m seen as an equal. Respected. Revered. I have a husband who would burn the world for me if I told him to. So no, I don’t hold any of you in that regard.”
If I could understand her sentiment I believe I would be touched by her declaration. But sentiments are long lost to me.
Seeing this she says bemused, “You don’t know how to respond to that do you?”
“No.”
“I figured as much,” she laughs lightly. “Just remember what I said, Capisce?”
I nod my head. Her word is as much law as Constantine’s. “Capisce. Donna Carina?” She inclines her head, her pointer finger painted crimson tapping on her forearm. “Don Constantine wishes to see you in the office.”
She raises a cool brow but a smirk plays on her lips. “Did he say what for?”
I shake my head. “If I did I would’ve told you.”
With a roll of her eyes she then saunters towards the office. With her back to me she says over her shoulder, “I guess I have to teach him another lesson about giving me orders.”
A lesson Constantine is all too thrilled for, I’m sure.
Knowing what business is about to be done in the office I finally set for home.
It’s time to create a foolproof plan for kidnapping the Irish Mob princess.
CHAPTER 4
Imogen
Tonight’s the night.
If I think about it anymore then I’ll only back out of what is a perfect plan for my sweet escape.
Tonight I’m leaving and I’m not going to look back.
I’ll leave with nothing more but with the clothes on my back and cash to spend. Nothing can be traceable. One little mistake and pa will come rushing after me worse than a raging bull and lock me in my room until I make it up on that altar and say I do.
