Page 26 of Blood & Heartache

My gaze snapped to him, and I sat up a little straighter. “What I think is that my lieutenants are working on that task, leaving me free to ensure that the Caprioni Family runs as it should. It seems to me that people aren’t clear on the status of things regarding my place in this organization. Namely, that I’m the motherfucking Boss, and I’ll not allow you to speak to me in such a manner here in this office. You might be family, but I know you’d never dare speak to my father like that when conducting business.”

That had both men sitting across from me snap to attention. I’d never taken that kind of tone with them, but I needed them to play by the same rules they did with their brother in charge. There was time for honest discussion as family, and then there was their place as advisors to the boss of the Caprioni Family. When the boss made a choice, everyone listened, and that wasn’t happening right now, but I damn well intended for that to change.

“As I was saying, the issue we need to deal with now is that of an heir and filling the position of underboss. Liu informed me tradition is to allow a year for the new boss to settle in, get married, and work toward producing an heir. Seeing as I’m the first female to lead the family, do we think the same rules apply to me?” I asked, smoothing my hands over my pants, trying to keep my irritation in check.

“Why would it make a difference if you’re female or male?” Athos inquired.

“Because if I get married, are they going to assume my husband takes over the role of boss?” I countered. A flash of understanding dawned on them at this thought. “Yes, quite the archaic way of thinking, don’t you agree? I thought we’d left that in the seventeen hundreds when women couldn’t inherit, own land, or vote, but the mafia loves its traditions.”

“So simply have the man be the puppet, put him in charge, and run things from behind the scenes. Then you don’t have to worry about a thing,” Athos suggested.

“I’m sorry, what?” I blurted. “Have you lost your fucking mind? I know it’s been a few years since we’ve been around each other, but how the hell would you ever believe I’d agree to something like that?”

Athos just grinned. “Yeah, I didn’t think you’d be that big of a fan but had to ask if only to see you get all worked up. Wouldn’t want you to lose that sharp tongue of yours getting out of practice.”

“Asshole,” I muttered, then turned to Liu. “Were you able to come up with any information?”

“Nothing concrete.” He sighed. “There is no information when it comes to women in power at all. That being said, I think you should set the rules yourself if there is nothing for us to go off of, and they can’t hold you to the rules in place since they specifically say male heir. Your father already broke the accepted norm, so why stop now?”

I smiled so big that my cheeks hurt. “Liu, that’s one of the most brilliant things you could have said. Fuck the rules. Why the hell was I trying to play by them in the first place? All my life I’ve been raised with the knowledge I’d be taking over for Daddy once he stepped down. Nothing has changed, and I know he’d never have forced me to marry or have children just to secure my place.”

Taking a breath of relief, I sent up a thank you to Daddy for paving the way for me to be who I was. He’d known all along I’d never follow some damn rules that boxed me into a life I wasn’t sure I wanted. No, I was the boss, and we were going to play by my rules, and whoever didn’t like it, well, I had a blade with their name on it.

My mind had been distracted with the loss of my father, but it was time to lock up those emotions until it was safe to process them. Right now, I needed my head in the game, or I wasn’t going to keep it on my shoulders for much longer. The organization I was now in charge of was going to test me to see how far I’d let them push the boundaries until they got in trouble. Too bad for them I wasn’t feeling particularly gracious about giving second chances right now.

“Liu, make the Family meeting for tomorrow. I don’t want to give people time to come up with some cunning plan to sabotage it. When Ryker and Jace wake up, I’ll get them started on placing people they trust around the house and property when the meeting takes place. It will be held here, and I expect everyone to show up. If they don’t, I’ll consider them a traitor to the Caprioni Family who will be hunted down and killed,” I instructed.

Liu opened his tablet and took notes on everything I’d said. “Do you wish for me to send the invitation to those outside the family who share their allegiance to the Caprioni Family? Such as the mayor, police, senators, etcetera,” Liu inquired.

“I want anyone and everyone who needs to acknowledge that I’m the person running the show,” I stated. “The time for mourning is over, business must continue, and I have some competition to destroy by plucking each and every limb of the cockroach who dared to target my family.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get on this right away, Lady Astin,” Liu said as he got to his feet, nodded to my uncles, and left.

“Didn’t think I’d be so wrong about him,” Mathis commented once the door had shut behind Liu.

“Care to elaborate?” I said, leaning back against the couch and placing one leg over the other to quickly discover that it was too painful. It was my solemn promise to myself that I’d never ever get fucking shot in the leg again.

Mathis rubbed the back of his neck, a tell I’d learned a long time ago that meant he didn’t really want to answer my question. “Are you asking me that as our boss or my niece?”

“Which will get you to answer me?” I teased. “I’m sorry I had to lay down the law, but I can’t afford to let any control slip right now. Not when we have someone in the house who’s trying to help remove me from my rightful place in this business. Family or not, I won’t let anyone stand in my way.”

“I keep forgetting how much like your father you really are,” Mathis said with a sigh. “You look so much like your mother, and as a kid, you had her same warm, loving manner. It wasn’t until we came to train you that I saw Colmazio’s genes make their appearance. You’re as cutthroat and pragmatic as he was when it came to business.”

“You don’t think I’m loving anymore?” I asked, a little taken aback by that remark. Obviously, I knew I didn’t let people get that close to me, but family had always been different. They’d been all I had, and I valued every second I got to be with them.

“That’s not what I meant. When you choose to care about a person, you’re the most loyal, loving, and protective person I’ve ever known. On the other hand, when you deal with someone who isn’t in your small circle of trust, you’re ruthless. I didn’t see that in you when we left to come back, but I’ll bet it’s the Raffa in you. That family is respected and feared for a damn good reason. Rumor is they practically torture their children so no matter what happens to them, they’ll survive. Who would do that to a kid?” Mathis questioned, shaking his head.

Hearing him talk about the training had my mind racing a million miles an hour. Had the training I’d undergone been done by someone from the Raffa Family? Is that why Daddy had no say in the matter?

“Anyway, ignore my comment about Liu. He’s a good kid,” Mathis said. “He loved and respected your father like he was Colmazio’s kid. Your dad kept him close and relied on Liu more than I think we realized. When he finally told us about his heart, it made sense. I always believed that if Colmazio weren’t here, Liu wouldn’t be either. So to see him giving you the same level of respect and loyalty is surprising. Hell, I thought Liu was possibly gay and had feelings for your dad which is why he didn’t date or even go out.”

“Really, because the man never went out or was seen around a woman, you thought he was gay?” Athos asked, disbelief in his tone. “That’s one of the most ignorant things I’ve ever heard you say.”

“Hey, I admitted I was wrong. Get the hell off my back,” Mathis shot back. “There wasn’t a better reason for me to understand why a good-looking guy like him never took advantage of it growing up.”

“He started living with us at seventeen, and Colmazio put him right to work,” Athos reminded him. “There was no chance for him to have a social life… we certainly fucking don’t. Hell, Colmazio took the effort to make sure a harem of men was available for Astin under this very roof. Otherwise, she’d never have a life outside this manor.”

“We’re not talking about this,” I cut in. “Whatever the case with Liu might have been, it’s none of your concern. He has requested to keep his place as aide to the boss, and I agreed. As for the other point made, I believe my father told you both to butt out of my social and romantic life. Seeing as you had issues with his choice in a relationship, I understand why it was so important for him that I choose how I want to navigate that particular path myself.”