Page 91 of Betrothed
“I could ask you close to the same question. What did you thrust me into dealing with?”
Perhaps he wanted me to fear him given the shift into full darkness in his eyes. “What are you insinuating, child?”
“I’m not insinuating anything, Uncle Sean. First Nikki marrying an Italian heir to a faction of the Cosa Nostra, then your own daughter being wooed by another Italian. Will I soon learn about another upcoming wedding? Now, in my case, you knew I wouldn’t fall in love with another Italian after… after what happened to my fiancé four years ago, so you had to work a little harder.”
“For what reason exactly?” Every muscle in his body was tense, but he was genuinely curious about where I was going with my accusations.
“To ensure I would fall for someone so you could marry me off. Now, given you’re very well aware that a true prince of Russian descent is actively considering a semi-permanent move to New York to work alongside his cousin who already has a presence in the city, you became notably concerned. With the Armenians closing in on one side, the Russians on the other, and both with several highly lucrative successful legitimate businesses, you’ve already felt the squeeze in the only place that truly matters to you. Your pocketbook.”
I’d learned a long time ago from my father about nervous tics. Paying attention to them was very useful, including in my business. Doing so had helped me know when to keep my mouth shut around my father over the years.
My uncle was shocked that I’d honed in on his concerns. He was chauvinistic enough to think women couldn’t get a handle on business matters of the underworld.
He silently took a swallow of his drink before motioning the two closest men to back away. As usual, he didn’t want anyone to overhear him being challenged.
When he leaned over the table, lowering his voice, I knew whatever he had to say was done with a limited amount of animosity. “Did you know I’ve told Kathleen more than once that she should emulate you and your life, your morals and your professionalism?”
I hadn’t been prepared for his words, but I knew they were a double-edged sword. “Kathleen is a very intelligent woman. If you’d pay attention, you’d learn she would make an excellent employee, which is something she’s always wanted. To work with her father.”
“There is no place in my world for women. They are too…”
“Soft? Is that what you were going to say?”
“Precious, Vivian. Women are the reason every man fights for his territory and his place in this world.”
“Not my father.” I made the statement with more bitterness than I’d intended.
“Because your father grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has no appreciation of hard work. While I value his loyalty, he is a true Neanderthal when it comes to women.”
Now I laughed. He was right. “You value his position, Uncle. His money and his clout.”
With his eyes twinkling, he reached across the table gripping my hand. The action wasn’t loving but enough of a warning I fought the building tension. “You are right. As always, a truly astute woman.”
“A woman you hoped to use to your benefit. What I can’t understand is why you had Gabriel murdered. That is what happened. Isn’t it?” The death four years ago had been planned. I’d always known it.
He seemed genuinely surprised after four years I’d brought it up. “What would make you think I had anything to do with his death?”
“Because he wasn’t true Italian royalty. He’d pushed against his family’s regime as I’d done with mine, which didn’t allow you to gain any additional position within the Cosa Nostra. So you had him killed.” I wasn’t ready to bring up anything about Kirill, but the conversation would need to be had.
My uncle rarely allowed anyone to see any real emotions within him. In the light of the bar, I witnessed a moment of true sadness that disappeared almost instantly. “I had hoped this conversation wouldn’t be necessary.”
“And I should have insisted I learn the truth four years ago. What happened? Was Gabriel not good enough? Were you trying to punish me for wanting to have control over my life? Or did you just need an alliance so badly that you killed the one man I cared about?”
“Our world is complicated, but that’s where you’re wrong, Vivian. I’d never want you punished for engaging in a life you so obviously adore. I applaud you. However, Gabriel was veryinvolved with his family and a very dangerous man. He was lying to you the entire time you were together.”
“Lying about what?”
“He was about to become the Don of the Lorenzo Cosa Nostra. A very powerful position.”
“I don’t believe you.” But as soon as he made the statement, my mind unwittingly shifted to the past and to the concerns I’d had about his secretive actions. I felt myself recoiling. “He left the family. He was doing things his way. He was…” I cut myself short with the same thoughts I’d had years before.
“You know what I’m saying is true. He didn’t leave his family. He was banished, Vivian. There are reasons that no longer matter, although rest assured his banishment was necessary. Had either your father or I learned about his existence in your life earlier, we would have attempted to prevent your heartache. However, you were both very good at hiding your relationship even from the soldiers who kept an eye on you.”
You bet I’d kept my relationship private for this very reason.
“What are you saying? That Gabriel was using me?”
“Yes, he was. I’m saying that Gabriel Lorenzo was a psychotic killer, a man with two very distinct sides. Did he not meet you at the airport for your trip to Hawaii? He was gone for a couple days on business beforehand. Correct?”
