Page 11 of Owned By the Mafia

As I’m about to hop off the box in front, I see Ronan at the door, nodding. He turns to leave as I jump down.

Chapter 6 - Dinara

Katya listens to me calmly as I speak.

“I just don’t think I’m the right person for the job, Kat. I cannot work with Robbie Quinn. He’s a narcissist, an asshole, and he will probably get me killed.” I don’t take my eyes away from hers. “Please, I know it’s an honor, and I can return everything. I just don’t think I’m the one to sort out a mess Robbie Quinn has made. The man is fucking psychotic.”

Katya sips her wine and purses her lips. “That’s why I chose you, Dina—the calm to the chaos that is Robbie Quinn. The man needs a gentle hand to merge the families' lower ranks without problem. You can do that. It cannot come from someone higher up in the family by relation.”

I sigh. I haven’t touched my red wine, and I don’t want to. I want to be fully here as I speak to Katya. Wine makes me easier to convince.

The door to her sunroom opens, and her greying, handsome husband walks in. He’s still tall and fit, but the greys in his hair and the beard he is now growing are clear as day.

“Katya. Dinara. We have a problem.” His tone is serious, but instead of addressing Katya, he turns to me. “Ronan Quinn just called me.”

“What did Robbie do now?” I scoff. “Kill the mayor.”

He doesn’t react but sits in the available armchair facing us.

“Six of his men were just gunned down at the pier. Before they were gunned down, they called to say the Italians summoned them,and that is presumably who attacked them. Now, Dominic checked, and no one called the Irish down to the pier. No one from our families, but of course, the men aren’t going to believe that. You’re going to have to handle this delicately, Dina.”

I listen, horrified, knowing I can’t step out of the role now. Not at the first sign of trouble. Katya is watching me closely, and I look back at Alessandro as I nod. “I’ll get on it straight away, Mr. Sorvino.”

Alessandro clicks his tongue. “The fact that I had to come find you to get on it at all concerns me. You need to be on top of these situations at all times.”

“My love…” Katya starts to say, but Alessandro holds his hand up.

“ I agreed with Katya when she said you would be the best person to do this, but if you’re going to do this, you need to get your head in the game. You were doubting whether you could control Robbie Quinn. You’re not here to parent him. You’re here to get the men in order, merged, and working together without issue. If you have a personal problem with Robbie Quinn, best you sort it out because I can promise you now, either you’re in it for the long haul, or you can leave.”

I realized he’d been listening to our conversation for some time. Katya looks at me with sad, apologetic eyes.

Alessandro sits forward, resting his elbows on his legs and linking his hands. “We are on the brink of war because of this merge. I don’t regret it; the Irish are strong men to have in our corner, and it multiplies our forces. But I will regret it if men from all three families fall out and start killing each other. It won’t matter what the heads of the families order. Then what we have built will crumble to nothing, and other families will use that to their advantage to take what is ours. A lot is riding on you getting this right, Dina. Do not disappoint me.”

He stands, kisses Katya’s forehead, and walks out.

Katya reaches a hand out to me. “I’m sorry, my friend.”

“It is the nature of what we do, Kat.” I give her a reassuring smile. “Alessandro places a great deal of trust in me, making me feel more confident.”

“If you truly can’t…”

“Then no one can. I will deal with Robbie Quinn as I see fit. Thank you for letting me air my concerns. I best get this sorted out straight away.” Katya gets up, and I give her a hug before I leave. Once I’m in my car, I let out an unsteady breath. My hands tremble, and I’m shaky as I start the car, but then I settle down as I drive off, deciding where to go first.

The phone rings through the car sound system, and I press the answer button. “Dina, hello?”

“It’s Robbie. We have an issue.”

“How did you get my number?” I ask without thinking.

“That’s not important now. There’s been an attack,” he says.

“I know. Alessandro just told me. I am on my way to the office to summon the men.” I am not confident about that answer, but he needs to know I have a plan.

“I’ve already spoken to mine. They’re still here, and they want a Sorvino to tell them who it was that attacked them. Can you get Dominic to come down here?”

Anger bubbles inside me. He’s going over my head as though I’m not in charge. I need to nip this now.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Dominic is a busy man, and I’m head of security. I’m not far away. I will be there shortly to address the men. Make sure they don’t leave.” I hang up before he can argue, and I turn around.

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