more than a shit-show for them to get a close-up view of Mecca.
I hadn’t invited any of these two-faced, old crows to our wedding, and I’m sure I had hurt their feelings of self-importance by leaving them out.
“I must compliment you on your choice. Your wife is beautiful.”
But?
“But…” He was predictable and wasted no time getting to the point of this dinner.
“An alliance with a drug cartel isn’t the best move to make on behalf of this syndicate. I’m surprised something like this was cleared.”
Because they didn’t consult with the likes of you.
The committee that cast deciding votes were old-power, much like this group who approved major deals and implemented laws, like a warped version of congress. The difference between the group that decided the Vallin-Evans alliance, and this one, was that they were more like federal level, and the group in this room were like state.
Although I essentially possessed more power than any of them, sort of like a governor, they had enough collective power to overthrow my decisions. They could also overthrow my position and vote me out. Attempts were made, but I had learned the game of always having more of them on my side than not.
Mecca appeared to be fighting her reaction to Stan’s comments as her body remained tensed. I reached for her hand. Once she handed it over, I held tight and stood. Stan continued to talk, but I had stopped listening after his first complete sentence.
“I’ve been the head of this region for seven years now. Not only have I made everyone in this room richer, but I’ve somehow managed to control my impulse to send some of you in here to hell for trying to kill me.”
Mecca bit into her lip, dropping her head to hide the telling smile that surfaced at my comment that had set off gasps and had hands covering some of the awed faces in the crowd. Stan pointed at Mecca.
“You smile, young lady, but you have no idea who you’re married to. Just because you’re some drug kingpin’s niece, it doesn’t give you any kind of power in this world. You’re nothing but a bridge between two deep gaps that you’ll never understand.”
He wanted more power, yet he failed to fully understand the world in which he lived. In the simplest terms, he was too old for this shit. His methods and ways were outdated.
“It won’t take but a few seconds for me to tell you that my wife is the most powerful woman in this room, but it would take me a lifetime to make you understand the reasons why.”
I glanced down at Mecca.
“My dear, sweet, lovely wife runs the Black Saints.”
More gasp, wide eyes, and mouths were falling open in surprise. I even saw a few fingers pointing. Them not having knowledge of Mecca’s position among her organization was proof that they weren’t cut out for what they were after. I made it my business to know more about them, and their business than they sometimes knew.
“It’s not the same,” another voice sounded. It was George Anello.
“You can’t expect us to respect this woman. She’s an outsider. A fucking eggplant,” he spat the ugly word with an eagerness that made his Italian accent peek out. He had spoken the prejudiced word with his chest poked out in pride, causing a storm of gasps and some people to sling heated words in his direction. He may as well have called Mecca the N-word, as far as I was concerned.
Mecca stepped away from the table, her chair grunting from her quick movement.
“Did that motherfucker just call me an eggplant? What fucking decade are we in?” she asked as she stepped away from the table. Knowing my wife the way I did, she was packing, and George was more than likely about to eat a bullet.
I locked a firm grip around her arm, stopping her progression and causing her to turn her anger in my direction. I spoke quickly, not giving her the chance to unleash that anger.
“First, I’m sorry you had to hear that shit. Second, I promise you. I’ll take care of it.”
The hurt in her gaze tore me apart. If I let her go right now, I had no idea what she would do. There was a way you handled people like George, and she would find out soon enough.
“Trust me, love. I’ll take care of it.” I urged, nodding, and presenting a calmness I didn’t truly feel. My calming words had finally eased enough