Page 8 of Scandalous Kingpin
I held my papà’s gaze as my brother excused himself, never faltering or flinching. After all, I was a pro at keeping my demons under lock. So was my brother, although there was one thing he was spared. I wasn’t so lucky.
“You need to work out your problems with your mother.” He jumped straight to the point. “It’s not just about you anymore; you need to think about your sister and what’s best for the future of this family. It breaks Aisling’s heart every time you push her away.”
My expression remained the same. “That’s easily remedied. Tell her to stay away.”
“How about you stop beating around the bush and tell me what your problem with her is, son.”
“I don’t have a problem?” That wasn’t supposed to come out as a question.
“No objections about your mother, then?”
Aisling’s presence triggered something I didn’t like to think about. The period when Dante and I were left to our own devices—when there was no safety.
“None whatsoever,” I answered.As long as she stays the fuck away from me,were the words I chose to keep to myself. For now.
“Good, good.” Papà rubbed his hands, taking my words at face value. His mistake, not mine. “Now, I want to talk to you about something else.” I raised a brow, waiting for him to continue. “I know you’re young and marriage is the furthest thing from your mind”—Jesus fucking Christ, could this day get any worse?—“but with the Corsicans constantly testing the strength of the Syndicate in Philly, it’s important we forge an alliance.”
Despite my desire to never settle down and be forced to endure the bullshit that came with marriage, I knew that I’d eventually have to. I just thought I’d have another decade… or three. As the men of the DiLustro family, the goal was always to rule New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Basilio’s marriage to Wynter had been a surprise, but it wasn’t until Dante married Juliette that whispers of arranged marriages for Emory and me started. Killian already had his sights on Emory, or maybe it was the other way around—I couldn’t tell, and I didn’t care enough to ask.
As for my future wife… I wouldn’t be going there.
I gritted my teeth as I tried to picture a woman on my arm, but only red hair and full lips flashed through my mind. There was just one problem… If I married her, she was bound to learn my darkest secrets. And when she did, she’d look at me and see the truth. She’d be disgusted.
It was something I couldn’t allow.
“I’ll handle my own marriage,” I snapped, then pushed away from the table and left without another word.
Chapter Three
IVY
Iloved a rainy day as much as the next girl. Something about seeing lush green fields glisten and the sky slowly turn dark and spooky gave me thrills. Today though, I loved it more than usual because it offered time away from my overbearing brothers.
“I should have studied something more useful than photography and arts,” I muttered under my breath. Truthfully, I barely passed because I wasn’t good at it all. But scheming and stealing with my girlfriends… Yeah, I was pretty good at that one. After all, it was a team effort with my best friends.
Sitting outside, huddled in a raincoat and boots, I watched the pasture become a muddy mess. When I was a little girl, I loved chasing the sheep, combing my fingers through their wool and assigning them names.Fluffy.Snowball.Whitey.Mr. Beady Eyes. They were my companions until I learned they were only raised to be slaughtered.
The door opened and closed, the sound of heavy boots approaching behind me.
I recognized Bren’s voice. “Where’s Ivy?”
“In her bedroom,” Aemon answered. “What did you find out?”
I stiffened, debating whether I should announce my presence, but before I made up my mind, Caelan started. “Nothing good. Athair really fucked up.”
“Explain,” Aemon demanded, his voice curt.
“He was involved with Sofia Volkov.” I stiffened, pulling the raincoat tighter while curling into myself. “It must have been going on for a while because he had kids… twin girls. With her.”
“What?” Aemon bellowed.
“Shut up,” Bren scolded. “I don’t want Ivy hearing this.”
“Who all knows?” my eldest brother asked.
“Not many.” Caelan dipped his chin. “Everything points to Sofia taking him out, but something’s not adding up.”
