Until Her - Ami Van Page 0,6
jaws clench, teeth-gritting. He sees the tick of Derrick’s fingers and knows that his twin is coming to the same conclusion. He slowly turns and assesses his younger brothers too. Rory is sitting rigid and Chase looks like he’s about to vomit whatever he’s eaten the past week.
“Your suggestion?” Derrick asks without an ounce of emotion. His brother plays the part well. Derrick always has.
“Isabella and Cristian are opening Olympus, a high-clientele club of sorts,” Matteo continues. “Olympus is currently being built on the outskirts of Philly, where I believe your family can keep both the business and my niece safe. I believe at least one of you will take an interest to her for a practical union, allowing her to remain in that territory unharmed.”
And expanding Romanos’ business into theirs, he thinks to himself.
A percentage of their empire would be controlled by The Five. They’d be working for Bosses again, doing the work while someone else reaps a portion of their blood and sweat.
“In return, you will be brought into the circle. A union with Isabella can pave the way,” Dom says.
He can hear the underlying meaning in the Don’s words. This is the consequence of Stella’s doing. Bringing them into the circle can put her at a higher risk of exposure but it keeps Stella at arms-length to the Don at the same time. Don Mazzilli must be salivating over this.
Fuck! Why did it have to be this?
“Since there are three of you remaining bachelors, I think it’s a good idea for you all to meet her before a decision is made,” Matteo says completely ignorant to the tension in the room.
“Matteo, go on ahead and have your niece ready. The Kings will have dinner here and then meet you at your place of choice.”
With that dismissal from the Don himself, Matteo didn’t have a choice but to get up and leave.
Dom waits for Leo to return to the office before the pretenses drop and the man exhales. Not a second later, Stella barges in with Lilliana trailing on her heels.
“NO!” she wails at Dom. “Absolutely not!”
“Stellina, this is a small price to pay,” Dom tells her with a much too calm demeanor. “Your whole family will be brought under our protection. No King will ever be bothered again. Including you and Rian.”
“But this is MY doing! You can’t make them pay for my choices!” Stella screams.
He hasn’t said a word. He didn’t know what to say. What words are needed?
In the pit of his stomach, he already knew this is going to fall on his shoulders. There’s no way he can let Chase or Rory take this fall. Rory won’t survive a loveless marriage and Chase will get shot dead being an unfaithful husband or drown in the misery of being a husband.
“Stellina, this was the deal. I call, you answer. You have no further say,” Dominic says, waving his hand with finality. “YOU have given up the one thing that I granted you. Your safety in anonymity. You exposed yourself and you stepped into this business FOR THEM. YOUR KINGS! I could have forced you to come home,” Dom says harshly, jamming his finger onto the top of the desk to make his point clear. “But I did not! Now it’s their turn to show me that they can keep you safe!”
Because Kings have catastrophically failed at the task multiple times. He can hear Dom’s insinuation loud and clear from where he stands.
“Why does it have to be this?” Stella asks.
With all pretenses dropped, Derrick stands and walks over to comfort his wife.
“Stellina,” Lilliana speaks. “Don Vitali originally made a similar arrangement with the Romanos and his grandnephew. But with his passing and your grandfather stepping in instead, Lorenzo Vitali no longer has to uphold to that arrangement.”
“I don’t understand,” Stella says.
“Even without his granduncle, Lorenzo Vitali still ranks high up in the organization. He has the option of declining now. The man doesn’t need to get hitched to anyone to hold his spot in the organization,” he informs Stella.
“Adam is right,” Lilliana confirms.
“And if I don’t do right by the Romanos, Matteo might move to another of The Five. The move will bring questions and concerns about my leadership. I cannot have any unnecessary focus on me right now and you know why. Matteo Romano has too many ears to whisper into,” Dom tells everyone.
“I’ve thought about this many times over,” Dom continues. “It doesn’t bring me joy but this will solve many issues. Issues