Page 40 of Christmas with the Mafia
Trent shrugs as he devours the club sandwich.
After he finishes, he wipes his mouth and says in his deep husky voice, “Anton tells me the don is reorganizing the structure.”
“As in?”
“He is assigning different roles to his guards, calling in old debts and dealing with lingering problems.”
“I see.”
My mind is racing, and Trent adds, “Anton believes he is tidying up his desk, which can mean only one thing.”
“Retirement.” I finish, and Trent nods.
“It appears that he wasn’t messing around when he told you that when you turned thirty, he was handing it all to you. This could change things.”
He’s not wrong, because this will changeeverything. Up until now, I have been the respectable face of the business. The CEO in charge of our corporation, overseeing the legitimate side of our business. I’m aware that my father isn’t getting any younger, unlike our enemies. They believe he is a soft touch now, perhaps because most of his allies are either dead or retired themselves. The new order is taking over, and I’m guessing that involves me.
“It makes sense.”
I lean back in my chair as Trent adds, “Your role will change. Have you any idea who will replace you in the business?”
“Joseph.”
One word that causes Trent to raise his eyes.
“He’s the best one for the job; it has to be him.”
Joseph is my younger brother. He’s young but hungry and is currently working in London overseeing our office there. He majored in business at Oxford and is mentally older than his years.
“Not Simeon?”
I think about my middle brother, who is more of a playboy, preferring to run the darker side of our business that involves the entertainment business. Then there is Julius, who oversees the import and export business.
“It must be Joseph; he is perfect for the role.”
I sigh as the claws of destiny sharpen, and Trent smiles sadly. “Thirty sucks.”
For a moment we let our shields slip, and the despairing look that passes between us reminds me how we hoped this day would never come. With position comes power and great responsibility, and Trent will also step up in his position within the Ravera organization.
I glance at my wristwatch and sigh.
“Ten minutes until the bell tolls.”
His sympathetic smile causes me to groan. “We will deal with it.”
He nods, standing as he prepares to greet my father and his entourage, who will be making their way inside the building as we speak. That alone will cause ripples of gossipto spread through the building. He rarely comes here and is spoken about with reverence. His reputation is as vicious as he is and is the only man on earth who can cause unease inside me. He hasn’t survived this long in a dark world without being ruthless and the top dog. His legacy is a cruel one, and I’m the lucky recipient of that.
My thoughts turn to my engagement, and I hope I have done enough because the last thing I want is an arranged marriage as his parting gift. I’m well aware of the chosen one in that department, and I would rather gouge my own eyes out than rest them on her vicious face every morning. So, with a sigh, I stand and head to the boardroom, where the meeting is scheduled to begin.
I am waiting when the door opens and the man himself sweeps into the room like a wrecking ball. He fills it with a dark presence, his calculating eyes finding mine and boring deep into my soul. I do not flinch. I have learned not to over the years. Reveal no emotion and disguise your thoughts. Never let your enemy understand your thought process, and my father is a formidable enemy, more than the rest of them forming an alliance against me.
“Nico.”
He approaches and hugs me hard, thumping me on the back as if he is performing first aid. He pulls back and kisses me three times on my cheek before staring deeply into my eyes, his flashing with dark power.
“I am very pleased.”
His words give me a moment’s relaxation, and as hetakes his seat, the one at the head of the table, Trent and Anton take their seats on either side of him. I take the one opposite him, and silence prevails as we wait for the great man to speak.
