Page 99 of Where the Wicked Reign

A moment later, my father’s flashy silver Jaguar arrived on the scene just outside the warehouse. A sleek, black limo followed its path.

Leo emerged from the front passenger seat of the former, his ponytail swinging with his rapid movements. He rushed around to the driver’s door and opened it, wherein my father then stepped out, adjusting his tie and brushing down his navy Armani suit jacket. He was wearing a navy fedora that he believed added an element of class to his usual stylish appearance. Unlike Leo, his shock of black hair was cut into layers that brushed his shoulders and styled with a whole lot of product.

No form of security followed, but I saw Leo make a show of revealing his weapon nestled in a holster inside his black leather trench coat just as Santino Leone emerged from the limo, his tan wool coat whipping around him with his fluid movements. A handful of years younger than my father’s fifty-eight years, he cut a lanky figure, the way his white silk shirt and his gray dress pants were tailored only serving to emphasize that. His blond hair was slicked back as usual, with far too much gel, giving off a greasy look. And his blue eyes had that usual shrewd look in them whenever he zeroed in on somebody.

He was flanked by four bodyguards. I was expecting his consigliere to emerge next, especially when terms and written agreements were to be worked out at this meeting, a whole lot of diplomacy needed. But instead, that sleazeball with his light-blond hair in one of those Ivy League haircuts that really didn’t pair well with his straggly goatee, Angelo, stepped out. Not even the Underboss, but a Capo who thought he deserved that title and acted like he already had it over the true Underboss, Dante Rivera. He shoved the right side of his gray leather jacket back, non-too-discreetly revealing two Berettas in a holster at either hip. He was in his late-thirties, of average build, barely five-ten and with just a little bulk. But the fucker acted like he was God’s gift. What was I thinking? Like Satan’s gift to all of us demonic motherfuckers.

As they started to exchange pleasantries, or what really was passive-aggressive banter, I slid into my car, then drove over there, pulling up beside my father’s Jaguar.

All eyes were on me as I stepped out and strode over to them, stopping beside my father as was expected.

“Son,” he greeted me, even embracing me, and giving off the impression that he was actually happy to see me, that we had a good and steady relationship. It was all for appearances in front of Santino and his people. We needed to project stability, especially familial stability.

“It’s been too long, Father,” I said, as we broke apart, playing the game as he’d demanded.

“Indeed.”

The pleased look in his eyes almost seemed genuine.

Too genuine for Leo’s liking, as was made clear in the next moment when he tried to push me into breaking through my respectful and polite façade, by telling me with a sly smile, “Good on you,nipote. I took bets with the other Capos that you’d find a way to shirk this meeting. Gio was with me on you trying to worm your way out of this coming marriage, of you embarrassing the family and letting us the fuck down.”

I saw Santino raise an eyebrow, clearly intent on hearing my response, challenging me silently. His little bitch, Angelo, had a whole other idea, shooting daggers at me and looking me up and down with obvious distaste.

I remained calm and focused. For one, there was no way Angelo knew it had been me and mine who’d liberated the hostages and massacred those Leone soldiers. We’d cleaned the area thoroughly, and we’d created scapegoats in those sick buyers. No, his disdain for me was about something else. From my long-timeobservationsof Caterina, I knew it was about her. His affinity for her. There’d actually been talk for a while, whispers that he would be chosen to marry her. But that had all been shot to hell by circumstances at the time, and her severing ties to them. And, of course, both Caterina and her mother’s absolute abhorrence of the predatory fucker. That was what Santino wanted now, though, with his human trafficking operations, somebody with that sort of streak to run things, to stomach things that his Underboss and other Capos clearly couldn’t. Not to mention his Consigliere.

“Nothing to say for yourself, Nico?” Leo pushed, as I stood there, appearing outwardly unaffected. “Are you gonna fuck all over what the Family wants in the name of not being tied down? I mean, you do have an independent streak that I’ve noticed flies in the face of what’s best for our—”

“Basta!”my father snapped at Leo.

I smiled, brushed my father’s shoulder, then spoke, “It’s all right, Father.” I looked out at Santino. “I consider it an honor and a fine responsibility to enter into marriage with your daughter.” I knew I had to take it further than that, but I hated the words as I forced them past my lips, giving him what I knew he wanted, “I also don’t view it as being tied down, especially not when I’ll be the one holding the leash.” I smirked. “Very tightly, I might add.”

Santino’s lip curled.

“She won’t so much as breathe without my permission.”

“Good. She needs a great deal of discipline. She’s enjoyed too much freedom, and that ends with this marriage. As per the contract Marco and I created, you will see to it.”

“I shall.”

“Together, my son and your daughter will continue on the family line, Santino.”

“Yes, their union will unite our families nicely, bind us together, as it should have always been. Without Benzino interference and them riding our coattails.” He screwed up his face. “Doing business with that motorcycle club and then those Red Vipers upstarts… it sickens me.” He sucked in a breath and told my father, “Your beloved son and my most prized possession in Caterina. Once she is broken in, she will serve him well.”

Prized possession.

Broken in.

My gut twisted at his words. But outwardly, my only reaction was a dutiful nod of agreement.

“I’m glad you’re rising to the occasion, Nico,” Leo spoke to me. “My apologies for the test earlier.”

“I’d expect nothing less from my father’s second.”Piece of shit.

“Thebreaking inbegins on your wedding night,” Angelo uttered all of a sudden. “Something that will take place at the Leone Estate, also the wedding venue.”

“We’d discussed the Marchetti family home as the wedding venue,” my father spoke. “And the wedding night would be between Nico and Caterina at his home.”

Angelo shook his head. “It will now occur within our… earshot, shall we say? Her humiliation and shattering is her punishment for turning her back on the Family, as well as a wake-up call that she is to fall in line going forward. She will do her duty and with a true monster like you bound to her by marriage, Nico, she’ll suffer as she deserves.”

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