The Dictator

by Penelope Sky

  “Yes. Hand it over, or tell me where I can find it.”

  Damien gave me the same disgusted look I gave him. “Damn, she must be something in bed…”

  My eyes flicked back to his, and I silently threatened him.

  “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?” Damien said. “For that bitch?”

  Quicker than Damien could react, I pulled the pistol out of my belt and shot him in the left shoulder.

  “Jesus!” Damien staggered back and clutched himself.

  All my men drew their weapons.

  So did Micah’s.

  “What the fuck, asshole?” Damien screamed, the blood dripping down his arm to his hand.

  I returned the pistol to my belt. “An eye for an eye. Or better yet, a shoulder for a shoulder.” I looked at Micah. “We have a deal or what?”

  Damien gripped his shoulder as he walked away, probably to attend to his gaping wound.

  Micah nodded. “Yes. We have a deal.”

  Bates was standing outside when I pulled up to the house. It was ten in the evening, so he’d obviously heard about my deal with Micah. It was the only reason he would stand like a gargoyle outside my house.

  I walked up the stairs and met him face-to-face.

  His eyes looked like bullets. “What the fuck, Cato?”

  “Let it go, alright?”

  “Let it go?” he hissed. “Are you fucking with me right now? Since when do we call truces with assholes who try to assassinate you?”

  “They were never a threat to us.”

  “Doesn’t matter. That’s not how we treat our enemies.”

  “It wasn’t worth our time.” I stepped around him and headed into the house.

  He grabbed me by the arm and yanked me back. “We make these decisions together, asshole. Not only did you not tell me, but you did it behind my back.”

  “I knew you would never agree. And what I do to the people who try to kill me is my business. This had nothing to do with work or a deal, so no, I didn’t need your approval. It’s done now, so drop it.”

  “Maybe in another situation, I could drop it, but you did this entirely for her. The woman who stabbed you in the back as she fucked you. But here you are, laying down your coat on a puddle so her feet don’t get wet.”

  I didn’t bend over backward for this woman, despite what he thought. “She deserves closure.”

  “That bitch doesn’t deserve anything.”

  “They gave her a mission she never would have accomplished. Either way, she lost and her father died. It was a lose-lose for her. Everyone deserves closure. Her father was slaughtered, and she just wants to bury him. It’s not that much to ask.”

  “It is when you have to call a truce to make it happen.” Spit flew from his mouth as the cord in his neck throbbed.

  “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.

  “Landon?” I moved to my feet and stared at my brother in shock. Everything seemed surreal. Cato arranged all of this, and that was the most surprising part of all. I didn’t have to mourn alone. I could mourn with the only family I had left. It was the greatest gift anyone had given me.

  Landon was grief-stricken the way I was. He expressed fewer emotions than I did, or at least he hid them better. While his expression was hard, there were no tears in his eyes. It just seemed like he was having a bad day—a really b
ad day.

  “Siena.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me next to the grave.

  I clutched him hard and buried my face in his chest. The tears kicked up again, and I heaved with the sobs. It was a blessing having him there, but it also reminded me how alone we were. Now we were the last survivors of our family.

  “I’m so glad you’re here…” His cologne was exactly the same as I remembered. It reminded me of all the holidays we spent together. When we met in the back of bars, we were hiding from the world. But now I could actually hold him—and treasure it.

  “Cato tracked me down somehow.”

  “You aren’t as smart as you think you are.”

  He pulled away and gave me that amused smile. “You’re the one who got captured.”

  “Looks like we’re both dumb.”

  “Yeah.” He turned to the grave and looked down at Father’s coffin as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “At least they’re together now. They’ll never have to suffer again.”

  “Yeah…”

  We stood together in silence for a long time, staring into the grave with our bodies held close. Landon breathed quietly while he stared at our father’s coffin. Tears didn’t emerge, just a distinct look of regret. “You were right about Cato. You should have asked for his help.”

  “I don’t know…he probably would have killed me.”

  He turned to me, an incredulous look in his eyes. “He retrieved Father’s body and contacted me for this moment. He gave both of us closure, brought peace to our family. The last thing he wants to do is kill you.”

  I looked past his profile and saw Cato standing near the car. He slowly paced back and forth as he spoke on the phone.

  My eyes turned back to Landon’s. “I don’t know why he did this. But his intentions aren’t as good as you think they are.”

  “Why do you say that? You’re still together after the shit hit the fan.”

  “It’s not how it seems…” I focused on the casket in the ground. “He was going to execute me until I told him I was pregnant.”

  His arm tightened around my shoulders. “What?” He lowered his arm and pivoted his body to face me. “You’re pregnant?” His eyes moved down to my stomach even though there were no visible signs of pregnancy.

  “Yes…and that’s the only reason I’m alive.”

  “Well, that’s damn lucky.”

  I didn’t want to tell my brother the truth. It would only break his heart. But I didn’t want him to wonder what happened to me once I was gone. “He says he’ll kill me after the baby is born.”

  Our father’s grave seemed unimportant now that the truth was on the table. “So he’ll keep the baby and get rid of you.”

  “Yes.”

  He glanced at Cato over his shoulder before he looked at me again. “If that were the case, why would he do this for you? Why would he bring me here so we can bury our father? For a man intent on killing you, he sure seems to care about you.”

  “I…I don’t know.” I couldn’t explain his actions logically. “There’s still chemistry between us. I can feel this tension anytime we’re alone together. I know he still wants me, but he despises me for what I did.”

  “Any man would understand you were just trying to survive.”

  “He sees the world differently.”

