Page 33 of Hook

Her eyes widen. “What?”

“Yeah, I’m taking everything from Piero, including his fiancée.”

“But what about your happiness, son? You don’t love her.”

I may not love her, but I don’t believe I’m capable of love. After all, I’m a mobster and won’t marry for love, but for convenience. Once I bring Piero to his knees and destroy everything he owns, Jovani Tesoro will be thankful that I’m the man married to his daughter. At least, that’s my hope. Otherwise, I might have to kill him too.

“I don’t think I’m capable of love, Ma.”

She makes a disapproving sound. “Don’t be so ridiculous, Cillian. Everyone is capable of love.”

“I’m marrying her and that’s final.”

She sighs heavily and grabs my hand, squeezing. “Okay, I want you to be happy.”

Today my ma isn’t too bad. There are days when she’s difficult to have conversation with. “I’ll be happy when Piero is dead.”

Ma nods. “I know you think that, but there’s more to life than getting revenge. Once that’s over, I fear you’ll be empty, with nothing left to focus on.”

My mind strays to the beauty upstairs locked away in her room, and I want to go to her. She has this draw on me that I can hardly resist, and yet I know I need to resist her for now. Until we’re married, I won’t take her virginity.

“You want to go to her, don’t you?” Ma asks.

I swallow hard. “What?”

“Do you care for her?”

I shake my head. “I hardly know her.”

“But you want her in that way?” Ma asks.

“I don’t wish to discuss this with you.”

She laughs. “Oh, Cillian. I’m not a nun. I know that human beings have needs and you’re only human.”

I shuffle uncomfortably in my chair, not wishing to discuss my oddly primal desire for the woman I’ve taken captive with my ma of all people. “I’m attracted to her,” I say simply.

“She’s a beautiful girl, and you two would make a lovely-looking couple, if that’s what you want.” Her eyes light up. “I hope there will be grandchildren.”

My stomach churns at the thought of having a baby with Gwendolyne Tesoro, and suddenly I wonder if I’m rushing into this. “Are you trying to put me off?”

She laughs. “Not at all.” Although there’s a glint in her eyes that tells me that’s not entirely true. She knows I’d freak out at the mention of children and doesn’t want me rushing into this. Desperate to change the subject, I clear my throat. “Someone is working against me in the organization.”

“What?”

I nod. “I found a ledger with all the shipments that have been hit in the last couple of months circled.”

“Do you know who it is?”

I shake my head. “It could be anyone.” My lips press together. “I’m worried it might be Smyth.”

“Surely not. Smyth loves you.”

“I don’t exactly treat him the best.”

She sighs. “No, but I can’t see him doing that.”

I hope she’s right, as all faith in humanity will be lost if I find out my second-in-command and closest thing to a friend is the one who has betrayed me.

---