Bound By The Past (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 7)

by Reilly, Cora

  “He’s a loyal man,” Dante said, a hint of regret swinging in his voice.

  “He is,” Papa agreed. “I have to be honest. Even the people who think you made the wise choice worry. The Famiglia and the Camorra will join forces, now more than ever, to destroy us and split our territory.”

  “Luca’s got Marcella and Amo to protect. Remo’s got Nevio and Greta. Do you really think they’ll let this war escalate?” I said.

  Dante raked his fingers through his hair, lips thinning. “I doubt Luca will increase his efforts. Remo is difficult to read but he too will probably think twice now before risking anything.”

  “Is there a way we can push them apart? To cause dissent between Remo and Luca?”

  Papa laughed.

  Dante too smiled bitterly. “Theirs is a bond of convenience. Luca and Remo aren’t allies or friends, they are temporarily ignoring each other. It doesn’t take much to have these two at each other’s throat again.” Dante looked out of the window for a moment before he continued. “I won’t stir up a conflict between them, not at the current time. We might get caught up between their fronts and I won’t make peace with either of them.”

  I’d feared that was the case. “How are we going to win this war?”

  “We can’t win,” Dante said. “I don’t think either of us can win.”

  I exchanged a confused look with Papa.

  “Then what?” he asked.

  “Our goal must be to make us untouchable. The Camorra and Famiglia can remain our enemies, as long as they hesitate to act on it, I don’t care.”

  I tilted my head. “How do we make us untouchable? New allies? But even then, it would be two against two as long as the Camorra and Famiglia work together.”

  “The Corsican Union won’t risk being dragged into our war, and you can’t consider a bond with the Bratva, do you?” Papa asked Dante, horrified.

  Dante made a dismissive sound. “Even if the Bratva might be open for a loose cooperation now that their non-aggression pact with Falcone has broken, which I doubt, I have absolutely no interest in cooperating with Grigory. They are as bad as the Camorra. Our values are worlds apart.”

  Few things were untouchable. The police, for the most part. We bribed them, threatened a few of them, but we didn’t attack any of them. As long as we didn’t target them and paid them enough, they ignored our presence, except for the occasional arrest of soldiers or our drug dealers. My brows drew together. What had Dante in mind?

  “Giovanni, this is where your contacts come into play, and you, too, Val will be vital for my plan.”

  “My contacts?” Papa asked.

  “Yes, you know how to present yourself in certain circles. That’s the kind of man I need at my side.”

  Papa narrowed his eyes in thought. “What kind of circles?”

  But I had already caught up. Since I didn’t manage the casino anymore, my main job had been to chat up the politicians and their wives. The men were good customers in our brothels and casinos, and many of them enjoyed a discount on cocaine or heroin. Their wives loved the parties we threw, the thrill of the forbidden, and most importantly our almost limitless funds.

  “You’re playing golf with senators and the mayor. You have always managed to keep the underworld rumors about your family to a minimum. You are the man who will help me lead the Outfit to a new cooperation.”

  Realization descended over Papa’s face. “You want to get a foot into the political scene.”

  “Yes, I think we need to make us even more indispensable for the political elite in our city and state. You are friends with a few senators.”

  “They will be wary about being associated with organized crime. It’s nothing that gets them any extra points in elections.”

  “Unlike the Camorra and the Famiglia, we have been careful. While there are speculations making the rounds, we can’t be linked to any scandals. Elections are coming up. I’m sure you know of a few ambitious senators striving to become more. Let’s help them reach for the stars if they help us too.”

  “If we have more friends in the political elite, it might protect us from attack,” I said.

  “And it could be good for business too, lucrative contracts, legalization of certain forms of gambling,” Papa mused.

  Dante nodded. “Indeed. I want to make the Outfit ready for the future, and I think our way needs to be to blend in even better, to appear as sheep and hide the wolf within.”

  “I’m going to start testing the waters. I’m playing golf with Clark senior tomorrow. Maybe he can have a word with his son.”

