Page 19 of Alive and Kicking
I follow behind Enzo. He’s acting as my bodyguard, even though I haven’t needed one in the last few years. It just makes him feel better when I’m out in the open and exposed like this. There probably won’t be any issues tonight. Not here at least. The Diamond is considered a sacred place, a truly neutral location. There are never attacks here, but that also makes it the best place for a surprise ambush.
The soft padding of footsteps follows behind me as the guys stick close. So close I can hear their quick intakes of breath when they see the inside of the building. Where the outside is derelict and in disrepair, the inside is sleek and modern. The floor is covered in a short, velvety red carpet, and in the back corner there is a full-service bar. The bartenders are already in attendance, Clarence overseeing them. He sees me and gives me a short formal nod of his head before busying himself with preparations for the club to open.
Yes, the club. This building not only holds important family meetings, it also doubles as a club for the underbelly of the city. Sordid affairs and back-alley deals happen out in the open insidethese walls. I once witnessed a man hire a guy to kill his wife’s affair partner in the corner booth. It’s weird, but in a way this place feels like home to me. I used to play under the tables and bother the bartenders while my dad was in meetings I was too young to attend.
We walk past a guard, through a big wooden door, and into a room with a large table surrounded by chairs. The seats are full, except for five off to the right of my dad. I take my seat next to him, and the guys fill in the rest of them as Enzo takes up a position against the wall at my back.
The room is silent for a moment before my dad starts talking, “I know you’ve all probably heard about the unfortunate situation involving Luca.”
A soft snort sounds beside me, but everyone pretends like they didn’t notice. Though I see Sloane elbow Zane out of the corner of my eye before Dad continues. “It was inevitable though. We’re all aware of his past actions, and he made the perfect test for my daughter.” He gestures to me which makes everyone turn their attention to me. I don’t back down, meeting each one of their gazes. I take note of the eyes that hold contempt as well as the ones that hold compassion.
My dad continues, catching everyone’s attention once more, “I am sure, now more than ever, that the best thing to do for the family is to pass on the mantle. Once Viviana graduates in three years, she will take over the family as the new head.”
Quiet murmurs brake out amongst those in attendance. Some are excited, others disgruntled. My dad holds his hands up and sends a stern look toward anyone obviously upset.
“I know there hasn't been a female at the head of our family since it’s start, but other families have been doing it for generations and it works just fine for them. There’s no one I trust more than my daughter to take over. I’m sure she will do great things for our family.”
“She’s killed half of the upper ranks of the family,” a gruff voice calls out.
Turning my head, I spot Ethan’s father, Rick. I stare him down and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. I’m not going to let the word of a serial killer’s father hold any weight over me. His son tried to pull my teeth out. I’m glad he’s dead. Though I’m a little sad that I wasn’t the one to actually end his life.
“Who’s that guy?” I hear Zane whisper, a little too loudly.
The men around the table send glares his way. It’s against protocol for people outside the family to speak unless asked.
Enzo surprises me when he’s the one to answer, “That’s Ethan’s father.”
Zane’s brow’s furrow. “Ethan… why does that name sound familiar?”
“That’s the guy who tried to pull Viv’s teeth out, remember? You slit his throat,” Cain unhelpfully supplies for him. I shoot a glare at Cain, but he ignores it as he sits back smugly in his chair. This is probably payback for the bunk beds.
Zane smiles, turning to look over at me. “Oh yeah! She looked so fucking sexy covered in his blood.”
Noise erupts around us at that. “So, what? We’re letting people outside of the family deal with internal issues now?”
My eyes narrow on Rick. He really is starting to piss me off. “They’re mine,” I tell him, without any hesitation.
Sure, these idiots still have yet to ask me to be their girlfriend, and I’m not sure where things are going with Cain; but they’re mine whether they want to be or not. I will protect and covet them like a vengeful dragon, and anyone who gets in my way will be subject to my wrath.
Rick splutters, “Yours?”
The smirk that spreads across my face could be described as nothing less than sinister. “Mine. If anyone so much as thinksabout touching them, I’ll start removing hands. If any of you have an issue with that, you can go through me.”
Zane snickers, and I just know he’s thinking about the time I considered removing the hands of any woman who had ever touched the other guys. It would have been too much of a hassle to cover up though. So, I’ll just stick to breaking hands, like I did to Carol last year.
“She’s absolutely unhinged! How can you trust her with anything?” someone else calls out.
“She’s the reason our ranks are so disorganized!” another man yells.
“We can’t let a woman be in charge!” says a guy who’s probably going to have a problem with the promotions I’m going to put in place.
“A very promiscuous woman at that!” a future dead man adds.
Zane’s eyes burn with fire as he zeros in on the person who made that comment. His hand flashes, and then the man’s hand is pinned to the table, impaled by Zane’s favorite knife.
“Never talk about Viviana like that.” His voice is dark, and a shiver goes down my spine at the sound of it.
My dad laughs, and everyone freezes at the sound. I turn to find him holding a hand over his stomach and laughing a full bellied laugh. When he’s finally able to calm down, he makes eye contact with me. “I’ll admit, I didn’t see the appeal at first with this one. I definitely see it now, though!”
