ARIA.
I'm headed to my office for the meeting I'd ordered with all the Capos this morning. I smirked, way too eager to see the expression on their faces once I inform them of my marriage and they realize they have no way to manipulate me. I'd always kept the Capos in line, even when my father couldn't but with him dead and my inability to inherit the title of Dom, they'd begun to rebel.
I didn't approve of all the seven Capos of the Cosa Nostra, but there were rules put in place to ensure the Don's autonomy without rampant dictatorship. Killing a Capo without reason was against the many set rules.
I still didn't regret killing Romanio. That lustful bastard deserved it. The word lust sent a heated memory I'd been trying to erase from my head in full force.
What happened with Mikhail didn't surprise me. We were eventually going to become intimate, especially since would live in close premises and we weren't allowed to be with others. It was basic human nature: the need for sex.
What did surprise and honestly bother me was the scorching desire he had for me. What he did to me—
His mouth on my neck, hand on my breast, his cock wedged between—
"Principessa," I startled slightly at the tap on my shoulder to see a worried Mariella. I cleared my throat. It seemed like I was always getting caught thinking about Mikhail.
"Are you headed to the meeting?" I asked. She nodded and gave me a soft smile before leaning in to hug me, her black lace shawl was soft against my cheek. It was unexpected but not...unpleasant.
"Thank you," she whispered. I swallowed, unsure what to do. I'd never been hugged. Before I could worry too much, she pulled away. "Let's...let's um...go. The Capos must be waiting," I cleared my throat again.
We headed to my office. The black interior reminded me of Mikhail's bedroom. Seated on leather chairs around the massive oak table, the Capos all turned to me. None of them smiled. Not that I expected them to.
Without acknowledging their presence, I sat at the head of the table. I could see Mariella taking her seat by the side not missing the nasty glares directed to her from some of the Capos. Honestly, these men loved to test my patience. Lena walked in steadily, with her head bowed she placed my coffee in front of me along with a lighter. She knew I'd need to smoke to bear with these irritating Capos. With a timid nod, she left the room.
"Dominic," I called. He walked in immediately with two of my most trusted sentinels at his tail. They positioned themselves at the door and stood guard. Reaching out, I sipped at the scorching coffee and sighed at the bitterness.
"Gentiluomini, abbiamo affari da discutere," I said. 'Gentlemen, we have business to discuss.' Raising my head, I flashed them a smile so obviously fake that it immediately set them on edge.
"Principessa, we've all been harbouring some...worries about your recent actions," the oldest of them all began. I despised Enzo. He was no more honourable than the rest of these useless Capos.
"If by recent actions you mean my disposing of Capo Romanio, you all have nothing to worry about," I replied, already reaching for the lighter for my cigar.
"Disposing?" Capo Matteo sneered. "You killed a Capo, against the rules of the Famiglia. We all hope there was a very valid reason for such an action," he slowly glanced at Mariella as he spoke. I'd like to see him dare to lay his hand on a single strand of her hair.
I snorted and replied, "Capo Romanio threatened the honour of the late Don. I simply did what I needed to do to restore that."
"Could you enlighten us on this grave crime that indicated an insult to our Don's legacy," Matteo continued. His irritation was clearly visible. A vein throbbed by his forehead close to his balding spots. Eww. Just the thought of almost marrying this man irked me more than anything.
Exhaling a small stream of smoke, I said, "Well, Capo Romanio insulted my father's memory from an outrageous request. I couldn't let it go unpunished. It's a pity that he died really."
Turning to look at Mariella, I continued. "Mariella was the only thing my father truly cared about. She was—is—his chattel. His property. It baffled me when Capo Romanio requested to possess the Don's woman. Insulting really—the audacity of it." I took another slow drag from the cigar as Matteo struggled to tamper his fury.
Capo Diancarlo, however, was not so wise. "You killed a Capo because he asked for a fucking widow?" he snarled at me. The expression on everyone's face was priceless. Terror was edged on the faces of all the Capos. Diancarlo had openly insulted the Don's woman by yelling at the Principessa. Both crimes punishable by death in the Familgia.
I slipped my hand beneath the holster that held my Glock and fired at him without hesitation. The bullet shot straight through his heart; he was dead before he hit the floor. His blood smeared across the rug in a slow, dark bloom and I sighed at the stain. This rug cost a goddamn fortune. I should really stop shooting Capos on it.
Lena and two other Cameriere rushed into the room with their heads bowed. They lifted the corpse with detached precision while Lena dropped to her knees to clean the rug. I tsked at the bitter sting of bleach as my cigar found it's way between my lips.
I sank into my chair and smiled, like the Capos weren't white with fear. Even Mariella looked a bit sick.
"I received some interesting intel a few days ago," I began. Dominic handed me the papers that proved the Capos plot to force me to marry Matteo. I took them without looking and, with a flick of my wrist, tossed them onto the centre of the table. The papers spread out slightly on impact, drawing every pair of eyes in the room. "You'll want to pay attention to this," I added coolly.
Matteo was the one who picked it up. Once he realized what they were, his face flushed. "We...I..it," he stammered. Enzo snatched the documents from his hand with a worried frown. He reacted quits similarly at first then he cleared his throat. "Principessa, we all were simply trying to secure your position. The law of Cosa Nostra prevents an unmarried female from inheriting the title of La Donna. Matteo is—"
"Not required. Because I'm already married," I interrupted and watched as their expressions turned even more confused. I could even feel Dominic stiffen beside me. He didn't know I'd done it.
Matteo sneered, "How can you be married, Principessa? It is in your best interests when I that you consider marrying a Capo to secure your position."
I leaned back with a smile and crushed the cigarette, burned nearly to the filter, into the ashtray. "It seems like you didn't hear what I said. I got married. I will not be needing Matteo and I will inherit the position of La Donna."
Their brows knitted in confusion. "May I ask who you are married to, principessa?" Matteo's voice had a weird edge to it. I couldn't blame him. He thought he'd have the whole Cosa Nostra at his feet. Pathetic bastard.
However, before I could say a word, sharp knocks sounded at the door.
"Who is it?" I called out.
"Principessa, t–t... the Pakhan requests to see you immediately. He's waiting outside." Lena said, her nerves were palpable.
To say the Capos were shocked would be a major understatement—they looked like they were about to pass out.
"The Russian Pakhan?" Matteo mumbled, dropping into his seat with a dazed expression.
I could barely restrain my fury. Why the fuck did Mikhail come to Sicily?!