Page 16 of Relentless Pursuit

It was all I had left to withstand before I went mad.

The winter season had waltzed with spring, going from freezing temperatures to light and mild, with warm winds. Today had been a mixture of both with spring temperatures during the day and cold winds returning once night arrived.

I entered Dameon’s estate, taking a rear entrance where I could bypass all those waiting on my presence.

The Niccolòs and Cappallis would come with their most trusted advisors; the bosses, the underbosses, the consiglieres, and a few leaders and capos. Private meetings like this were much different than a public event, like the masquerade ball—for that, their entire security force would be present.

Here, we were considered family—tying bonds that would make us a force to be reckoned with. Truthfully, the Lucas Cosa Nostra didn’t need that bond. We were already a force, and this was why the other families wanted the bond.

Dameon was offering faith by binding us—faith that he’d suspected we lost because of the killings from the Black Rose using our signature. Faith that said we were not the cause of the slayings. Faith that we would never harm them or their predecessors.

I chuckled as I parked, left the motorcycle, and entered the estate without acknowledging the guards who watched me. Strolling down a long corridor, I briefly glanced at the images on the wall. Images of Dameon, of me, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather. The men who’d been the head of the Lucas Cosa Nostra were Dameon’s pride and joy, and he showcased them on every wall of the estate.

I made a left and entered the living space like a ghost. No one noticed me because they were all caught up in amicable conversation, speaking in Italian. Fire in the hearth warmed the room and refreshments and brandy had been served. In the kitchen, the chef was preparing a meal for a celebration after our deal had been sealed.

I watched them all comfortable and relaxed. Nothing could stir them now that we were on the brink of a monumental negotiation. Knowing this made me want to cause chaos even more. My heart bled for it, and as I entertained those thoughts, Dameon glanced over and caught my eye.

“Son!” His hand lifted and everyone turned to look at me. “I’m glad you finally decided to join us.”

Snickers coasted through the room, but my face remained stoic.

“Am I late?” I glanced at my watch, my brows rising. “I apologize for my tardiness. Would you like to know what I was doing?”

“Let me guess,” he drawled. “Fucking a woman you met with some good pussy?”

Rambunctious guffaws of laughter filled the air. Dameon had his jokes and I smirked to keep the pretense going.

“Is that all he does?” Riccardo Niccolò added, from his place near the hearth. “Because I can believe it.”

“No, no,” Dameon responded. “It’s the excuse he gives but if it were all he did, he would be useless, wouldn’t he? And we all know if he were useless, we wouldn’t have gathered here tonight for his protection.”

The smirks dropped and I had to give it to Dameon for sticking up for me. It wasn’t unusual when we were around others. Calling me useless was inevitably saying The Lucas Cosa Nostra, as a whole, was incompetent and that would be marking yourself and your empire for ruin.

Still, leave it to Riccardo to test us. His snide comments about me were unending, but there would come a day when he’d wished he was nicer.

Dameon let the change of comfort in the room linger, his way of making a point before his face brightened and he clasped his hands.

“Let’s get this meeting started, shall we?”

He rose to his feet and the rest of them followed suit. I waited for them to exit, then followed behind.

At his office door, Dameon and Rolando turned and Dameon spoke. “Riccardo, Antonio, and their consiglieres only. The rest of you can wait in the hallway. Bring the women.”

“I think it’s better if we introduce them one at a time,” Riccardo said. “Antonio, I’ll give you the floor.”

Antonio nodded and my eyebrow twitched. We spilled into the room, and I stood by my father, facing Antonio and his consigliere while my father and Rolando faced Riccardo and his consigliere.

“The understanding here tonight is that we—the Niccolòs, the Cappallis, and the Lucas Family—will expand our families and our forces through marriages between myself, Dameon Lucas, and my son Dominic Lucas, with Riccardo Niccolò’s granddaughter, and Antonio Cappalli’s sister. If I am mistaken, now is the time to bring that to my attention,” Dameon said.

Silence filled our space though I screamed internally.

The men glanced at each other and when no one responded, smug smiles replaced their looks of curiosity.

“Very well,” Dameon said. He gave his attention to Antonio. “Riccardo has given you the floor. Bring in your sister so she can meet her future husband.”

Rocco Cappalli, Antonio’s consigliere moved to the door, opened it, and a woman entered our space. Rocco grabbed her arm and guided her toward me, standing her before me, then moving to stand beside Antonio.

“I introduce you to Milano Cappalli,” Antonio said. “Milano, say hello to Dominic Lucas, your future.”

---