Page 46 of Mine to Love
“Serena Santos meet Zane Izzo.” Zane extends his hand and Serena shakes it while glancing between the two of us. “As you said, this visit is long overdue, and we have much to discuss. I brought Zane along in case you have questions regarding the unfortunate news we have to share.” That’s a half-truth. I can answer all of Serena’s questions regarding Santiago Garcia. But it’s a believable cover story for Zane’s true purpose here tonight—to help keep Serena’s sexual advances at bay and as back-up in case things escalate.
“Well, this sounds serious. Come on. I have drinks and dinner waiting for us on the terraza.”
After Zaneand I finish informing her of Santiago Garcia’s movements and her obligation to handle him, Serena stands and walks to the edge of the terraza. She stares out into the night, contemplating all that we’ve said. I take it as an opportunity to check in with Milo. Something doesn’t feel right. From Serena’s comments earlier to her change in demeanor, to the way she’s been staring a hole into my face the entire evening, to the fact that her right-hand man, Gabriel, is nowhere to be found. I don’t like it.
Thankfully, there haven’t been any security breaches at the villa, so I’m sure Darcy is safe. At least, that’s what I tell myself to remain as calm as possible. But still. Serena is never without Gabriel. The two of them are so attached at the hip it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the father of Serena’s secret child. Perhaps that’s why he’s absent tonight. Serena surely had other plans for my visit, ones that don’t involve clothes. He always did loathe me. Regardless— “Eyes on target?” I text.
“Confirmed,” Milo quickly responds.Good.I hope it doesn’t come to it. Serafina is an innocent girl, as innocent as Cara. But my conscious can only be as honorable as my opponent’s. Weakness gets you killed. If I can’t control my weakness—my love for Darcy—then I must exploit Serena’s. Next, I text Killian. He’s another one of our top soldiers who is holding down the fort back in New Orleans. He’ll be able to use our hacking software to track Gabriel from The Compound.
“It’s a shame,” Serena says then, drawing my attention. I slip my phone back into the inside pocket of my suit jacket. “Men like Santiago are always looking for ways to challenge me. They can’t stomach having a woman at the top.” She turns and movestoward her chair on the opposite side of the small table between us. Sitting, she rests her elbows atop it and meets my gaze. “I think it’s because they think I’m incapable of being as heartless as them, as ruthless, as violent.” She shrugs nonchalantly and leans back in her chair. “They’re wrong.”
I remain quiet and focused on Serena’s every movement as one of her guards approaches with a manilla folder. She takes it and flips through the contents inside. Her lips curl into a wicked snare before falling into a flat line. As she closes the folder, she looks at me with dead eyes. “You have been bad, haven’t you?” she asks me then. Again, I remain quiet. Though, as my chest tightens and my fingers twitch, there is a looming war inside my mind.
I never get flustered, and I can’t afford to now. But this feeling inside is all too similar to the one I had the night I confronted the bartender who disrespected Darcy, the night I realized she was alone after dark on the streets of New Orleans. Darcy was in trouble, and I made it to her just in time. But tonight is different. What if, this time, I don’t make it to her before they?—
Serena tosses the folder at me. I hesitate to open it. “I will handle Santiago Garcia. Though, seeing as he is a threat to not only my organization but yours, I have a demand of my own.”
“Garcia is not a threat to our organization,” Zane pipes up. “We are more than ready to defend New Orleans fromanyonewho threatens our territory. And we will win. Can you say the same?”
“Oooo, the puppy speaks,” Serena says, throwing a dig at Zane’s youthfulness. Careful. He has a wicked bite. Still, I’ve yet to open the folder or utter a single word. Serena takes it as her opportunity to state her request.
“Santiago is a pig, but his idea isn’t terrible. I’ll take care of him, but I want a stake in the New Orleans turf. Not justan alliance with the ever-changing leadership, but an actual physical presence in the city. Really, it would be in both of our best interests. By being able to better control our shipments and dissemination of product, it grants my organization more stability. Perhaps that will be enough to extinguish the threats against me and make our alliance more stable as well.”
My lip tugs into a smirk. She’s bold to request such a thing. So bold, I almost admire her for it. Nevertheless, I will never allow it. The only reason Josephine Cullen of the Irish mob agreed to Alister’s terms and sent Aidan Cross to rule in her stead is because of the value of the Amato territory—the uncompromised solidity of it. Over the decades, North American crime families were largely wiped out whether by law enforcement or a competing rival. The Amatos have remained, absorbing all available territories until they became the largest and most powerful Mafia organization in the world. If we section off pieces of the empire, it loses its value. And we will inevitably lose everything, as our allies turn against us in their thirst for power.
