Page 9 of Relentless Refuge

MARCO

The two SUV limos roll up to the warehouse and stop outside. A large van casts a shadow on the parking lot. I can only assume it’s the supplier’s van and inside it are the guns we’ve come to collect. Isabella’s Family rides in the other limo, and a few of my men, Darnel, and Victor ride with me in this one.

The first time we meet a new supplier is always tense. They try to test me, push me for more money, or even haggle over whether they can have access to my clientele, but I’m used to it. I’m sharp and alert, but not at all anxious. We have enough muscle and gunpower to start a small war. I’m only concerned for Isabella, as this is her first rodeo.

“Flank the back of her SUV and make sure all angles are covered.” I pull my weapon out of the back of my waistband and chamber a round before putting it back. “I know she has her men, but we don’t know their loyalty yet.”

Darnel nods at me then points at two of our guys. “You two make yourself at home with her and keep your eyes open. If any of her men seem sketchy, don’t be afraid to call them out.”

I’m thankful that for the past five years I’ve experienced nothing but commitment and faithfulness from my Family. Victor has his moments of asinine behavior, but he’ll grow out of it.

“Ready?” I ask them, and they nod.

Victor slides out of the limo first, followed by Darnel. Then I climb out and stand aside as the rest of my men file out and form a V with me at the head. Isabella is already on the ground, moving toward the van, which is now open with men pouring out. I take a deep breath and sober myself. These events can be peaceful or they can turn on a dime and get violent quickly.

As I walk toward the van, I think about how irritated Isabella was when I tried to coach her on what could go wrong. We’ve had dinner every night for more than a week now, and each one has taught me a little more about her. I’m patient, biding my time with her, and this meet will probably teach me more than anything else.

I nod at her when she removes her sunglasses and stretches out her hand to a gentleman I don’t know. She greets him and then turns to me. “This is Mr. Romano, my husband. We’ll be handing over the weapons to him.” She steps back and I offer my hand, but the man, dressed in a tan cargo vest and dark blue jeans, shakes his head.

“No way, man. The only reason I showed up today is to tell you I’m out. I seen what they did to your old man. They’re gonna come after me next. This Romano fella is bad news.” The supplier holds his hands up in defense. I make a quick assessment of his temperament and notice a gun tucked into his boot. He’s antsy, afraid. Men who are scared are often jumpy and make poor choices.

“I think we’ve already made an arrangement, and you will continue with it. You have the full support of both Families, defense, protection, and of course, financially.” So far, so good. Isabella is handling herself with tact, but she’s going to have to be more forceful if she wants to be a real leader.

“Then I want more money. Ten percent more. It’s a risk I have to take.” The guy is pushing his luck, and if it were me, he’d have a gun to his head already, but Isabella remains collected and merely glares at him.

My men are restless, shifting and murmuring, as are Isabella’s. We all come to these meets with a lot of testosterone and pent-up frustration coursing through our bodies. It only takes one wrong comment to set things off. I’m about to open my mouth when I hear Victor murmur something about taking what we came for, and I turn and scowl at him. He sobers instantly, squaring his shoulders and raising his chin. My men don’t fuck with me, though Isabella’s men seem to not care that they could be causing a stir.

A man standing behind her speaks quietly, almost imperceptibly, and if I weren’t looking at him, I don’t think I’d know who was speaking. “This is what we get for having a woman in charge.” It draws a few chuckles, and I feel my chest tighten. I clench my jaw and turn to address him, but in the same few seconds it takes me to respond, the supplier pulls his gun and points it at Isabella.

She draws her weapon and whips around, using the butt of it to whip her own man across the face, then spins around and points it at the supplier. In such a graceful and swift move, she demonstrates a courage beyond her abilities. All of my men draw their weapons and point them at him in her defense, and slowly,her men follow suit. The supplier’s men have their weapons out now too.

“I said we have an agreement, and you will uphold it.” Isabella takes a step forward in another act of boldness and presses her gun to the man’s temple. “My men speak out of turn, and I’ll deal with them later, but I will deal with you now, swiftly and surely. You can continue working with us, or you can record a video saying goodbye to your family.”

“Shit, lady. Fuck’s sake. Just back off,” he says, whimpering and dropping his gun. She kicks it away, but she doesn’t lower her weapon and I’m very impressed.

“What will it be?” For a twenty-one-year-old who is new to this game, she has balls. It makes my dick hard just thinking about her.

“Fine, fine… but if they come after us, I’m coming after you.” The supplier’s threat earns him a knock to the back of his head, and Darnel chuckles.

“Looks like you'd better just listen to the lady, buddy.” Darnel holsters his weapon, and slowly, the others follow suit. The last to lower a weapon is Isabella, and she glances at me, almost as if for approval.

And now I believe she really can lead them. Which only makes her more attractive to me. If the woman who will provide my heir can do this, imagine how my son will fare?

This arrangement is going to work out better than I thought.

8

ISABELLA

Mom sips her tea and studies every move I make. She looks at me differently now, after Uncle Nicky’s recounting of the events two days ago with our gun supplier. I don’t know if she’s shocked by my actions, appalled, maybe? Or perhaps she is impressed and now believes in my ability to lead despite this being a man’s world. It’s not like I’m the first woman to assume control of an organization like this. There have been female leaders before me, but few and far between, and never in our Family.

“But did you see the way his men cower before him, Isa? He will run ramrod over us if we’re not careful. You’ll see. The man is the devil himself.” Uncle Nicky slurps his tea loudly, and I grit my teeth to avoid asking him to use his manners. This will be a fine line to walk, respecting those who have gone before me and leading them the way Father would have.

“I don’t think he has any interest in assuming control of my Family, and if he should begin to exhibit signs that he does, we will resist. It’s that simple. Our arrangement is solid, Nicky.” Ismooth the front of my skirt down and cross my legs, tucking them under the chair.

Mom, who has been spending more and more time out of bed in her mourning, sighs softly. “You know, Isabella, part of this arrangement actually grants you the power to use your feminine wiles over him. You know, convince him to do things your way.”

Heat flushes through my neck and face, and I stand abruptly, moving to the window where I peek between the curtains. He said he’d send a car again, the way he has every night for just over two weeks. The car isn’t here yet, though, and I’m wishing it were. Using sex as a manipulative tool over him is not something I want to talk about with my mother.

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