“What has you so happy?” I ask, sitting down next to Romeo. He’s stiff, not even looking in my direction when I sit next to him. My brows narrow with concern. My father is an evil man, his words can cut deeper than any weapon and he knows exactly how to wound my brother. He’s harder on Romeo, embarrassed how soft of a man he is in comparison to the DeAngelo line of men. I feel that he just hasn’t given Romeo his chance to shine, he has it in him, I know it. But with a shadow hovering over you like our father’s, I see why he’s intimidated. I guess that’s why I’ve taken him under my wing.
“My boy, I’m a genius, that’s what!” He laughs, my uncles following in on the annoying chuckle. Resting my foot on my knee, I wait for this ingenious idea of his.
“We’re taking over the Bravado family.” He takes his hands in the air, making one hand palm the other as if it gobbled it whole.
I raise a brow.
“And how do you suppose we do that?”
Lowering his head, shadows fall over his face from the dull lighting of the crystal chandelier above.
“You’re going to marry their daughter.” He growls. My stomach knots, my head tilting to the side as if he’s lost his fucking mind.
Romeo finally looks in my direction, his thumb and index finger cradling his chin.
“Mi scusi?” Excuse me, I say in Italian. “Marry?” I clarify, looking back at my father. I know some Italian, mostly things I’ve picked up from living in a family of Italians, but it usually comes out without my thinking in times of surprise.
“Si. You’re going to marry her, and in return we’ll take their men, their business, turf. All of it. It’s time. It’s perfect!” He continues to ramble, not making any sense. My uncles roaring and acting as if this is a damn celebration.
“No,” I deadpan, killing their happy moods. The sound of water sloshing against the docks deafened by the rush of my anger pumping through my veins. I will pick who I marry, not my father.
“No?” My father’s head tilts to the side. “Arranged marriages happen all the time in families like ours, this marriage is happening.” Dad waves his hand about like it’s semantics and minor details of being a child of the mafia.
Cupping my chin I begin to fidget, I don’t like this. I don’t want to be responsible for a human being. Then again, she would be mine. The polished princess of the Bravado family to do what I want with, and fuck when I want. The situation starts to become appealing the more I think about it. The warmth of her naked body next to mine on cold days. The idea of being bewitched by a female companion instead of my next job luring me further into my father’s web.
My father’s cell rings, and he answers it. While he’s distracted, I look to Romeo, his eyes telling me this is a bad idea.
“What?” My father’s voice cuts through the cigar smoked air. “Find her! NOW!”
My dad throws his phone across the boat, and I can’t help but sigh at his dramatics.
“What is it?” Tony asks, looking to my father like a lost puppy. Dad glares at me.
“That little bitch made a run for it.” He sneers. “Find her, Kieran!”
Rubbing my bottom lip with my thumb, I think the proposition over for a split second. Dare I say excitement at having Leona as mine. She’ll love me, be there for me.
I sit forward in my seat. “If I find her,.” My words leave no room for negotiations. “I bring her back, and nobody will touch her.” I point a finger to get my point across.
“You will find her, and she agrees to marry you. She’s all yours.” His voice rises.
I tap my lip with the pad of my finger. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. I might find her and detest her. She could be needy and selfish, growing up on daddy’s money, giving her a chip on her shoulders that can’t be reformed.
“We’ll see,” I growl in response to my dad’s eagerness. My reply as good as a smack to the face.
He turns red and like a bull in a china shop, he shoves through everyone and grabs me by the neck, pulling me up and shoving me against the wall.
He pulls a gun from his holster and aims it at Romeo. I’ve disrespected him in front of his men and now he’s showing everyone on the boat who is the boss.
My nostrils flare, my hands balling into fists. I contain my rage knowing if I fight back my uncles will support my father and it will be four against one. His ink black eyes a well of darkness that reminded me of a savage shark.