Page 53 of Bound to Him

When we arrived home, Tony called our father into the office. Viola and I sat on the sofa and Tony remained standing, slowly strolling around the room with his hand in his pocket while spinning his stiletto knife around in his other hand. He tended to do that when he was thinking things over.

When Papà walked in, he looked between us all. “What’s going on here?” Viola and I looked at each other nervously, and he lifted a finger with squinted eyes. “I never see all three of you together. Something big is happening.”

Tony put his knife away and gestured for Papà to sit down, then came and stood behind us at the sofa.

“Papà, this is a business-related meeting. We’ve been approached by the Moretti underboss, Huxley,” he added for good measure, trying to keep things unemotional, “with a message from Don Antonio.”

Our father tipped his head back with a curious frown. “Please, continue.”

“It’s ah… pretty serious, Papà,” I added, trying to gear him up so he didn’t feel surprised and cornered into anything.

“It’s okay, Olivia. I got this.” Tony put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing supportively. I felt so glad that he’d come around and listened to Huxley. It was definitely the sex trafficking that got him, and the fact that I’d been left alone with this man. I assumed he felt scared at that moment and angry now that he’d somehow let this happen. He was soon to be the next Romano don, if our father ever decided to give up his power, and I felt proud of what my brother could become.

“Papà, Christian Reyes is trafficking young girls on our territory.”

He looked confused, acting like that was a ludicrous idea. “I don’t know what you’re referring to?”

“I’m referring to Christian taking you for a ride, Papà. I don’t mean to offend you, and I don’t mean to criticize you. This is merely a message from the Morettis that they asked us to handle, in the name of keeping things under wraps. They don’t want intel of a meeting between the don’s getting out to the wrong people.”

“Okay…”

“Christian Reyes is a sly motherfucker, and he’s got everyone under his thumb. The commissioner, the union leaders, you, and he’s trying to get the Morettis there, too. He’s weakening all the families by using his connections to take our peoples’ jobs—and now their daughters.”

Papà started to shake his head. “This is bullshit, Tony. Christian isn’t that kind of man. He’s a family man! He didn’t need to leave his country, but he’s here! Lining our pockets with good money!”

“Papà!” Tony raised his voice. “This is irrefutable, there is proof. Huxley has seen it,” Papà wanted to question that, before Tony added, “and Olivia has seen it.”

He looked at me. “amoré mio?”

I nodded, feeling less rattled and more confident now that I knew there was a plan, and I didn’t need to marry that sleazy asshole. “Yes, I saw one of the girls. Huxley was offered a few to choose from.”

Our father’s brows heightened, and he brushed a hand over his face. “I’ll have to see him and try to get him to admit it.”

“No.” Tony walked around the sofa and sat down across from us. “There is a plan in place. What you need to do now is listen to us because the Morettis have an ultimatum.”

“What kind of ultimatum?”

“Christian is the one who's been bringing drugs onto their turf. He found that there was no competition there and tried his luck. He couldn’t very well start his own drug operation on our territory since he’s our supplier. He’s already got our territory under wraps. So, Don Antonio isn’t happy that we started business with him and invited the fox into the chicken’s coop, shall I say. He’s threatening to cancel the wedding and tear up the treaty.”

“What? He can’t just do that!”

“He can, but he's given us conditions to abide by if we want to keep an alliance with them.”

Papà was starting to look really pissed. It was offensive as a don to receive this kind of message via your own children. But as Tony said, it’s business. We were all involved, and this was how we were keeping things secret.

“And what, may I ask, are these conditions, Tony?”

Tony held up a finger for each condition. “One, that we halt all business with the Colombians once the plan has been executed.” Papà scoffed. “And two, that Huxley marries Olivia instead of Viola.”

That got his every last bit of attention.

“What?” He started out quietly, his anger building slowly. I suddenly felt terrified. “Olivia, Viola, what is this about?”

Tony looked at me expectantly. He wasn’t going to cover my ass for this one; he was still pissed himself.

“Papà, as it turns out… Huxley and I have fallen in love.”

He laughed dangerously. “Please tell me you are joking about this,amoré mio, please!”

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