  “I still think he’s full of shit. He would never do this for you unless you meant something to him. He’s not gonna kill you.”

  “I hope you’re right…but I’m gonna try to run anyway.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If he catches you, then he might actually kill you.”

  “I can’t let him raise my child. They’ll be born into the nightmare I’ve spent the last five years running from. They’ll be exposed to greed and corruption. Violence will seem normal to them. That’s not the kind of upbringing I want my child exposed to.”

  “They’ll also inherit billions of dollars, Siena.”

  “When will you learn that money ruins lives? Look at us right now. Look at our parents.”

  He kept his eyes on me and didn’t look at the grave. “There are worse situations to be born into.”

  “I disagree.” A simple life was the key to happiness. My family was always on the run, or someone else was on the run from us. It never stopped. It was one business venture after the next, a new deal that didn’t go down the way it should. There was never a calm before the storm. It was a constant storm.

  “I think you should focus on getting Cato back on your side. He’s pretty much there anyway.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  Disapproval was in his eyes. “You should reconsider.”

  “Even if he didn’t kill me, what then? What kind of life would I ever have? He would boss me around forever.”

  “And he would also protect you. Cato Marino can make anything happen. He can even get Father’s body back. As long as Cato is on your side, there’s nowhere safer for you to be—and the little one.”

  I wanted a life where I had all my rights, but I suspected that would never happen. Cato would always treat me like everyone else did—like he owned me. But he would never own me the way I wanted him to.

  Landon kept watching me. “I know you’re stubborn, so you’re probably going to try to run anyway. If you do…make sure you don’t get caught. The consequences will be catastrophic, pregnant or not.” He looked at my face and didn’t ask about the bruises that were still visible. He probably figured out exactly where they came from, but he didn’t show me any pity. “Well, looks like I’m going to be an uncle…”

  “Yes.” My hand moved over my stomach. “Yes, you are.”

  “And you’re going to be a mother.” He gave me a slight smile. “It’s what you’ve always wanted.”

  “I just hope I live long enough to enjoy it.”

  6

  Cato

  I gave them privacy to mourn their loss, but I was certain Siena had notified her brother of everything that had happened.

  That I would kill her once she had my baby.

  He wouldn’t retaliate, not unless it was a suicide mission.

  When they were finished, they walked away from the open grave. Close together, they returned to the cars parked at the curb. The caretakers on standby immediately moved to the grave and began to shovel the dirt on top.

  Landon walked up to me, his hand extended while his eyes were locked on to mine with respect, not hostility. “Thank you for burying our father. It means a lot to both of us.”

  I shook his hand then looked at Siena. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and the whites of her eyes were now red. It was amazing how beautiful she looked even when she sobbed. Nothing could taint her allure, not the puffiness or smeared mascara. I’d been with many women, but none of them could pull that off.

  “Siena told me you’re having a baby. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” It was surprising that he said that, considering I would kill her shortly afterward.

  He held my gaze like a man, like he was an equal rather than her brother. “She wanted to tell you everything and ask for your help. She said it multiple times, and I always talked her out of it. Siena was in a bad situation and—”

  “Landon.” Siena shook her head, silencing her brother.

  Landon ignored her. “She didn’t have a lot of options, Cato. No one can judge her for her actions, not when she was in such a difficult situation. Anyone else would have done the same thing in her shoes.”

  “Of course they would have,” I said quietly. “That was never the problem.”

  “Then give her another chance,” Landon said. “She’s a good person.”

  It broke my heart to listen to my brother fight for me.

  “We’re both men of the underworld,” I said. “So you understand exactly how loyalty works. She didn’t show it. She lied to me—every day. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but my decision is final.” I stepped away and dismissed the conv
ersation. “Let’s go, Siena.” I opened the back door for her and waited for her to get in.

  She turned to her brother and hugged him hard, her face buried in his neck.

  He hugged her with the same affection.

  “I love you,” she whispered to him.

  “I love you too.” As he released her, he kissed her on the forehead. As if lingering would just make everything harder, he abruptly turned around and walked off.

  Siena watched him get into his car before she finally obeyed me.

  I got into the car with her, and we drove away.

  She stared out the window with pain in her eyes, but she didn’t shed another tear.

  I expected gratitude, and I would say nothing until I got it. She had no idea what I’d sacrificed to get her father’s corpse back. It was a few weeks old, so identifying him was no picnic either.

  After a few minutes, she finally addressed me. “I don’t know what to say…”

  “Thank you is a good start.”

  “Of course…thank you.” She turned to me, her cheeks pale as snow. “Knowing he’s with my mother comforts me. Landon and I got to mourn him properly and say our goodbyes. Not knowing where his body was…would have haunted me forever.”

  I gave a slight nod.

  “How did you do it?”

  “I made a deal with Micah. He gave me your father in exchange for something.”

  “What?” she whispered.

  “A truce. I won’t come after them unless they provoke me.”

  “Oh…” Her eyes tilted down as the words soaked in. “You’re sure it’s him?”

  “I identified him myself. Don’t worry about that.” He’d just begun to rot, and the smell was disgusting. But thankfully, his face had been mostly intact so I could verify his identity. The rest of his body was pretty much destroyed. He had a death so cruel I would never speak of it to her.

  Thank god she didn’t ask. “Thank you, Cato. Again, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to show my gratitude.”

  “Your words are enough.” My brother’s accusations were right. I did bend over backward to do this for her. For a man who didn’t care about anything, I sure cared about her. My respect for her still burned bright like a fire in the hearth. Despite what she did to me, she deserved a certain amount of dignity.