“Get out,” I tell her and she looks at me with wide eyes and runs out the back of the boat.
Sitting in the chair my father usually sits in, I pull out an Ashton cigar from his humidor, and a guillotine to cut the cap off. I run the cigar under my nose smelling the spice and tobacco, it’s craftsmanship invigorating. I light the end, puffing until the it’s fully lit and hot. The delicious earthy smoke filling my cheeks with tones of coffee beans coating my tongue. This is my dad’s favorite cigar since I was a kid. I like it, but I enjoy the more sweeter cigars that life has to offer.
Matteo walks in, his hands in his pockets.
“What are you doing?” he questions skeptically.
“Get out,” I order, and he turns and leaves, returning back to his post. Puffing on the cigar I grab the bottles of whiskey and scotch and start pouring them all over the couches, the floor, and the curtains. He never loved me, it was all about power with him. He used my brother and me to make sure he had one over us incase he needed it to put himself higher in the dynasty of our family.
Well, he raised this monster, and he’s about to get a crash course that you can’t tame a beast. Pulling the cigar from my mouth, I look at it then drop it to the soaked couch. Flames ignite instantly and spread across the leather. Sliding my hands into my slacks, I open the sliding glass doors and step onto the deck. Matteo looks at me with a horrified look on his face.
“Your dad is going to kill me!” he panics. I look to the boat and then back to him.
“Huh, I guess I know whose side you’re on then, huh?”
He gives me an awkward look and quickly runs away from the scene. Pulling out my phone from my pocket, I dial my father.
“What do you?” he snaps into the phone. “Is that Kieran?” my mother slurs in the background.
“So you asked me to marry Leona, make her family our own? Wasn’t that the original plan?” I ask with a chip on my shoulder.
“Sure, whatever,” he clips.
“Well, I am marrying her and I’ll be taking her last name. You started a war you won’t win mother fucker.” I hang up before he can say another word, the smell of burning material lingering in the air as black smoke floats above. People scream, and sirens can be heard not too far away.
Slipping into my car, I make a stop at my favorite jeweler.
LeonaWaking up, I find Kieran lying beside me. I yawn and yank the blankets over us, giving us our secret fort. He laughs and pulls me on top of him, my legs straddling his stomach. My hands trace his tattoos. How long was I asleep for?
“I have something for you,” he says, and I tilt my head to the side with curiosity.
Reaching into his slacks, he pulls out a black box and my heart stops beating, my hands covering my mouth. He opens it and I’m blinded by a princess-cut diamond ring.
“Oh my god, it’s beautiful.” I’m in awe, I’ve never seen something look so delicate and majestic.
“Marry me,” he says, and my eyes flick to his. “We don’t have to get married right away, but you’re mine and there’s no denying that. I want every man in New York to know that you’re taken, Leona,” he says, taking the ring from the box.
I open my mouth to say something, but I come up empty. I want to be with Kieran, and if we’re not setting a date it gives us time to get to know each other even more.
Taking my hand, he slides it on, and it fits perfectly. I don’t know how he knew my ring size, for all I know he measured it in my sleep. He’s a smart man and gets what he wants.
“Another thing, I want to take your last name.”
“What?” My eyes pop to his, this statement bigger than the engagement itself. “But you’re a DeAngelo. You’ve worked for your name, your family will be out for blood. You can’t do that.” I protest, knowing if he does this it will be the biggest war in history.
He takes both of my hands and holds them together, looking at me with gorgeous eyes.
“I’m taking your last name. It’s done. This way I can help you and your crew get back on your feet.”
My brows furrow. I never wanted to be the top boss of my famiglia because I was waiting for my father to return, but with Emilio out for blood, the Bravado family are sitting ducks. Dominic has tried to teach me things to do, where to go, and what to say to get things back up but I can’t do it alone. I’m not a gangster, and why my father ever thought I had it in me is beyond me.