Page 26 of Relentless Refuge

“What’s the report at the docks? Have the new shipments arrived on time to our suppliers?” I change the subject, hoping he gets the point. We’ve been watching the man who now gives us our weapons. Isabella’s completely unaware, and I want to keep it that way. We don’t need her to be a part of this arrangement anymore. The only thing I needed was the connection to her men.

But I want her.

I find I’m taking a strong liking to her, and more than just a passing fancy. At the end of the day, when I’m exhausted and stressed about business, she’s there listening. She can share her concerns with me, and I give her sound advice. I vent myfrustrations, and she calms me, anchoring me in the present so I don’t react to a nonexistent future. And my God, the sex.

Exploring her body each night as we come together after a long day has been the pinnacle of my sexual experience. Every time we come together, I teach her something new, and she’s putty in my hands—a willing vessel to explore every sexual fantasy I have. If I were to throw my weight around and pursue the leadership of her Family, no doubt I could obtain it—with bloodshed. But I’d lose her. And that’s not something I’m willing to do.

“Guns are in,” he says, sucking on his cigar. He lets the smoke puff out and slides his lighter back into his pocket. “But you’re changing the subject. The D’Angelo family will never fully support her. You’ll see. In no time, you’ll be running the show, anyway. She’ll just be a figurehead, and you’ll have the power.”

Victor has never had a real relationship with anyone and thus doesn’t understand the intricacies of the female mind. The only thing that would come of that is war. Isabella would find her footing the instant I tried to make my move, and instead of having one enemy, we’d have two. Fighting with her isn’t what I want for my future. I want a partnership, a fulfilling marriage, great sex, and an heir. I have two of those, and the other two are only a matter of time if I play my cards right.

“Do you want to make more enemies, Victor?” I turn to face him as he lets the wind rushing past the cracked window suck his ashes away.

“Of course not. I’m just saying men will not bow to a woman for long. Their egos will eat at them. Their consciences will be seared. They will rebel when they realize she bosses them around, and they will do what men do. Hunt and kill.” He bringshis cigar to his lips nonchalantly, and I wish I could shove it down his throat. But he’s not wrong.

I’ve never met a man who would willingly submit to a woman anywhere but in the bed. And even then, they don’t do it for long.

“Time will tell,” I mumble, looking back at the passing traffic. My phone rings, giving me a reprieve from my brother’s sardonic tone, and I answer it. “It’s Marco.”

“Uh, yeah, Marco. It’s Detective Schuler. I caught wind of something I thought you should know about.” The detective—on our payroll since a time that predates my leadership—never lets me down. He’s not keen on the idea that we break the law to get what we want, but the way we line his pockets keeps his moral compass from getting out of check.

“What is it, Dan?” I glance at Victor, whose eyebrows go up. The detective doesn’t call us unless something drastic is going on, so this is a surprise call. I haven’t requested information from him or sought advice or surveillance. It’s unlike him to volunteer information too.

“It’s Petroski, they’re on the move. Word has it they’re planning something aimed in your direction. I only know this because I overheard one of his men speaking with one of my sergeants.”

I’m not a naïve man. If we have cops on our books, and the Bratva do too, and at times, that pays off for us. Cops tend to look the other way if they are loyal to one faction or the other, and especially if they know what’s good for them. We like to keep the fear of God strong in our ranks to discourage disloyalty or snitches.

“Do you know what?” I ask him. After the strike against Petroski’s son, we knew it was only a matter of time beforethey came for revenge. The only problem is we have no way of knowing what it will look like, and covering all the bases is challenging, especially with a larger territory and more cogs in the wheel.

“No word, Marco. I’m sorry I can’t do better. I know it’s supposed to happen within the next ten days and that they’re not happy about Petroski’s son being shot. I don’t know what the hell you were thinking going after him. Were you trying to start a fucking war?”

Schuler knows nothing about how to run a Family like mine. But he does know about the hit on Victor’s car that nearly took his life and stole a precious soul from this earth. He’s the one who helped cover it up so it looked like a random explosion and not a mafia hit.

“Tell me, Dan, if your brother had been the victim of a car bomb, what would you do?” I listen to Victor grumbling something I can’t really understand and wait for the detective to answer me. But the man fumbles for words, and I know he has my point.

“That’s the reason I did what I did. Now, if you hear anything else of value, call me. If not, just be prepared for a call from me at any time, day or night, calling in your services. This won’t be pretty, but we have to do what we have to do or this city will descend into anarchy.”

I hang up the call before he can respond, and Victor scoffs at me. “That bastard has his nose where it doesn’t belong again, doesn’t he?” A thick puff of smoke fills the car instead of being sucked out the window, and I realize he’s shut it. I reach past him and hit the button to open it again, and he scowls at me.

“He’s an officer of the law, Victor. That’s his job. But he knows what’s good for him. He’s just warning us.” I think for a moment about what the guys brought up the other night. The next logical target is Isabella. I still don’t think they will physically harm her. They know if they do, they’ll endure the wrath of not only her entire Family, but all of mine as well. Still, if they want to make waves, it’s the right move.

“We need to increase security around Isabella again. She won’t like it, but it’s for her own good and her Family’s too.” I shoot out a few text messages to my men, ordering them to beef things up. If it’s already gotten up the food chain to Schuler, it has to be soon. They won’t risk letting their plans be found out, which means they’ll act fast, tonight maybe, tomorrow. Who knows?

“You already own half her business. Why not just let them take her? The Family will flounder. You’ll earn their trust, and you’ll have it all. Double the territory, double the power, double the money?—”

Before he can choke out another breath, my hand is around his throat, clenching until he’s wheezing. “You should stop and think about what you’re saying before you talk about my wife like that.” Victor gasps, clawing at my hand with his. The cigar drops to his lap and he gasps for air. “You may be my brother, but I’m not above teaching you a lesson. Isabella is my wife and the leader of her own Family in her own right. If you can’t respect that, you get the fuck out.”

I maintain my grip on his neck a few more seconds before I smell the stench of burning fabric. The second I let go, Victor scoops up his cigar and tosses it out the window, then pats the front of his slacks to put out the embers of fire there.

“Holy fuck, Marco… It was a joke.”

“You’re not a comedian. Stick to being my brother and obeying my orders.” I glare out the window and rack my brain. If Schuler doesn’t come back with any more serious intel, I’ll be forced to keep Isabella locked up in my home for her own safety. She’s so stubborn and will refuse the protection, and that means I’ll have to tie her to the fucking bed again, but if it keeps her out of harm’s way, I’ll do it. She’ll thank me later, and I’ll protect my assets. At least, for a little while.

It's not a long-term solution, but I have to do something.

20

ISABELLA

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