“Good. They’re a secret society for the most part, although they don’t keep their existence secret. If you know, you know. What you don’t know is how they operate and what they do, but it’s not hard to figure out they’re untouchable. They’re made up of six powerful crime families. Two of the current leaders are your father and Massimo’s.”
My eyes widen. “My father?” I can’t imagine that I wouldn’t have known about them.
“Yeah. I’m not surprised that you didn’t know. Membership is only made up of men. So, maybe your uncles or someone like that would have dealings with them.”
Uncle Leo is basically Dad’s right-hand man. “I see.”
“You get initiated based on wealth or resource. Whatever you can bring to the table that’s valuable. They live by a creed they sign in blood to protect each other to the death,” she explains, hugging her knees to her chest. “Your father and Giacomo D’Agostino used to be best friends. Your father stole their business you now have from him and wiped him out. Left him with nothing. And because he had nothing, he got uninitiated from the syndicate. That is worse than having nothing. It’s often worse than death because you aren’t supposed to be in a situation where you can share information about the Syndicate and its secret plans and plots.”
Jesus Christ. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“What happened to them?”
“Everything bad. They lost their home. At one point, they were living in a trailer park. Just barely. Fifteen years ago, Giacomo started his oil business and flourished. The wealth was like wildfire, but it never made up for their biggest loss of all. They lost all they owned during that terrible time, but they lost something worse when Massimo’s mother died.”
“What happened to her?”
“She killed herself when Massimo was twelve. He found her.”
“Oh my God.” I bring my hands up to my cheeks.
“I know. It was so sad because she was like this perfect being. She was always so nice to me. Called me the daughter she never had. I was always hanging out with the boys. Massimo never said as much, but he blames your father for her death.”
My eyes grow wide as I recall what he said about not being able to bring the dead back to life.
“This is a nightmare.”
She smiles without humor. “It’s worse than a nightmare, Emelia. This war began long before we were born. Massimo blames your father for her death and the hard life they were forced into when he was growing up. But his father blames your father for so much more. The thing about hearing too much is having to bear the responsibility of knowing when to keep quiet. The reason why their fathers fell out was her. Massimo’s mother.”
My breath hitches in my chest. “What do you mean?”
“They were both in love with her.” A steel weight drops in the pit of my stomach. “That’s all I know, but it makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Makes you wonder what else happened.”
Secrets and lies, that’s what my world feels like it’s based on. I stare at her long and hard and wonder why she’s telling me so much.
“Why? Why are you telling me all of this?” I ask.
She raises her shoulders into a shrug. “Maybe I feel bad that you have to be dragged into a battle that isn’t yours to fight. Maybe I feel bad that your life will be stolen from you if you marry Massimo. Maybe I’d just hate to be you. Or… maybe I’m trying to justify my reasons to help you, breaking loyalty to a man I think of as a brother.”
My nerves scatter. “What are you saying, Candace?
Will she help me? How?
She leans in close. Her eyes turn glassy as tears well within them. “He trusts me the most. That’s why I get to hang out with you. Me and Priscilla. But he’s not the boy I grew up with. None of the brothers are. It’s not their fault though.”
No, it seems to be my father’s.
“Candace, are you going to help me?” I ask, cautiously. We both look around nervously.
We’re far away from the closest guard, who’s stationed on the terrace. He can’t hear us talking, but it’s understandable given the circumstances that fear and paranoia would set in.
Candace nods when I look back at her. “If he finds out I was disloyal in any way, I wouldn’t blame him if he killed me.”
“Then don’t. I couldn’t bear it.” I wince, shaking my head.
“Evil will always continue if good people stand by and watch, Emelia. Evil will always win if good people sit back and allow it to happen. I would never forgive myself if I didn’t help you, but please think before you act.” She holds my gaze as I consider her words.
Think before I act… A chance to escape is worth gold to me right now, but I know what she means. If I get it wrong, it won’t just be me who will be punished.
