The Dictator (Banker 2)

“Let it go, Bates.”

“I can’t let it go. This whore is poisoning your mind.”

“I’m not fucking her. I will kill her. You need to calm down.”

He threw his hands down as he stepped away. “I still don’t like this, Cato. I promise you, if you don’t pull the trigger, I will. She’s fucked with your brain since the day you met her, and even now that we know she’s a traitor, she still gets under your skin. The day she’s gone, I’ll get my brother back—and that day can’t come soon enough.”

5

Siena

Cato and I didn’t speak for another four days.

I spent my time in my room because I had my own TV. When I needed exercise, I walked around his property. He had a winding path that had to be at least a mile long. I usually did my walks in the morning before it got too hot and then again late at night.

Now I sat on my bed without the slightest idea what to do. Without a job or freedom, I was bored. The only thing I looked forward to was eating because Giovanni was the best cook in the entire world.

Cato walked inside my room abruptly, dressed all in black. It looked like the same outfit he wore the day we were supposed to visit my mother.

I held his gaze but didn’t know what to say. The last time we were in the same space together, he rejected my advance. He tossed me on the bed then stormed out.

“Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

His eyes narrowed. “Does it matter?”

“Yes. How do I know what to wear?”

“Your outfit is fine.”

I was in black jeans and an olive blouse. My flats were on the floor by the door, even though I hardly wore shoes because I never went anywhere. “This place is way too boring for me. It’s not like I can take off, so how about you let me get my job back? It’ll give me something to do during the day.”

Cato acted like I hadn’t said anything at all. “Let’s go.” He walked out without waiting for me.

I slipped on my shoes and followed him downstairs. We moved outside, got into the car, and then left the house. I still had no idea where we were going, and I suspected we were headed to a doctor’s visit or something related to the baby.

Fifteen minutes later, we approached the cemetery where my mother was buried.

I turned to him. “Cato?”

He looked out the window and ignored me.

“Are you taking me to see my mother?” I asked, shocked that he would do something nice for me. He’d pushed me away the last time we were together, and it didn’t seem like he could ever forgive me. Now he was giving me a wonderful surprise a few days later.

“Yes.” He opened the door when the car stopped at the curb. “And your father.”

The blood drained from my face.

Cato opened my side of the car and helped me to my feet.

“What are you talking about…?”

He guided me to the grass and past the other tombstones until we reached my mother’s headstone. The stone slab had my mother’s birth and death carved into the surface, and there had always been a blank spot underneath where my father’s name would appear.

And it was filled out. His birthdate and death were marked.

The ground covering where my mother’s coffin lay had been dug up, and a second coffin had been placed on top. Too speechless to say anything, I stared at the sleek black coffin and knew my father was lying in there, joined with my mother for all eternity. The surface of the coffin was shiny, with the exception of the few drops of dirt sprinkled on the black paint. I felt too many emotions to feel anything at all, so I just stood there.

Then I started to cry. “Father…” I moved to my knees and stared at the grave where both my parents now lay. Joined together in death, they would lie there forever. Only Landon and I survived, and I suspected we would both be in the ground soon enough.

I forgot Cato was there entirely as I continued to cry, staring at the coffin in agony. I’d done my best to save him, but I knew in my heart I never had a chance. The men I was up against were far too formidable—and I was just one person.

Cato stood over me then handed me a few tissues.

I didn’t look at him as I took them. “Thank you…” I wiped the tears away and blew my nose before I started to sob again. They said the most pain you could ever feel was losing a child. I think losing a parent was just as hard.

Cato stepped back and left me to mourn in peace.

Minutes later, another car pulled up to the curb, and a man stepped out. Dressed in a black suit, he was prepared to mourn. His features were difficult to make out through my tears, but when he came closer, I knew who he was.