Page 198 of The Umarova Crime Family

“Yes. Marsala is making us all some dinner. Isn’t that lovely?” My mother’s hair is blowing in the wind, and she has a satisfied smile plastered across her face. She’s happy she’s here, and I’m starting to think she might have even encouraged this. The other day, when she called, she was very adamant I speak with my father. This might have even been her idea in the first place.

“Yes, it is. How have you both been? I’ve been traveling so much lately. I apologize for not checking in more.” My apology is bullshit, but I try to make it seem genuine.

My mother shoots me a knowing look and rolls her eyes as she looks away. Meanwhile, my father sips his drink and keeps his eyes glued to me. The same eyes I inherited from him. They bore right through me, and as a child, I used to be terrified when he’d look at me like this, but not anymore.

“I’m sure it’s been very difficult for you to manage professional obligations as well as your family. It’s good you’re home now for a bit. Now we can discuss more pressing matters,” my father starts off. He looks over to my mother, and she makes herself scarce, walking over to the balcony overlooking the water. She’s a good thirty or forty feet away before my father begins speaking again. “You can cut the bullshit, Ambros. I know you’ve been avoiding me. You’ve done the same thing ever since you’ve been a little boy. You dodge. You pivot. You go off and occupy yourself with something and then use it as an excuse. It’s ironic how, in twenty years, your antics haven’t changed in the slightest bit.” My father chuckles lightly, obviously amusing himself.

Inhaling deeply through my nose, I take a seat across from my father and settle back into my chair. “Unlike when I was a child, I have obligations that I need to take into consideration. Our employees at the Organization need to see I get my hands dirty, too. I just set records for the company, Father. I know your team has told you how well I’ve been doing. They’ve undoubtedly said how much money I’ve brought in, how many kills I’ve gotten, and how many clients are happy with our services. Have they not?”

He’s silent for a moment. “Do you think what you’ve done for the company is going to make up for your behavior?” Ah, there it is. He’s appalled by what I’ve done. He’ll just have to get over it. Sure, I might have been avoiding him, but I have my reasons. I won’t ever admit that to him, though.

“Dad, I think you need to look deep within yourself and ask why you think I’d be avoiding you. I’ve been working, and that’s all.”

He rolls his eyes and presses his lips into a firm line. “I won’t argue with you, Ambros. We both know what you did, and you can’t deny it.”

“There’s obviously some reason you think I’m avoiding you. We might bicker, but that’s normal. I can never get through one conversation without you causing a quarrel in some way. Is that why you think I’m desperately trying to dodge you at every turn?”

Dad doesn’t say a thing, and there it is. That’s all the confirmation I need. “I need to speak with you about something important. Considering I’m here, I think we should do that.” He doesn’t even want to get into the thick of what he’s thinking. Fine, we’ll avoid the issue at hand like always. It’s what he always does. He constantly walks away from getting to the root of the problem.

“Sure. What is it?” I imagine he’s going to bring up the Organization, some sort of power shift, wanting me to take a step back from going on jobs in the field, or something of the sort.

“You know, for some time, Greek families haven’t had much power in the criminal underworld. My hope is to make that change by arranging a marriage between our family and the Drakos family.”

“It’s not a bad idea. Our family came from nothing, and your father built it up, but the Drakos family has had ties to Greece for hundreds of years.”

“Yes, and considering I only have two children, I need to make sure the unions are strong ones.” I understand what my father is saying here for sure. The family needs to be particular with whom we have alliances to expand our reach. I’m not just talking about the business aspect, either.

“Zoe will be a good fit for Linus, no doubt. They’re around the same age, and I believe they attended school together.”

My father narrows his brows and begins laughing loudly. “I don’t plan on arranging this union between Linus and Zoe. Zoe is going to be your match, Ambros.”

“That’s not going to happen. I will find my own match, one who will benefit the family greatly.” This is a huge slap in the face. If either of us has the choice of picking our own wife, it should be me. Linus doesn’t do half the shit I do for the family.

“It is going to happen because I said it will. I meet with Zoe’s father next week, and you will not fuck this up.”

I scoff at his words. “I won’t be forced to do something I don’t want to do. After everything I do for our family, I don’t appreciate having this decision made for me.”

“Everything you’ve done? Do you mean your duty? That’s all you’ve done, Ambros. You’ve done the bare minimum for us, and I won’t be handing you a gold medal or slapping you on the back for doing such a ‘good’ job.”

Now I understand the weight women of important families carry. They have these sorts of decisions made for them all the time. I have the luxury of being a man and having more of a say, but I guarantee my father will continue to not want to hear any of what I have to say.

“You should have consulted me about this. I have nothing against Zoe as a person, but I will not marry her. I suggest you speak to her father about Linus being her match so you don’t look like a fool when I don’t show up.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” my father roars, nostrils flaring. He’s hollering so loudly that my mother turns around to see what’s going on between the two of us.

Marsala comes out of the house with a large tray carrying our dinner plates. She heads straight over to the dining table out here on the balcony and places everything down. My mother begins walking over and looks between my father and me.

“Come on, let’s go eat.” She tears her attention away from the two of us and looks at Marsala. “This looks great. I can’t wait to try it.”

I head to the table and take my seat, thankful that Marsala went ahead and brought me out a drink. She must have known I’d need alcohol by now. She’s made paidakia and a traditional salad. Mmm, I can’t wait to dive in. I’m not even going to wait for my parents. The last thing I will do is allow my father to ruin my appetite.

I’ve already dug into my food by the time my parents sit down. My mother’s eyebrows are raised, and I know she’s about thirty seconds from snapping at me for being rude.

“You better be at the meeting next week.”

“I won’t, and I’m making it crystal fucking clear that I won’t be. You can try to force my hand with a lot of things, but you won’t be forcing my hand here.” I don’t typically push back at my father this strongly, but I am not going to back down with this one.

I’m not even sure why I’m fighting back so much about this. I don’t think it’s the fact he isn’t taking my wants or needs into consideration. Sure, that aggravates me… but he could do far worse, and I know it.

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