Page 24 of Enemy of Ours 1
Not yet, at least. I have to show him that my cousin doesn’t speak for her Don. I fucking hate that I have to make an example out of Gemma for speaking out of turn in a business meeting with another Mafia family.
“Gemma, come here for a second.” I grit my teeth and reach inside the wooden box on the coffee table that is full of cigars.
She comes around the table to stand beside me as I cut the end of the cigar and light it with a match. Once the cigar glows with an ember as I inhale, I exhale a cloud of smoke into her face.
“Roll up your sleeve,” I command her, staring her down as she looks towards Enzo in confusion, but he doesn’t help her as he stares straight ahead.
The moment she rolls up her long sleeve, I snatch her wrist while turning her arm and bring the burning part of my cigar down onto her inner elbow. She staggers with a sharp gasp of pain but remains upright and grinds her teeth together as her eyes water.
“Get back in your place.” My tone comes out harsh as I pull the cigar away and don’t look at her again.
“Yes, Don,” she quietly says, keeping her head down as she moves around the couch to stand off to the right of my shoulder behind me.
“A woman who can handle a little pain. Right after my own heart, aren’t you, Malysha?” Victor purrs in a deep, grumbling voice at Gemma, but she keeps her mouth shut and ignores him, as she should.
“You hurt one hair on her head, I’ll make your life a living hell. You’ll beg for death, and I’ll keep you alive just so I can torture you all over again for months.” I promise him as I shake his hand in a hard grip, holding his eyes hostage. It’s a look that makes most men piss their pants, but he just smirks and squeezes my hand, which I return like a challenge once before pulling away.
“I expect nothing else. I’ll be in contact for the exchange.” He holds my gaze for a second and flicks it to Gemma with a wink just before leaving the room with his men following him.
I turn around and have to remind myself I don’t hit women on repeat in my head because I’m seconds away from smacking Gemma for being so reckless and not confiding in me first before she made that fucking deal.
“Do you know what you’ve done?” The words are ground out through my teeth, and she looks down at the floor in shame before squaring her shoulders and meeting my gaze.
“I’m sorry, my Don, but it was either Iris or me. I will do what needs to be done. No one messes with your wife, even with threats. Questa nostra cosa,” she says in a serious tone. I am proud of her, but this is still fucking reckless.
Victor is not a stupid man, and he won’t be easy to kill, but I must trust Vixen to get the job done. She’s right. No one, and I mean no one, threatens my wife.
“This thing of ours.” I agree, squeezing her shoulder with a show of my approval, and I fucking hope I’m not making a mistake.
“Boss,” Enzo catches my attention, handing me a cigar because he knows I fucking need it to take the edge off right now. “Does this mean the timeline is moving up?”
I know what he’s referring to. I’m tempted to say no, but she’s going to be furious no matter what I do, and this is for her safety. I was just hoping to have more time to prepare.
“Yes. Let the pilots know we are leaving tomorrow night. I want to be up in the air by eleven PM.”
“Yes, boss.” He nods but shares a laugh with Tony before looking back at me. “God, she’s going to give you hell. I kind of can’t wait to see what she does.” Enzo grins wickedly. I flip him off as he pulls his cellphone out to make the arrangements.
My girl will fight me tooth and nail, but eventually, she’ll cave.
CHAPTER 11
IRIS
“I’m telling you, Jamie. It’s the last time I’m ever seeing that man we call father again.” I hold my phone between my shoulder and ear as I talk to my brother, listening on the other end as he shuffles through paperwork.
I can picture him at Danny’s old desk, going over the ledgers and hating every second of it. He never wanted to take over the family business, but ever since the men saw my father as a weak man, he stepped down and handed everything over to Jamie.
“Listen, Iris. I get it, okay. I do. But you need to stop holding onto the past, or you’ll never get to experience what’s right in front of you. You’ll be stuck.” He sighs heavily over the phone as I go quiet, knowing he’s right, but I can’t help it.
I’ve been hurt and burned by people too many times.
“You’re one to talk. It’s been almost three years, brother, and you’re still hunting down every last person involved with what happened tome. Even those who weren't present on that day are being pursued.Youneed to take your advice and move on.” My tone comes out harsh, giving him a dose of his own medicine, and I hate myself for it; he doesn’t need me getting on his case when he’s only trying to help.
I lean heavily against the kitchen counter, feeling around with my other hand on the smooth surface until I come across the brass tin can filled with tea leaves. The kettle is already whistling on the stove as I pull out a tea bag for my nighttime cup. It relaxes me, and my nerves are high today from Danny’s meeting. Inga has disappeared since we got back, and that’s for the best; I have nothing to say to her. I’m too angry to forgive her right now.
“It will be over soon anyways. Iris, I'll be traveling to Scotland shortly to resolve a final matter. I promised you that day you’ll never have to deal with the church again, and I’m keeping my word.” He always says this in the same tone, his voice rough from the need for revenge, but it can’t be healthy.
Then again, what the hell do I know? I still have nightmares, scared of people seeing my scars and that I’ll be alone forever.
