Ruthless Prince (Dark Syndicate 1)

“There’s a reason we keep women out of business. There are some things you shouldn’t know.”

I’ve heard that mantra before when my mother would ask my father questions.

“Would the Syndicate have killed him?” I want to know that.

“No. I don’t think so. But I’m looking into it.”

I hold his gaze. Hearing that lessens the tension.

“Thank you…Can I see his family? Please. They’re like my own. I just want to see them.”

“Yes.” It’s the first thing he’s ever agreed to so quickly. “Do you want me to go with you?”

“No. Thank you, but maybe I should go by myself, if that’s okay.”

“Okay, but you have to go with the guards. Now’s the time to be more careful than we ever were.”

I can’t argue with that.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Massimo

I sigh with frustration as I step through the door to the house and take off my jacket. It’s not even midday, and my head is already all over the fucking place. The guys and I have been on the streets trying to get answers and coming up with shit. It’s becoming quite clear now that we’re not going to find anything until trouble comes to find us.

Even before Jacob confirmed I had som

ething to worry about, I was already riled up about Vlad. Then Jacob got himself killed.

It’s harsh to think of it that way, but what else am I supposed to think?

Even after I told him to get gone and keep his head out of shit, he must have gone back to The Crow to snoop. Then Vlad caught up with him.

I walk into the hall and see Candace in the living room polishing the furniture. Sometimes it grieves me that she can’t move on to become who she was supposed to be.

After her parents were killed, she wasn’t the same. Her family has always worked for mine in some way, but she was never supposed to end up in my house polishing anything. When she went to college, she lived here, though she didn’t have to. I thought that by giving her a ridiculous amount of money, she’d leave. But it’s not about money when it comes to her. It’s the fear from that night. She would have died too. That type of fear leaves you with all kinds of shit and anxiety. That’s what happened to her. She only feels safe with me. Her family was always loyal to us, even after we lost everything. So, this is my way of helping her.

I walk in, and she gives me that look of disdain she’s been sporting since the wedding.

I lean my head to the side and shake it. She ignores me and looks back to the vase she was about to dust.

“Can you stop doing that, please?” I ask.

“Stop doing what, Sir?”

“Acting like you’re my servant. We’ve known each other for too long to be like this.”

“These days, one might be scared to talk, could die.” She still doesn’t look at me.

I walk closer to her, and she sets the dust cloth down.

“Candace… say whatever’s on your mind.”

“It’s best I don’t, Massimo. I would prefer, as per usual, to keep my comments to myself, like I always have. Emelia is back from seeing her friend’s family, and I don’t think it went well. Your efforts are best placed with tending to your wife, not me.”

My shoulders slump. I hoped that Emelia would find some solace seeing Jacob’s family, but then what did I expect to happen? They just lost their son, and I’m sure they heard what happened at the wedding. They’re probably casting blame my way.

I still want to talk to Candace though. She’s clearly upset with me.