Ruthless Prince (Dark Syndicate 1)

“What do you paint?” She sounds intrigued.

“Everything. Anything my imagination conjures up.”

“That sounds cool. I write poetry. I stuck with it after college.”

“After?” I thought she was close to my age.

“After. I’m twenty-five.”

“You look a lot younger.” She beams.

“Thank you. I think it’s my youthful spirit.” She giggles. “I studied English literature. I wanted to be a teacher, but I guess I’ll get myself together eventually. It can be tough out there trying to get started in your career.”

“Yeah,” I agree. My launch into my career has been tough for a reason I’m sure most people never encounter, and it looks like it’s never going to happen for me. “How long have you worked here?”

“Years. I’ve known Massimo all my life though.” Her face shows that fond look I’ve seen on Pricilla’s face. I hope she isn’t going to sing his praises or do anything like that. I don’t want to hear it.

“If it’s okay, I… don’t really want to talk about him,” I say. That’s the best way I can put it without sounding too rude, although I probably do sound exactly that.

“You don’t have to.” She nods. “I’m not here for that. I thought maybe you could use someone to talk to. Or just hang with. If you do want to talk about him, though, I swear everything you say will be strictly off the record. I mean that.”

I gaze at her wondering if I can let my guard down and trust her. She and Priscilla have been nice to me, but that doesn’t mean anything when it comes to loyalty.

I learned well from dealing with p

eople who worked for my father. In the end, they would always answer to him. Maybe though… I could just talk about the things on my mind that she must already be aware of.

“It’s hard, hard being here. Hard… doing what I’m doing. Marrying a man I don’t know,” I explain. Suddenly, I feel like I want to spill my heart.

She nods, understanding. “I know. I can only imagine. I could see it as you tried on one dress after another. You look like you want to be happy because the dresses and your ring are so beautiful, but the situation spoils it.”

She hit the nail on the head. “Yeah. All my hopes and dreams crushed just like that. My life stolen. I don’t know how I’m supposed to live like this. There’s no escape for me.”

She looks down at the sand, stares at it for a moment, then her gaze flicks back up to meet mine.

“Emelia…” Her voice trails off. “I feel sorry that this has happened to you. I confess that I don’t agree. I’m paid to do a job, but I see many things I don’t like. Your father did a lot to Massimo’s family, but I don’t agree that you have to suffer for it.”

My interest piques at her words. She sounds like she might have answers.

“I don’t know what he did. I don’t know anything. Up until last week, I never even knew my father knew the D’Agostinos.”

“Yeah, that figures. Women and children are kept out of business. I wasn’t so lucky. Just like Massimo. I saw the ugly side when I was far too young. It changes you forever.”

As she speaks, I get the impression that there’s more to her story than just her parents’ accident.

“What happened?” I ask.

“I… can’t talk about my story. Not yet anyway. Maybe someday.” She gives me a nervous, shaky smile. “Massimo though… things changed a lot for him when his family lost everything. My family has served the D’Agostinos for many generations. Being the help’s daughter, I hear things. I saw things. I know things I probably shouldn’t.”

My chest tightens. “Like what?”

“Have you ever heard of the syndicate?”

I shake my head. “No. Never.”

“Good. They’re a secret society for the most part, although they don’t keep their existence secret. If you know, you know. What you don’t know is how they operate and what they do, but it’s not hard to figure out they’re untouchable. They’re made up of six powerful crime families. Two of the current leaders are your father and Massimo’s.”

My eyes widen. “My father?” I can’t imagine that I wouldn’t have known about them.