She looks ahead of us and carefully points to the end of the beach.
“Do you see that cave?”
“Yes.” The cave is at the furthest end of the beach. From here it’s almost a blur, but I can see it. The waves crash against the rocks, and the area looks like it cuts off after that point.
“The cameras don’t work past the area with the palm trees. There’s one camera on a lamp post. That’s it. The path leads right into the cave. There’s a rowboat inside,” she explains.
I can’t believe my ears. She’s just given me the answer.
"Oh my God, Candace,” I gasp.
“You’ll see a speedboat too, but don’t even try to take that. Massimo keeps the keys on him at all times, and even if you could get it to work, he has a security system on it that he can control from inside the house. It will alert him the second the boat engine switches on. So, your only choice is the rowboat.”
With trembling lips, I nod. “Okay. I’ll go for the rowboat. Candace—”
“Emelia, it’s dangerous,” she interrupts. “That’s the most important warning I’ll give you. Dangerous waters. You’re right in the heart of it on that side.”
God… I can’t swim well in safe waters, let alone dangerous waters. But it’s a route to escape. I will make sure I’m safe if I get a chance to use it.
“I’ll be okay. I have to be.”
“Then, please… make sure you flee and never look back if you do it, because if he finds you, he’ll know it could only be me or Priscilla who told you how to escape. So… please think properly before you try it. He’s given permission for us to show you around. It’s up to you to gain his trust for you to walk around without supervision and the guards on constant lookout.” She reaches out and takes my hands. “Please think about it before you do anything. That’s my one request.”
“I will,” I promise.
The plan now is to get him to trust me. I look at the cave and see freedom.
How do I get Massimo to trust me?
Obedience.
Doing what he says.
Being his.
Chapter Fourteen
Massimo
I stand, look each member of the Syndicate in the eyes, and raise the ceremonial blade.
All eyes are on me.
Apart from Pa, Riccardo, and his brother, these are men I’ve never seen before. All men of power with incredible wealth totaling twelve, including me.
They all sit around the long rectangular table in the boardroom and watch me. Me, the youngest, newest member getting ready to initiate myself and sign the blood oath to the creed.
They will not speak to me until I take the oath. And we have much to speak about.
As I slice the tip of my forefinger, I rivet my gaze to Riccardo’s. I glare at him long and hard, making sure the other members of the Syndicate can watch me and take note that I have a problem with him.
They’ll know the story. They’ll know the past. It doesn’t sit well with me that these are men who could have killed me and my family on Riccardo’s word, but this is the next phase of power.
Drops of blood drip onto the contract. One similar to the document we gave Riccardo.
This one stipula
tes that I share my resources, power, and life with the members. One body, one power, all to pursue wealth.
My blood on the contract is my signature. It’s a serious thing because to sign the creed means you sign your life away. The only way out is death, or like I’ve witnessed with my own father, disavowal.
That will not happen to me.
When I place the knife back on the table, Phillipe, the chairman, nods his approval. I saw the way he looked at me when I walked in. He and the two Bratva leaders exchanged glances. Curious glances. There’s a spark of endorsement in his eyes now, as he looks me over.
They all know I have Riccardo’s voting rights.
What they don’t know is what will happen now that I have them. This sort of thing is not something that’s ever happened before. Taking voting rights for a debt. Questions we won’t answer will be raised.
I sit. Pa gives me the final nod. I’m a member now, just like him.
This is where it will all begins. The next generation. When Pa leaves, I’ll be here with Tristan the same way the leaders are with their counterparts. Riccardo is here with Leo, his brother. They both look at me from across the table. Seething.
Powerless, useless, helpless…
I could almost laugh. I would almost laugh if not for the image of his daughter in my mind.
Powerless, useless, helpless. It describes her too.
I haven’t seen her in four days.
