“You want to demonize someone for this? Demonize my mother. Demonize Emily. They knew, and they orchestrated Aron’s wedding to his half-sister without his knowledge or his consent.”
Low murmurs erupt again, though quieter than before. The Syndicate still fears and respects me more than Aron, which is something we’ll have to work on. We can be equals in name and position, but if they don’t respect him as much as me, then there could be trouble ahead.
I wait for the talking to die down, then glance at Aron out of the corner of my eye. He gives an almost imperceptible nod, indicating he’s ready to take back over.
“When I left the Empire, I shot Lucinda.” Gasps from the crowd. “Not a killing shot, as I was more concerned with returning Don Matteo to the Syndicate alive than I was withtaking out his middle-aged mother, but she’ll be licking her wounds for a while. For her crimes, we place a price of fifty million dollars on her head.
“As for Emily … her fate is uncertain at this point, as is the fate of my daughter. If Emily survived …” he surveys the room, his eyes resting longer on our veteran enforcers, “… she won’t for long. Don Matteo and I hereby place a price of one hundred million dollars on the head of Emily Martinez. Our perverted sister cannot be allowed to live.”
In the stunned silence following his speech, a single hand rises in the back of the auditorium.
Cinder.
She played my loyal girlfriend for weeks following the death of my father, hiding my relationship with Aron from the rest of the Syndicate. She’s as deadly as any of the men here, but she voiced concerns when I nearly had the Empire slaughtered to the last man—and child.
“Yes, Cinder?”
“Don Aron, if I may ask, what are your plans for Maria once Emily is dead? Will you still raise her now that you know her mother’s origins?”
I suppose that’s about as delicate a way to phrase the question as we can expect. I’m glad Cinder posed it to Aron directly; it’ll give his standing as don more credibility. Unfortunately, it also means I can’t answer for him. This one is all on Aron.
“I don’t want her harmed,” he says cautiously, “though I’m not sure I can raise her myself, no. Did you have a suggestion, Cinder?”
She stands and brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. “I would like to offer to take her in. I know more than most what it’s like for a woman in this life, and I can protect her—provided,that is, you would be gracious enough to allow me to keep my guard, Gia.”
Ah, so there’s an ulterior motive here. Gia is Cinder’s guard, yes, but the two women are also lovers.
Aron reveals nothing of his thoughts in his expression, keeping it even and neutral. Will he give the women what they want?
“I think that all can be arranged, Cinder, but on one condition.”
“What’s that, Don Aron?”
“You and Gia will have to leave the Syndicate.”
My shock is mirrored in the faces of the assembled crowd and in Cinder’s face as well. I had expected him to order them never to tell Maria that her parents are half-siblings, maybe to keep his identity as the father a secret, but this?
“You’ll have a stipend, of course,” he continues, “and Maria’s financial needs will be taken care of, but I want her as far away from the Royal Syndicate as possible.”
“I-is that all, Don Aron?”
He nods. “Yes. You and Gia know what it’s like for women in this life, but Maria should never have to learn that.”
Cinder gives Aron a solemn nod as she sits back down.
I watch as Aron clasps his hands behind his back and starts pacing. Our gathered associates follow his every move, all eyes on the new don.
“One more thing before we adjourn,” he says.
What else could he have to discuss? We’ve been over everything we wanted to address in today’s meeting.
“If anyone here feels that Don Matteo and I are not fit to run the Syndicate together, you have one chance, right now, to leave. No questions asked.”
What?
“However, know this: With the exception of Cinder and Gia, who are exempt on my order, if you choose to leave the Royal Syndicate, there is no return. No do-overs, no second chances. Once you’re out, you’re considered an enemy, no matter what your current standing in the organization. You’ll be treated as a member of the Empire, as a traitor. No favors will be granted, and old favors will be null and void.” He stops and scans the crowd. “Well? The door’s right over there.”
Not one person stands up.