“Your proposition insults me,” I say then. “Consider your request denied.”
“Is that right?” Serena asks with a sense of arrogance. “I think you’ll change your mind once you examine the contents of the folder you’re notably avoiding.”
I sigh, feigning disinterest. My mind won’t change. But if what’s inside that folder has anything to do with Darcy, I need to know so that I can protect her. I can’t avoid it any longer. As I reach for the folder, I brace myself and rely on my oldest coping mechanism to remain calm. That is, focusing on the beat of my heart as I review the contents before me. Though, as the images of Darcy and I come into view, calm is the last thing I feel.
Zane, standing beside my chair, quickly averts his eyes when he glimpses them. The photos are of us naked on the balcony ofmy villa, shot with a long lens camera from a boat outside the prohibited area. Of course, with our positioning, Darcy is the most visible. Her breasts are on full display as I thrust into her from behind. Though, the images aren’t what’s most important. What’s important is they know about her,andthey know where she is—alone, undefended, and ripe for the taking. There’s a sinking feeling inside me as I presume that’s where Gabriel is right now—waiting for Serena’s command.
“Tell me, Gio, is denying me really worth losing her?” Serena asks. “I mean, she must be special for you to have replaced me. Can’t say I see the appeal, but to each their own.”
At that, I snap the folder closed and hand it to Zane for safe keeping. “First, you weren’t replaced. To be replaced, you would’ve first had to exist in my life. You would’ve had to matter. And you never did, Serena. This was casual, lustful, something to fill the void and nothing more and you knew it. So, don’t play the victim now. Secondly, insult her again and I’ll cut out your tongue.” At that, Serena’s guards bristle and move their hands to rest on their weapons. But I don’t care. I may not be calm, but I am certainly not afraid. Anger has its advantages too.
“And, finally, I have a question for you,” I say. Serena stares at me with wide eyes and parted lips as I stand. “Is threatening me really worth losing your daughter? Because I have eyes on Serafina as we speak. So, if anything, and I do meananything,happens at my villa tonight,ormy men don’t hear from me with the previously agreed upon phrase at a specific time, your daughter dies.”
“You wouldn’t,” Serena whispers.
“Wouldn’t I?” I counter. “You’ve heard the stories. You’ve all heard the stories,” I say louder, addressing the guards within earshot. “No te conviertes en Diablo sin saber domar a los demonios.”You don’t become the Devil without knowing how to tame demons.
Serena stands with such force her chair topples over behind her. “Fine.” The word slices through her. She pulls out her phone and tells Gabriel to return to the villa, leaving Darcy unharmed. She shows me the text to prove it. “I won’t harm your beloved so long as you never bring my daughter into our business again.”
“Agreed.” Though after this stunt, I can’t trust her. Not that I ever could. But now things are different. She knows about Darcy. She knows my weakness. And, if I didn’t have my leverage, Darcy would be dead or, at a minimum, in captivity.
Just because Serena’s ploy to use her against me didn’t work tonight doesn’t mean it couldn’t work in the future. And she could tell others about Darcy. It’s why I’ve held my knowledge of Serafina so close to my chest all this time. She was my leverage to use. Now that Serena is aware of her daughter’s exposure, she’ll take measures to make sure she can’t be used against her again, just as I’m going to ensure Darcy can’t be used against me.
Gabriel won’t make it back to Serena’s villa. That’s the price he’ll pay for seeing Darcy naked. And Serena won’t survive the night. Our business is finished. And it’s time I pay Santiago Garcia a visit.
41
Zane beginsthe long trek up my driveway just after ten p.m. The entire ordeal took longer than I’d planned. Hopefully, Darcy isn’t asleep. But what’s most important is she’s safe and she’ll remain so. With the help of Killian, Xander located and eliminated Gabriel before he made it back to Serena’s. And he collected Gabriel’s camera and cellphone so that Darcy’s identity can remain protected and her honor intact.
As for my meeting with Santiago Garcia, well, I don’t like him, and I don’t trust him. It turns my stomach to do business with him knowing he’s targeting and using vulnerable women. I didn’t ask for specifics. Perhaps, I don’t want to know so long as he doesn’t try it again in the states. That was the agreement.
I gave him the details of Serena’s estate and had Killian override her security system. In exchange for hers and her detail’s death before the stroke of midnight and a promise that he’ll keep his ass in Mexico, I have made him a king and pledged to honor the alliance formerly held by Serena and my organization.