  “His wife is from Italian descent?”

  Papa nodded. “They vacation in Italy every year. They have a mansion at the shores of Lake Como.”

  “It’ll take some convincing. Many of my more old-fashioned men won’t like this new direction I’m taking,” Dante said.

  I smiled, feeling a new sense of hope. “You’ll convince them.”

  I’d never seen the appeal of playing golf. If I wanted to hit a target, I shot my gun, if I wanted to exert myself, I chose a sport that actually got my heart rate up, and if I wanted to engage in business negotiations, I preferred to sit down and talk without any distractions.

  Yet, I found myself on a golf course in early Spring with Maximo Clark, Giovanni and the old Clark Senior. We engaged in meaningless chitchat for a while, as was habit in those circles, even if I wanted to cut to the chase. I had more important things to do.

  The Clark family have been important players in the political game for decades. They were political royalty. Clark Senior, who had been Senator before his son, had a penchant for our underground casinos and the complimentary girls. His son, the current Senator, was a harder nut to crack. Even if his first name was Italian, thanks to his mother, he was wary of intensifying contacts with the Outfit.

  “You want to become Governor?”

  Maximo Clark leaned on his golf club, a hint of suspicion on his face. He was a born politician, a turncoat and opportunist. I didn’t trust him and he didn’t trust me. “I do, indeed.”

  “Your chances are good,” Clark senior said. “We only need the right campaign to give you a push.”

  “Good campaigns are expensive,” Maximo said.

  “They are indeed,” Giovanni agreed.

  I hated beating about the bush, all these veiled hints. Stifling my annoyance, I gave a tight smile. “Money isn’t an issue.”

  Maximo smiled, all sharp teeth and condescension. “It can become an issue if it derives from the wrong sources.”

  “It’s a matter of interpretation what’s determined a wrong source,” I said. “We have close connections to the gun lobby. They are one of your main sponsors if I’m not mistaken, and some people might argue that their money is blood money too.” I flashed my teeth at him, done playing nice.

  His smile became tenser. “I assume you’re hoping for favorable legislation, for influence and the occasional amnesty?”

  “That, and involvement. We want to become part of the public eye, of your social circles. We need the light.”

  “Some things are better left in the dark,” Maximo said.

  “Indeed.” I narrowed my eyes. Maybe he didn’t visit our establishments, but his father and brother did. It would be bad press for him if word got out. No matter how white his vest, his family’s dirt would stick to it.

  He was well-acquainted with veiled threats.

  “In the long term, we’d like to have one of ours in senate to really solidify our connections.”

  Maximo raised his brows. “Yourself?”

  I smiled. My name and face were too well known, too closely linked to less savory endeavors. “No. Dario Fabbri is a good option. He’s one of the most capable lawyers in Chicago as you certainly know.”

  Maximo’s eyes remained carefully blank. “I’ll have to think about it.”

  “Do that,” I said, then glanced at my watch. “I’ll have to head out now. You enjoy yourself.” I nodded at Gi
ovanni and Clark Senior before I gave Maximo another hard smile.

  The moment I stepped into the lobby of our home, Val strode toward me, curiosity reflecting on her beautiful face. She looked stunning in a tight pencil skirt and silk blouse tugged into the narrow waistband.

  I kissed her. “You look gorgeous.”

  Val smiled woefully, turning around so I could see that the top of the skirt’s zipper was open. “This is the last time I get to wear it for a while. It’s just too tight. Even stretch can only go so far.”

  I gently placed my palm against her bump, still marveling at this miracle. I hadn’t expected another baby. We’d been trying for so long, but then it happened like a sign from above in the worst period of our life: a glimmer of hope. Our miracle baby.

  “How are you?”

  Val covered my hand with hers. “We’re both good. She’s moving more every day.”

  “Only four more months.”

  “Enough of me, tell me how it went?”

  My mood dropped.

  “That bad?”

  “Not bad, but Maximo Clark is a snake. He plays hard to get.”

  “He needs our money if he wants to fund his campaigns.”

