Page 247 of The One
“Why are you so eager to step up? Trust me, being Don isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And the answer is still no.”
He laughs. “I’ve been waiting to leave my mark on the family all my life. Why wouldn’t I be excited?”
“You really want it?”
“Of course. You don’t?”
“Never did. This was always meant to be Tiero’s job.”
Max studies me, and despite the mask I try to keep in place, he reads me like a book.
“I get it’s tough for you right now,” he says.
He has no idea.
“But it will get better.”
It’s what I keep telling myself too.
But will it?
Chapter Ninety-Three
Mateo
The next couple of weeks tick by, and nothing is any easier. The attacks continue, and sabotage is rampant. It’s one step forward, two steps back.
I find myself questioning more and more why I’m enduring this. Why I’m fighting so hard for something that only drains me, and kills any remnants of joy I used to have. If it wasn’t for Mari, I’d go insane.
The door to my office swings open with force.
“You won’t believe what’s happened now,” Rom announces, his voice heavy with frustration.
I lift my head to nod toward Mari, signaling that we’re not alone. My beautiful wife is curled up on the lounge, sketchbook in hand, lost in her own world. Her brow furrows in concentration, her fingers dancing across the page as she sketches a new design with the kind of passion I wish I still had for anything other than her.
Her feet rest in my lap, warm and delicate against my thigh. I let my thumb trace slow, absentminded circles on the inside of her ankle. The small connection keeps me grounded. Calmer.
Rom exhales sharply when he notices her. “Oh, hi, Mari.”
She looks up, offering a small smile. “Hi. You two obviously need to talk shop.” She fights a yawn, closing her sketchbook. “I’m going to bed.”
“I won’t be long,” I tell her, though even as the words leave my mouth, I know that’s probably a lie.
Whatever Rom has to say at this hour isn’t going to be quick. Or good.
Mari leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before disappearing down the hall. I watch her go, envying her ability to step away from all this.
I turn to Rom. “What is it this time?” My voice is tight, my patience almost non-existent.
He drops into the seat Mari vacated, looking as worn out as I feel. We used to enjoy life, used to laugh, drink, and fuck without a care. Now, those days seem like a distant memory, belonging to the lives of different men.
“Our guy at the police department called. They got an anonymous tip-off about a shipment of weapons arriving in a couple of days. The chief wants it confiscated and make a big show of it.”
Fuck.That’s the last thing we need.
“He seems to forget who holds the power here,” I seethe, grabbing my phone.
Rom watches as I dial. The line barely rings before Uberto picks up. The man never seems to sleep.