I’ve been busy with my men on the streets, looking for Vlad. I’m sure to shit the rats have whispered to him that I know he’s alive and I’m on the hunt for his ass, because there’s no trace of him. I’ll also admit that I’ve been avoiding Emelia. I thought it was better to, but not seeing her has grated on my nerves.
Phillipe gives me a nod and clears his throat. His tanned olive skin looks stretched when he smiles. Like he’s stayed in the sun too long. It makes his light blue eyes appear more intense.
“Wonderful,” he says. “It’s great to have a powerful man like you among our fold. You are just like your father.”
“I take that as the highest compliment.” It’s the truth. I do.
“You should,” he says.
Pa rebuilt himself, and they approached him, asking him to join, after he became a titan without them. I always wondered why he agreed, though, because they turned their backs on him after Riccardo’s treachery.
It took me awhile to realize it wasn’t as simple as turning their backs. They were being as objective as we want them to be now. My father became a loose link in the chain. The same as they will eventually come to see Riccardo.
When Emelia asked me what her father did to me, it was hard to think of an answer that would summarize everything. What happened was this: Riccardo set Pa up. Pa was in charge of the family business. Back then, it was investments. Same as Riccardo’s. In those days, the Syndicate was low level and started with our great-grandfathers. When Pa and Riccardo joined forces, he set up a pump-and-dump scheme, hired people to cash out and ruined Pa.
That was after Riccardo set up Balesteri Investments and stole all the clients Pa had obtained for years. That left Pa bankrupt. All his money and assets were seized to pay debts, and because some of the members of the Syndicate and their families were clients, it was easy to get him out. The whole plot was a carefully woven plan to destroy. We had to go through hell and back, but it’s better to have accomplished all that we have with our bare hands than to stand on the shoulders of giants. Doing so made us giants too.
“Now, on to business,” Phillipe says, clearing his throat.
“Fire away,” Pa says.
“Taking a leader’s voting rights is rendering him powerless in matters we need to agree on as a group. This is the first time such a thing has happened. We’d love for you to shed some light on the matter.”
Phillipe is no fool. I’m certain it’s as obvious to him as it is to Riccardo what we mean to do. We’re devils come out to play. Everyone has questions. We’ll decide how we answer.
Pa steeples his fingers and leans forward onto the table. “He owed a debt to me, and that is one of the ways I chose to be repaid. It’s as simple as that.”
“Let’s be real, shall we?” Phillipe states, shifting his gaze to Riccardo. “Losing voting rights better be worth it. I’m also aware that a majority of your assets now belong to Massimo in his ascension as boss of the D’Agostino family. All but Balesteri Investments, but if I’m not mistaken, your heir will receive that. News has spread abroad of her engagement to Massimo. Meaning that’s practically his too. It is not my place to question you on matters outside the syndicate, but if I’m pushed, I will. My question is, what now?”
I like this guy. He cuts straight to the shit. These men aren’t stupid. They’re gonna know that we must have one hell of a debt over Riccardo’s head to demand so much. I’m sure they’ll most likely guess too that Emelia fell part of the repayment plan. It’s not hard to figure out things like that in our world.
Riccardo tenses, as does his brother. Backed into the proverbial corner. Right where we want him.
“I’m aware the situation is shit, but allow me time, and I will sort it all out. I may not have the assets and wealth I previously owned, but I have my skills, and I’m working on it,” Riccardo replies.
“You better hope so. We’ll give you eight weeks to sort yourself out, then we’ll meet again to discuss this further. However, that still leaves the matter of the tip in the balance of power.” Phillipe looks back at me. “Massimo, regardless as to what happens to Riccardo, you will hold the voting rights of him and your father. What do you plan to do with it?”
It’s my turn to talk. Everything I say now will be the guide for my future.
“I do not plan to rule over you.” They all look at me with enquiring eyes. “The Syndicate is about brotherhood and unity. The creed that protects us binds us together. When it is abused, the structure crumbles, so I won’t be using the extra vote unless the situation arises and I have to. If I have to, I’m sure we’ll discuss what will be fair and reasonable and for the benefit of the group.”