  “Our funds will make things easier. He might be good without them as well however.”

  Val pursed her lips. “Can’t you put pressure on him?”

  I laughed. “Blackmail is always a good option, but it might be a bad start to our cooperation and he doesn’t have any skeletons in his cupboard. Blackmailing him with his father’s or brother’s nightly activities might hurt his reputation or it might make him look like the noble king.”

  “Everyone’s got skeletons in their cupboard,” Val murmured. “And I’ve met his wife a couple of times. She’s out for the glitz, the glamor. She talks about the British Royal family nonstop. She dreams about being royalty herself, about being part of a society other people only talk about. She’s fascinated by our traditions, our weddings. For her, this is like one of her historical romances come true.”

  “I gather your lunch with her went well?”

  Val’s expression became wicked. “It did. Of course, I told her everything she wanted to hear. She was absolutely enamored by our arranged marriages. She thinks it’s just utterly romantic, like something straight out of a Shakespeare play.” Val imitated the woman’s enthusiastic lilt.

  “Romantic. That’s a new take on it,” I said as we headed into my office. We settled on my sofa, my arm around Val’s shoulders.

  “From what I gathered, her marriage to Maximo leaves quite a bit to be desired.”

  I perked up. “Does he have an affair?”

  “She didn’t mention anything. She isn’t that airheaded. She knows how to keep up a perfect public front.”

  I stroked Val’s knee that the slit in her skirt had revealed. “Shame.”

  Val’s expression became thoughtful. “Her words made me think though.” She hesitated then shook her head. “Maybe my brain’s muddled by pregnancy hormones.”

  I twisted around to her fully. “What is it?”

  “Anna and Leonas both will have arranged marriages.” She searched my eyes and then it dawned on me and my first knee-jerk reaction was to say no.

  “You suggest marrying Anna off to Maximo Clark’s son?” Despite my best intention, my voice shook with protectiveness.

  Val bit her lip. “It is an option. I know a traditional arranged marriage isn’t common in the outside world, but the political elite often marries among each other as well.”

  I’d met Maximo Clark’s children twice. He had three of them. His oldest son Clifford was Anna’s age, his twin girls a few years younger. They were polite, raised to behave in public.

  “She’d be safer in a marriage with an outsider, and if our children married into important political families that would solidify our contacts.”

  I tried to consider this from a logical standpoint but when Anna was concerned objectivity was difficult to maintain.

  “They know each other. He’s at the same tennis club,” Val said. “I could talk to Anna if you’d like to get her take on things.”

  I sighed. “Thinking of promising Anna to anyone makes my blood boil.”

  “She can’t stay our little girl forever. She turns thirteen in September. She’s growing up.”

  “I know.” Val didn’t look too happy about the prospect of a possible bond between Anna and the Clark boy either. “You don’t look convinced.”

  Val smiled strangely. “I’m just being a bit emotional. I wanted a love marriage for our children.”

  “Our arranged marriage turned into a love marriage, and so did Ines and Pietro’s. It’s possible.”

  “It is, of course, but still.”

  “Let’s keep your plan in mind for now and don’t share it with anyone yet. I want to wait for Maximo’s decision regarding a cooperation first. If he refuses to establish stronger business and social connections with us, he certainly won’t agree to a bond between our children.”

  Val leaned her head against my shoulder. “I talked to Ines today.”

  I tensed. “And?” I hadn’t talked to my sister since she’d thrown us out of their house.

  Pietro and I had come to a tentative understanding, and even Samuel had come around to my surprise, but Ines still mourned Serafina’s absence. “She asked about the baby, and when Anna would come to visit again.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told her Anna will visit next week.”

  Anna would start private school this year for the first time. She’d insisted and I couldn’t deny her any longer. She and Luisa didn’t want to be homeschooled anymore.

  “I suggested that we could vacation at the Great Lakes together this July.”

  My chest tightened. “And?” I tried to keep my expression neutral, even if it was useless. Val knew that Ines’ refusal to talk to me bothered me deeply.

