Cruel Vows

MASSIMO

Ican’t stand watching my father like this, deteriorating in front of my eyes. There’s something very poignant when you witness a man so tough and strong crumble in front of your eyes, brought down not by the dangerous lifestyle he has lived but an illness.

It’s been five days since they admitted him, and I’ve been to see him every day. Even though I remain outside of the room while he sleeps, watching the great man I once knew.

Today, I have to meet with Rourke and Spartak and tell them my father is critically ill and that I’ll be taking over all negotiations. The war, although now a farce, is continuing through agreed hits. We can’t risk Adrik or the Cartel getting suspicious that we know about their plans.

At least now the bloodshed has reduced, as we’re not out to kill each other anymore. Although I’m not confident that will last long. The Irish, Italians and Russians can’t get on forever. Once Adrik is out of the picture, who knows what will happen?

“Sir, are you ready to leave?” Arturo asks.

I glance at him briefly and then back at my father. “Yes, or I’ll be late.” I run a hand through my hair and then tear my eyes off the man I hardly recognize anymore. “Let’s go.”

He nods and leads the way out of the hospital into the parking lot. When we get to the SUV, my stomach dips when I see Adrik leaning on the hood. My fists clench by my side as I try to rein in my anger since Adrik doesn’t know I’m aware of his plan.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. After all, he’s Russian and we don’t get on with the Russians.

He smirks and pushes off the hood. “Sorry to hear about dear old dad.” He tilts his head. “Does that mean you’re in charge now, Massimo?”

I shrug. “Yeah, so what?”

“I hear you’ve been to a couple of meetings with my uncle.” His eyes narrow. “What about?”

My heart pounds harder against my rib cage as I stare into the eyes of the devil. A man so fucking evil he wants to blow apart his entire family. “We are trying to find a way out of this war.”

Adrik runs a hand across the back of his neck. “Doesn’t sound like my uncle to negotiate, especially since there’s been no ceasefire agreed.”

“That’s what we’re trying to agree.” I glance at my watch briefly, knowing I don’t have long to make it to the meeting. “I need to get going.” I walk past him, stopping by his side. “And I don’t want to see you hanging around here again, you got it?”

Adrik just smirks, shaking his head. “I don’t take orders from the likes of you.”

I snap, grabbing the lapel of his jacket and slamming him against the car door. “You will watch it, Adrik. If I see you here again, I’ll fucking string you up. Do you understand?”

His light hazel eyes search mine as if trying to find the answer to a question. “Got it.” He holds his hands up.

I fear he suspects that my meetings with his uncle have nothing to do with the war and everything to do with his sick and twisted plans.

“Good.” I let go of him and he slips away from me. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near me again.”

I nod to Arturo, who gets in the driver’s side of the SUV and starts the engine. Without another word, I slip into the passenger’s seat and glare at Adrik as we leave him in the parking lot.

Arturo’s brow furrows. “How did he know your father was here?”

I shrug, as I’ve got no idea. Maybe Carlo wasn’t the only leak in our family or perhaps the Cartel found out, as Hernandez is particularly well connected.

Either way, I need to be on high alert. Even Arturo doesn’t know about Adrik’s plan.

“We’re going to be late,” I say, noticing that it’s quarter past three on the dashboard. “How quick can you get us there?”

“Don’t worry, I know some shortcuts I can take.” He veers off of the main road down a side alley and I sit back, trusting my driver to get me to the docks on time.

It’s the only safe place where all three of us can meet, since we all have buildings down there.

After a ridiculously speedy journey across the city to the docks, Arturo pulls up with a minute to spare.

“I told you not to worry.” He cuts off the engine. “Shall I wait here?”

I nod. “Yes, I’ll be back in half an hour, I’d suspect.” I get out of the car and head toward the warehouse, which is up for rent. We had to select a neutral place to meet, rather than one of our own buildings.

When I get there, Spartak is standing to one side with his son, glaring at Rourke, who is standing with Killian and Kieran, his two brothers.

Luca is already there, as I asked him to back me up today. “Always have to be late, don’t you?” he mutters as I stand next to him.

“I think you’ll find that I am exactly on time.”

He rolls his eyes. “I tell you, I’m surprised they haven’t killed each other already.”

The tension in the room is palpable, like a living breathing thing infecting the air. Everyone in the room is on a knife’s edge. As I notice Spartak flexing his fingers as Rourke taps his fingers against what I can only assume is the gun under his jacket. We may have come to a tentative agreement to work against Adrik together, but there’s no putting years of bad blood behind us that easily.

I clear my throat, breaking the silence. “Since we’re all here, shall we get to it?”

Spartak glances at me, a twisted smirk on his lips. “So now you are taking control, are you, Massimo?” His brow furrows. “Where is your father?”

“He’s unwell.” I run a hand across the back of my neck. “And somehow Adrik knew about it and accosted me no more than fifteen minutes ago outside the hospital.”