Mario releases an evil villain cackle that sounds like a braying donkey. “Tori, I assure you, that’s your father, and Mickey probably would join in if I had been lucky enough to capture him as well, but that asshole had to step out for a cigarette at the wrong time, and he’s dead now. As for those two, I can assure you they are exactly who I say they are. The explosion you saw was contained to the outside of the vehicle by my order, and apart from a little smoke inhalation and some bumps and bruises, your father and Carla made it out without any harm.”
I shake my head as Colton lowers the phone, and I see a small amount of sympathy in his eyes. “It’s true,” he tells me. “The bomb looked spectacular, but it really didn’t do much damage, and some sedatives in the bottles in the minibar took care of the rest.”
“But we saw the wreckage,” Ben argues.
“Gio identified the bodies,” Sam adds, and Tristan scoffs.
“Two crisp bodies with no recognizable traits. He didn’t identify shit, and the coroner was paid well.”
“No, it isn’t true,” I deny, still unable to wrap my head around what they are telling us.
“The firefighters were on my payroll. What you saw was an elaborate plan to pull the wool over your eyes. When they put out the fire and removed the bodies from the vehicle, Carla and Stefano were slumbering peacefully inside those body bags, and we switched them out on the way to the morgue. Your fatherand pseudo aunt have been living comfortably and completely contained since then.”
I look at the now blank phone in Colton’s hand. “No.” The word comes out on a half sob. “No, it isn’t true,” I deny again, standing up, the Glock in my hand clattering to the table.
Mario’s smile is cunning and wide. “Yes, and if you don’t go to the courthouse and marry Xavier, I will make sure they pay for it. My enforcer is not as creative as you are, but he does have talents in making people suffer.” He nods at Tristan, who glares at me in promise.
“I left them alone up until now, since they were a contingency. After all, I had Lorenzo and Penelope working on the inside, but that asshole got himself killed, and she’s been a useless twat. Not even fucking her has brought me pleasure. You shouldn’t have killed Casey and her baby though. They were my key to success, and now you need to take their place. I want you married and knocked up by the end of the month, or I will kill both of them slowly and painfully. If I find out you are plotting against me, Tristan will start cutting off body parts and gifting them to you.” Mario chuckles.
Suzy is sobbing quietly in Ben’s arms, and when I look at them, their expressions of defeat have my stomach rolling. They know we are cornered. All our planning went up in smoke just like that. I drop my head and close my eyes, trying to gather my wits, everything I just discovered a whirlwind inside my brain. Deep within the chaos, though, a fire smolders with hope. My dad is alive, and there is a small light at the end of this tunnel, but I must bide my time. Although they may have won this battle, I plan on being victorious in the war. Clenching my fists and taking a deep breath, I open my eyes and lift my head before nodding.
“It’s a deal. I’ll marry Xavier, but I will not have a ba—” I don’t even finish getting the words out before Mario shakes his head.
“Uh-uh, that is not the offer. You will be knocked up by the end of the month. I don’t care which one of my sons fuck you. Hell, fuck them all, but I want you carrying a male Maricuso baby who will merge our families into the greatest force the West Coast has ever seen, with me leading them in his stead until he is of age.”
I grimace but keep quiet about the fact that I have an IUD and thank whoever is listening that I went and had one implanted after I started having sex with Sage.
“What if it isn’t male?” Suzy asks, and I flinch, remembering the little girl Penelope had me watch. It takes everything I have to control my expression. Vienna must be Addison’s mother, and one of these guys is her father. How could they let this monster be responsible for her upbringing?
“A female child will be useful in keeping Tori in line and a future bartering tool, and she will be raised with the other useless one I already have.” He scowls at Vienna, who narrows her eyes and glares at him. I start to get an inkling of an idea. Maybe I am not the only one being controlled by leverage. What if the reason they are doing this is to keep her safe? Suddenly, my anger for them isn’t so fierce. I’m about to prove I would do anything to protect my loved ones, so why wouldn’t they? Instead of betraying me, though, why wouldn’t they ask for help? Not that it changes anything. It just helps me think a little clearer and make more rational decisions now that my anger has cooled somewhat. I almost heave a sigh of relief at the return of the more calm and calculated side of my being, one not ruled by hurt or disappointment.
“And she will continue to get pregnant until I have what I want.” I hear the threat in his voice, but he underestimates me ifhe thinks any of his sons are going to get anywhere near me with any part of their bodies. I might have calmed down slightly, but I still won’t be letting them back into my heart or body.
All three of them are watching me with narrowed eyes, and it doesn’t look like they are as stupid as their adoptive father. They know they would be missing their most favorite body part if they even thought of pointing it in my direction.
“Remember we have your father, Tori, so it would be best if you comply,” Xavier warns, and I grit my teeth and nod my head for now.
Mario claps his hands in a satisfied way and grabs another crystal glass before pouring himself a generous helping of liquor.
“Starting tomorrow, my children will take over the reins of the Russo empire. You will make an organization wide announcement about your marriage and tell your people they now answer to them, explaining you plan on helping them with the transition before retiring to concentrate on producing the next generation. Xavier will be overseeing the hotels and casinos, Tristan will be managing the whores and strip clubs, and Colton will be taking care of the drug supply and distribution, seeing as we are down two chemists.” He glares at me, and I can’t help feeling a little pleased that I put a kink in his operation.
“Do we still have that heroin and fentanyl delivery coming in this week?” Colton asks blandly, and my ears perk up.
“What? No, the Russos don’t deal in dirty drugs,” I argue, and Mario holds up his hand to silence me.
“Shut your mouth, girl. You no longer get a say. We have a deal with the cartel, and since your uncle fucked up the last one, this has to go perfectly, otherwise we will have a bounty on our heads.” He turns his attention back to Colton. “Yes, we can use those tunnels Lorenzo helpfully told us about. Have it taken tothose spare rooms under the Kitty Cat Club. I’ll organize to have some of our team cut it and pack it there.”
Colton frowns. “They aren’t damp, are they? That makes cutting the drugs harder.”
Tristan shakes his head. “No, Xavier and I checked them out after Lorenzo told us about them. They are a bit dirty and grungy from lack of use, but nothing a cleaning crew wouldn’t put to rights within a few hours.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “You’ve been down there?” I ask, and Tristan shrugs, not even looking at me.
“You’d be surprised where we’ve been and what we’ve done. Casey kept your brother pretty occupied most of the time.”
I clench my fists but keep quiet. There is no point in getting any angrier at my brother. He paid for his betrayal.
Sam scoffs and shakes his head. “Like anyone is going to believe that Tori is giving up the business to become a mom.”
