It sounds black and white, but it’s not. It will take a lot of negotiation and hard work to achieve harmony and an aligned purpose, but I believe we can achieve it. Ben’s plan is smart. Weed out any possible bad eggs now. We can keep an eye on them much easier if they have walked away, to ensure they stick to their side of the bargain. This will leave a loyal crew open to working with their new leaders and New York and that can only be a good thing.
“You won’t get a more fair deal than that,” Franco says.
“So, what do you say?” Dom adds, standing tall and proud. “Are you with us, and do you support Don Mazzone and The Commission?”
Heads bob and hands shoot up until most men in the room appear to be in agreement.
“Those of you who want to step away are free to leave now,” Ben confirms. “Everyone else, please stay. I believe a celebration is in order.”
The tension breaks up, and men start mingling as Ben shakes hands with Franco and Dom, and the deal is done. About twenty men quietly exit the room, a number that is less than expected and more than manageable.
“I’d call this a roaring success.” Leo clamps a hand on my shoulder.
“Me too,” Ben adds, breaking away from Dom and Franco to let them receive congratulations from their men. “And I just got word from Salerno. They slaughtered the Russians, and the news is already being spread to other territories. The dons in those areas have been updated, and they will watch reactions and take the necessary action. I expect by morning the Russian threat will be neutralized.”
“How long do we have to stay here before it’s considered rude to leave?” I ask, desperate to get back to Georgia’s house to check up on Rena.
“Fuck, he’s got it bad.” Leo jokes with Ben.
“Fuck you. You are both every bit as whipped as I am.”
“Truth,” they say at the same time.
“Give it a couple hours, and then you can slip away,” Ben confirms.
The party moves upstairs to the restaurant and bar, and despite my eagerness to return to my woman, it’s good to relax and chill out over a few beers.
A ruckus at the door a while later has everyone on high alert until the crowd parts and I see who it is. I’m up off my stool and striding toward the two women before my feet have processed the motion. “What are you doing here?” I ask, banding my arms around Rena.
“We thought you could use the moral support.” She beams at me, looking stunning in an elegant fitted black dress with black and red high heels.
“You look gorgeous,” I say before brushing my lips across hers in a brief kiss. “You too, Georgia,” I add because my future mother-in-law is a beautiful woman too.
She kisses my cheek. “Thank you. I hope it’s okay we came. Ben called and told us the deal was done and we were safe. So, we thought we’d help you to celebrate.”
“We know a lot of these people,” Rena adds. “There are a lot of good, decent men in this room. I thought it was time we spoke with them and buried the hatchet.”
“From what Dom and Franco have said, I don’t think there is any hatchet to bury. You are the reason they reached out to us. You have the respect of most men in this room, Rena. I think they will be happy to see you are safe and well.”
Ben slides his arm around his mother-in-law, steering her away to speak to Dom and Franco. I stay by Rena’s side as she makes her way around the room, chatting to the men who were loyal to her husband in the past.
Leo procures a glass of champagne for Georgia and some sparkling water for Rena, and I’m so proud of her as she works the room like a pro.
Finally, I manage to grab her into a quiet corner and keep her to myself. “You’re amazing, do you know that? You’ve got to be exhausted.”
She casually shrugs. “I’m alive. Stefano is dead and the Russians are scattered to the wind. There’s a lot to celebrate. I have the rest of my life to recuperate.”
“I’m in awe of you.” The words don’t seem like enough to convey how far she has come.
She flings her arms around my neck and kisses me. “I think it says a lot that I’m genuinely happy and content right now. The old me would’ve been a basket case after the last twenty-four hours, but this feels right. Being here and talking to these men has helped me to achieve that last bit of closure I needed.” She runs her fingers through my hair, and I stifle a moan as my dick hardens behind my pants. I swear she barely has to touch me and my cock turns to steel. “Things are good, babe.” She kisses the corner of my mouth. “We truly can move forward now, and that excites me because I never let myself have hope before, and now, I’m brimming with it.”
“You know what I’m hoping for?” I nip her earlobe.
“I think I might have an inkling,” she teases, pressing her hot body against me as her eyes darken with lust.
“As soon as we finish these drinks, we’re leaving. I’m getting us a hotel room, and I’m going to make love to you and then hold you in my arms while you sleep.” I would love to stay buried in my woman all night, but she needs rest after her ordeal.
There’s a wicked glint in her eye as she presses her mouth to my ear. “That sounds wonderful, but I’m not sure I’ll last that long.” Her gorgeous eyes pierce mine, and all I see is love and longing in her gaze. Her lips move back to my ear. “I’ve never had a quickie in a bathroom, and I’m thinking that sounds perfect right about now.”
