“I’ve tried to work with you,” Medina said. “But now you’re going to get out of my way and let me use your ports to move my merchandise.”
“You’re talking about human beings,” I shouted. “What is wrong with you?” I scowled at the other men at the table. “How can you align yourself with this garbage?”
“You Accetti men are laughable.” Medina shook his head. “You’re no better than I am. I offered you a piece of the actionand you spit in my face, so now you will look the other way while I run my business through the city.”
“I’ll kill you myself.” When I jumped out of my chair, my father turned and glared at me, shutting me down before I could escalate the situation.
“I’ll take the meeting," my dad said. “I’m not making any promises, but there may be room for compromise.”
“That’s all I want.” Medina stood. “I’m confident we can arrive at a solution that benefits all of us and no one will have to pay the price.”
The representatives from the other cities stood and followed Medina toward the exit. Juan’s men stayed behind, probably waiting for further instructions from my father.
“Remember,” Medina said as Lucas opened the door. “Bello is untouchable.”
“No harm will come to him at the Accettis’ hands as long as he doesn’t come for Sable again.” My dad got up from his chair. “That’s the best I can do.”
“As long as you don’t escalate things further, I’ll have no reason to relay messages through Sable.”
I clenched my fists when Medina said her name. I may not have been able to eliminate him now, but there would come a day when I could, and I would make him suffer.
“Lucas will see you to your cars.” My father nodded at the two cartel members Juan had sent. “Leave us. I’ll speak with you when I’m finished here.”
Neither my father nor I spoke until we were alone. Once the door shut, I couldn’t hold back my fury.
“Are you kidding me? I can’t touch Bello?” I leapt out of my chair, knocking it over when I stood. “You didn’t see Sable. That piece of shit hit her in her face.”
“I’m sorry that happened to her,” he said. “But until I can figure out how to keep my son and his wife safe, I have no choice but to appear that I’m giving in to Medina’s demands.”
“Do you have any idea what it’s like to not be able to keep the woman who trusts you more than anything or anyone safe?”
“What?” His eyes narrowed as he came toward me. “Are you serious? You dare ask me that question?”
“Dad, I didn’t mean…”What the hell is wrong with me?“It’s just that I…”
“The woman I loved more than anything in this world, the mother of my children, who happened to be pregnant with another of my heirs, was blown to pieces in my fucking driveway, so yes, I do know what that’s like. I hope to God, better than you’ll ever know.”
“I’m sorry.” My frustration got the better of me.
“I’m not only protecting Marchello and Lissia, but I’m keeping you safe too, because if Medina knows that Lissia was the one who killed Collins, he knows that you cleaned it up. I will not jeopardize either of my children. Do you understand that I won’t lose one more person I love because of who I am and what I do?”
“Marchello and I chose to follow you into this life,” I said. “You have done everything you can to teach us how to manage it.”
“It’s still my job as your father to make sure you come home every night.”
“We can’t allow Medina to traffic through our territory.” We may have crossed the gray line on more than one occasion, but everyone had their limits. “Who is he to come here and make those demands?”
“He’ll be stopped.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You have to get that rage in check. That isn’t who you are. You know better than to let people see what you’re really thinking. Youcan’t show any cracks in your armor. Never give the enemy the upper-hand.”
“I’ve never had a weak spot before.”
“Women have a way of making us vulnerable.”
No one knew that better than my father, but I had to make sure Sable didn’t pay the price for the sins of my family.
EIGHT
Sable