  Val touched my chest. “She agreed. But she suggested the Mione’s family lodge in Barron County.”

  “Good.”

  “Yeah.”

  As usual, Val’s warm smile set me at ease like few things in this world could.

  Pietro, Ines, Samuel, and Sofia had arrived two days ago in the Mione vacation home and had already settled in. Pietro’s Range Rover parked in front of the two-floor timber lodge. I hadn’t seen Ines in seven months, and I couldn’t deny that I felt a hint of apprehension about our first encounter. Leonas and Anna jumped out of the Mercedes the moment we stopped; Anna to dash toward the house and Leonas down to the jetty leading into the lake. Val laughed then awkwardly pushed herself out of the seat, cradling her belly and tilting her head up to meet the sun. I pressed my palm into her lower back, then gave our bodyguards a curt nod. They could settle into the guard house nearby.

  “Leonas! Say hi first,” Val called. Leonas dragged himself away from the water with obvious reluctance and ran back to us. He stormed past us and through the front door which Anna had left open. “Just witnessing his energy gives me backlash,” Val said with a laugh. “I hope Beatrice is a calm kid. We’re not getting any younger.”

  Hearing Val say our unborn daughter’s name filled me with calm and joy. It had from the first moment we’d decided on it. She who makes happy was the meaning of the name. It couldn’t have been more fitting. She came into our life when everything was in shambles and we seemed to have come to an impasse and showed us that the future still held many wonders and opportunities.

  “You’re young,” I said, stroking her back.

  Val gave me an amused look. Then her expression became tight as we entered the lodge and followed the voices into the vast living area with the floor-to-ceiling windows sandwiching a fireplace between them and with a majestic view over the lake. It was too warm outside for a fire though.

  Anna and Sofia huddled together on the sofa, talking animatedly, and Leonas showed his new Swiss knife to Samuel. Pietro had his arm wrapped around Ines. My sister had lost weight. Her
eyes met mine.

  She peered up at Pietro who rubbed her upper arm in encouragement. Ines walked over to us. She smiled at Val and touched her belly. “My God, you’re already so big.”

  “I know!” Val said then pulled Ines into an embrace.

  I went over to Pietro and shook his hand then Samuel’s. “She’s forgiven you,” he said quietly.

  I glanced back at Val and Ines. “Because of the wedding?”

  The wedding between Remo Falcone and Serafina a couple of months ago had been the scandal of the year.

  “She had already forgiven you before that, but the Cavallaro pride kept her from admitting it,” Pietro said.

  Ines looked my way and for a moment neither of us moved. In the past it had always been Ines who’d made the first move, getting over her pride more easily than I did, but this time I walked over to her. Val stepped back and greeted Pietro and Samuel.

  “Ines,” I said quietly. “I’m glad you agreed for our families to spend our vacation together.”

  Ines rolled her eyes. “Don’t sound so official, as if we’re distant acquaintances.”

  “In the last few months we were hardly more than distant acquaintances,” I said.

  She nodded. “I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m still mad at the situation, but not at you.”

  I didn’t say anything. Ines stepped closer and hugged me. “I saw the photos. Fina looked so happy in them. I don’t understand. I never will.”

  I touched her back. “Me neither.”

  Samuel had taken a couple of photos while he’d attended the wedding. It had been a risky move, one he’d insisted on making. He’d been certain Remo’s feelings—whatever nature they were—would protect him, and they had. Samuel had returned unscathed and with interesting insights into the dynamics of the Falcone clan.

  He’d stayed true to his word and not gone behind my back, even if I could guess how difficult it must have been for him to admit Fina had contacted him. Maybe he would have kept it a secret if Remo hadn’t reached out to him as well.

  It was a mystery to me what went on in his twisted brain, and I didn’t waste time on it anymore. While war with the Famiglia and Camorra was still going strong, we all resorted to obligatory attacks on our delivery trucks or outposts—for the time being. It was a respite that wouldn’t last forever.