Page 8 of The Sound in Silence

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My father pinches the bridge of his nose, seething from where he’s seated inside one of our clubs. Since Father is days away from retirement, he’s been wrapping things up slowly and going from business to business—both legal and the underground ones—and finalizing anything he has his hand in.

“Do you realize the severity in what you have done, Erico? The Corsettis refuse to give you Aurora, so you agree to wed ano name.”

That’s precisely what I did, but a surge of protectiveness brings my fist down onto the desk’s surface, jolting him enough until he drops his hand from his face. “Don’t speak about her like that.”

Father’s eyes narrow, the warning of a man who’s slaughtered hundreds. In that moment, I’m pleased to have no brother because if he had another option, I get the sense, it’d be him and not me taking over. “We had the ideal candidate and you choose amuteinstead. We have no idea her upbringing, her family, if she’s even pure or not. How do we know she isn’t hiding a child somewhere?”

Every question Father throws my way has my teeth grinding, but I don’t argue his points because they’re valid considerations, even if they’re none I’m entertaining. Not whenshe—the fucking siren—thesirena—who’s been invading my mind since the first glance will be mine. At least with my ring on her finger and her tucked in my home, I’ll get so much of her, my mind will finally be freed.

But Father’s days away from stepping down, as per our agreement that with my marriage, I’d also be taking over asFamigliaBoss. So, keeping a calm voice, I explain, “She’s Nico Corsetti’s sister-in-law. We wanted to align with them, and Ariella will still accomplish that.”

Father wipes at his forehead before dropping his weight onto the chair’s backing. “Months ago, when you announced the deal you and Corsetti struck, I had my doubts. When Caterina Corsetti was supposed to marry your uncle, the Corsettis stole her from us. I never wanted to fix the instability between the two organizations, but you insisted, and I respected your choice. With you running things soon, can’t fault you for wanting a clean slate with our northern competitors. Butthis,” he pauses, the weight of his word filling the room, “this was a stupid decision.”

Pressing my hands into his desk, I lean forward. “If you still trust me to be Boss, then you’ll trust this decision. This is a win because whether it be Aurora or Ariella who stands with me at the end of the aisle, we’re still aligned with Nico. As for everything else you mentioned, she has no secret children.”

Father’s lips press together as he takes a long moment to consider my words before finally grunting. “I fucking knew the Corsettis would pull something. That’s why I insisted to Lorenzo we move your wedding up, and yet, only weeks away, and they’vestillmanaged to fuck it up. No matter because while you were in Canada, I was working on a secondary option for you, and with this news you’ve brought back, it’s a good thing I did.”

I straighten as he reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out an image, tossing it toward me. It’s of a woman, sexy and with a grin that says she’s aware of her own looks. Confident, staring right into the camera, her dark eyes promising danger. Long black hair tumbles around her shoulders and melds with the off-shoulder black gown.

“She is?” I flick the photo back toward my father, uninterested in why he has a picture of a stranger.

“A potential wife.”

“In a week, I’ll have a wife.” That was the deal made with Nico. A quick engagement; enough time for Ariella to say goodbye to her sister and for me to get things prepared here. The counter-agreement was that the ceremony would happen in his home, and not here. “Don’t need her.”

He takes the picture back, studying the woman as though she’s an item for sale. “I entertained your agreement with Nico, but given today’s events, this woman could be a more suitable candidate. Her name is Vanessa Volkov.”

“Volkov,” I repeat, my blood instantly icing over. “OftheVolkovs? The Russian Bratva. Father, what did you do?”

“Nothing yet,” he replies, and instantly, my blood pressure drops a few degrees. “But we can very easily. The Corsettis ruined a connection they want—need—more than us. And don’t claim otherwise, because at first sign of trouble, they requestedyourhelp. Well, we could better benefit having the Bratva on our side. They have weapons I’ve been dying to get my hands on, son.” My father leans forward, his dark eyes brighter and more excited than normal. “Ursin Volkov has already agreed to entertain the concept of an offer. If we make one, and he accepts, Erico, you’d be king of a motherfucking empire. No one in the world would dare oppose us.”

The Bratva makes theFamiglialook like a joke and even I have to admit that. Two days ago, I might have taken this offer. A dangerous, precarious one, but Vanessa over Aurorawouldbe more beneficial, and I trust Father’s decisions, even when I’ve doubted him in the past. All he’s ever done in his time as Boss was make theFamigliaan organization I’d be proud to lead, and with the Bratva connections…

But that was before a fucking siren with red hair flashed her eyes at me.

The image on his desk evaporates, the woman being swapped out with Ariella. Instead of black hair, I see red. Instead of a dark gown, I’m seeing a jade one.

“I’ve already agreed to the arrangement. If I turn around and deny Ariella, the Corsettis have full rights to attack.”

Father stabs his finger into Vanessa’s picture. “If we gain the Bratva, then war will be worth it. We’ll have them on our side and can wipe out the Corsettis for good. We’d claim control of Montreal too at that point.”

So much power. So much control. It’s tempting. Like a ripe apple, waiting to be bit, but I’ve made my decision. To even consider taking the stranger in the image as my bride makes my stomach churn. To witness the disappointment on Ariella’s face when she learns her offer was declined after being accepted. Not when I still have so much to uncover about the woman.

“I said no, Father.” Finality rings in my tone. “But we can still marry Vanessa to someone else in theFamiglia. Caladin is single.” Just the way my cousin enjoys it for his own personal reasons. “I’m marrying Ariella Lambert, as agreed upon with both her and Nico Corsetti in a week. The ceremony will be held in their house, in Montreal, if you and Mother would like to join me.”

Father scoffs. “That’s it then? I offer you the world and you opt for a mute woman who won’t be able to provide what you need.”

“Stop,” I demand, biting the inside of my mouth until I taste blood, to prevent from saying what Ireallywant to. “She’ll be fine.”

Father laughs, throwing his head back. “Fuck, Erico, please tell me you’re not pussy-whipped already. TheFamigliawill demand your complete attention. You know this.”

“And they have it. But just because she’s not a Corsetti by blood doesn’t mean you have the right to insult her. She’ll still be my wife.” I pause before admitting, “Father, shevolunteeredto this.”

“And?” He rolls his head in a half-shrug. “That’s a power play move on her part. After seeing her sister with a mob boss, maybe she wants her own.”

Maybe, but the little I know of Ariella tells me that isn’t it. I don’tknowwhy she agreed to the wedding, but I doubt it’s for power.

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