When Phillipe nods, I know he’s satisfied with the answer, but he’s not stupid. None of them are. They’ll know revenge made us want Riccardo powerless.
“Very well, then. Welcome to the Brotherhood, Massimo D’Agostino.”
I bow my head with reverence. Then they continue talking about business.
The meeting goes on for another hour before it closes. Throughout that whole time, I could feel Riccardo’s eyes on me. I wonder what he’s thinking about the most. What I’m doing to his precious daughter, or what I’m going to do to him.
When the meeting ends and Pa and I walk out to the car park, I expect Riccardo to come after us, so I’m not surprised when he does.
He calls my name. I turn to face him. Pa stops next to me and squares his shoulders.
“You better not be hurting my daughter,” he seethes.
All I do is stare at him.
“You animal. You dirty animal. The two of you,” he adds, looking from Pa to me.
“You aren’t that bright, are you? Coming to talk to us when we’ve barely left the building,” I answer.
“This is an outrage. A complete outrage. But this is what you wanted.” He looks at Pa. “An eye for an eye.”
“Fuck you, Riccardo,” Pa tells him. “I don’t know why you keep making the same mistakes. You don’t get it, do you. We have the upper hand. I can destroy you with one word.”
Riccardo balls his fists at his sides and looks at us, his face contorting with rage. “This is not over. You.” He points at me. “I remember how you looked at my girl at the ball. You had to tie me down to beat me. Knowing there’s no way in hell you’d get her otherwise. You fucking piece of shit. She will never want you. You can do whatever you want. She won’t want you. You will always be nothing.”
His words should roll off my back. They shouldn’t mean anything, but I want to beat the shit out of him.
<
br /> “Nothing,” he repeats. And that’s it. I lose my shit and grab him by his neck.
Motherfucker. I don’t know who the fuck he thinks he’s talking to. I hold on tight to his throat and squeeze hard. We’re the same height, but I have more muscle. I’m built like a tank, while he’s an old man. He yelps, trying to wrench my hands free, but I keep hold of him.
“Get off me,” he shouts.
“Fucking dog. I am walking on thin ice, ready to snap and kill you fucking dead. Believe me, I’m ready to kill your ass dead. I just want to see you suffer, but my oh my, death might be better,” I snarl.
It’s Pa’s hand on my shoulder that snaps me out of the haze of anger.
“Let him go, son. He’s just rattled because he can’t do shit to us. His words are just that.”
The thing is, his words are just words indeed, but they got to me, and he knows that. That’s why he said them.
Lifting my head, I see Phillipe and the Bratva leaders ahead of us, watching. That curious look is still on their faces.
They want to know what really happened. They want to know how it is I’m marrying my enemy’s daughter, and why I have control of his power. They want to know how we got a man who was supposed to be untouchable backed into a corner.
They would rip Riccardo apart if they knew what he did.
Then they’d come for her too. Emelia. They will kill her without hesitation just for sharing the same blood, uncaring what she is to me.
I think of the other night when I went to her room. When I thought of what Vlad did to Alyssa, I thought of protecting her. That same force compels me to do the same now. The Syndicate wouldn’t be different from Vlad. Minus the creepy, unsavory fascination he has with women, they’d be brutal about the way they killed her. We’d get more than just her head in a box.
My temper is drawing attention to us, and to her too. I can’t allow my hatred for this man to get to me.
I release Riccardo on that thought and step back. He notices Phillipe and the Bratva leaders watching and at least has the good sense to tamp dawn his rage.
“Don’t fucking talk to me unless you have business with me,” I hiss. “See you soon, Dad,” I add with menace in my tone and a crude chuckle. Motherfucker. He hates me calling him Dad to no end.
Ruthless Prince : A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance (Dark Syndicate Book 1) Page 12
