Page 23 of Married into the Mob
He stared at me, a stray tear gliding over his cheek. “Rarely?”
This was the hard part and what was the truth? Because I was only a few steps ahead of Odell, weaving my way through the maze that was the connection between Draven, my mate, and me.
“The mafia men and women I deal with will honor that code. Draven?” Being so intent on revenge, I couldn’t pin down what he’d do. “I can’t say 100%, but he’d die at my hands if he did.” Hearing I’d avenge him after his death couldn’t have soothed Odell’s worries.
“A piece of paper saying we’re husband and husband would protect my aunt and uncle?”
That wasn’t a given. “I vow to look after them. Flint?” I sent a pointed look to my brother and Alpha.
“Always, Odell. You have my word.”
My mate’s eyelashes fluttered while he pursed his lips and appeared to be deep in thought. “I’ll do it, but I’d prefer that it was in black and white because I don’t trust anything not written down.”
“Of course.” Smart man, my mate.
“Uncle Arnie can conduct the ceremony.” Ranger grinned, seemingly pleased with himself. “He has the sort of gravitas needed to marry people.”
“Is he certified?” Odell needed answers.
Uncle Arnie’s eyes swiveled left and right, and his pained expression suggested he was hoping one of us would step in and save him.
“I, ummm… well… it’s like this…”
“So no!” Odell’s mouth was set in a straight line. He wasn’t going to accept Uncle Arnie as the celebrant. So proud of my mate for standing up for himself.
“I know someone who would know someone.” I put up my hand as though I was a kid in grade school trying to get the teacher’s attention.
“Not the guy who tried to marry me and Draven this morning.” Odell hugged himself. That was a painful memory, one that would cause trauma for my mate in the future.
“No.” Not him. “But the guy who walked in on the ceremony. He would know all the celebrants and who might be willing to do it with a little incentive.”
“A bribe. You’re going to bribe someone to join us in holy matrimony.” My mate wasn’t tapping his foot. Nor did he have his arms folded, but he may as well have. His look of disdain was enough to give me a jumbly belly. Me, the guy who used to ooze confidence from my pores.
Yeah, what happened to you?I couldn’t decide if my wolf was being sarcastic.
“I’m convinced Draven threatened him, so giving him money might help him escape whatever hole he’s in.” But once in debt to Draven’s family, you never escaped. Not that I pointed it out to my mate because his uncle’s reckless action had done exactly that.
Contacting Stefan might lead Draven to us, but I doubted it.He’d brought me to City Hall. I didn’t think Draven would kill the guy because he might come in useful in one of his other nefarious plans. But I couldn’t get inside Draven’s head.
I had Stefan’s phone number, and if he responded, I’d get my men to meet the celebrant outside the club. Shit. Any pretense that I had no planning permission for the underground bunker would be undermined ‘cause the person would report back toStefan for sure. But again, a bribe would ensure the celebrant kept his mouth shut.
Flint agreed to wait until Stefan arrived, and he and Ranger were barking instructions into their satellite phones.
“Oh gods, hurry. I can’t last much longer here.”
Uncle Arnie grabbed one of the battery-operated fans, and I sat my mate on the sofa. Uncle directed the fan toward Odell while Dad talked to him.
While waiting for Stefan to answer, I hoped I didn’t have to go to extraordinary lengths to force him to agree.
“Hello.”
Words spilled from my mouth, telling him we needed a celebrant who would be compensated, as time was so short and we hadn’t gone through official channels.
“That can be arranged.” His voice shook a little.
I insisted the person come alone.We had cameras to capture every angle near the club, and the security guards would be on duty by the time the person arrived. The celebrant would be blindfolded and given ear-canceling headphones before being led down here.
Every rule in the mafia handbook said what I’d agreed to was foolish. I could be leading Draven right to us. But it wasn’t a secret we owned the club and I managed it. Maybe he was outside already or he’s scuttled off to lick his wounds and revise his plans.
