Chapter 1 1

TERZO

The thick wooden double door swung open to my father's office. It was one of the biggest rooms in the house where business was discussed and where the most secure safe and panic room were situated, where he kept his most valuable.

I was assaulted by the scents of cedar wood and expensive cigars hung thick in the air.

I let go of a shuddering breath as I stepped inside.

Gaetano Siciliano, the patriarch of the family, the Don- one of the most powerful and feared heads of the mafias in Italian history- my father was sitting in his chair before his massive desk. His thick brows knitted together, hanging low over his dark caramel eyes and gray hair cut stylishly. In his sixties, he was still fit, strong, and could beat me in the ring if he desired to, but he always humbly said his prime was over.

"Figlio."

"Come va, papa?"

Papa nodded in acknowledgment. "Come in. How's your sister?"

Standing in the left corner that caught my eye was Celestina, my other beautiful sister, who had been through hell, seemingly in deep thought.

"She's fine. The boy is popping out a tooth," I said with glee. "Winston is taking care of them if that's what you want to hear."

"Sit down," he said in a more serious tone.

Without a word, I stole a glance at Celestina as I took a seat before my father. "How are you, Cee?"

I had a feeling that this meeting was crucial. In our world, parents only had children so they could mold us into our roles. Since I was the eldest and the only son, without a doubt, I would be running the family business empire when he retired, but not too soon, I hoped.

"I met Francesco yesterday."

"Without me?" What the fuck? I stared at my father in disbelief. "Why didn't you wait until I came home?" I had no doubt our men would die to protect my father, but something didn't make any sense.

"The meeting is arranged without you, Terzo. I joined Papa."

"Why?" I turned my head to my sister, who finally decided to join us and sat across me. "I'm the reason why Papa called this meeting in the first place. I was the one who pulled the trigger."

"Francesco made some demands not to come after you."

"As if he can." I snorted, which annoyed my father.

"Don't be so confident, Terzo. You may have cheated death many times, but we still have enemies who would be glad to take your life and offer your head to him on a silver platter."

"I'm sorry, Papa. What are his demands?"

"His daughter ran away three months ago. His men had no luck finding her."

Oh, fuck me now. I had a feeling I knew where this conversation was going. "PI is cheap for a man like him, Papa. I'm sure he can afford to hire the best one in town."

"He doesn't only want you to find her."

I wanted to roll my eyes as I looked my father in the eye. Suddenly, his words during the meeting with Wallace and Moses shot me like a bullet to my chest. I hoped to God I was wrong about this.

"He wants you to bring her to him by any means necessary," Celestina said.

"Dead or alive?" Why the fuck did he want that? Son of a bitch.

"Alive, of course, brother. What's wrong with you?" Her eyes narrowed. "We don't touch women. That's the line we would never cross."

"By any means necessary. You said it yourself. So he wants me to kill everyone that comes my way just to bring his spoiled brat little daughter to pay my debt of killing his asshole son. Is that it?"

"Language, Terzo," Papa grunted. "And enough of killings. That's why I agreed to his demands, to bring his daughter back home safe."

"But there's more to it," she added.

Francesco Giordani had more demands, but so far, I heard only one, and I felt in my gut that there was a long list to meet. Or I'm fucked.

"Enough. Both of you. Let me talk, Celestina," Papa spat out as he glared at me and my sister.

"Of course."

"She's last seen crossing the Russian border-"

I cursed under my breath.

My father's eyes narrowed as he continued, "I don't know what she's up to. You may need to call Mr. Linden for help or the-"

"The agency can't help me, Papa, but why would she go to a hostile territory? Is she aware of her father's line of business or she's just rebellious and doesn't give a damn about her life anymore?"

"Not everything, brother."

"Is she that stupid?"

"No. She's smart, son. She knows she's untouchable in Vasilyev's territory. Francesco hasn't crossed that line, so Ilya wouldn't touch her."

Fuck.

"I want you to be off this blood debt, Terzo. Bring her home, kidnap her, or if she's with Ilya Vasilyev, make the damn deal no matter how much it costs. If you accomplish this, consider me retired."

For once, I didn't want my father to retire.

"Or make her fall for you, take her as your little pet, brother. It wouldn't be that hard."

"What made you say that, Cee?"

She raised a brow. "Her American ex-boyfriend is a real doucebag. She's probably yearning for a charming bad-boy hero to save her day. Good girls always fall for bad boys, brother."

"You're crazy."

"Just suggesting, T. Put that charming face to good use. You might not need more persuasion unless she knows who killed her brother. Then you're in grave great trouble."

"Porco-" I rose to my feet and walked to the liquor table. My father did not react, though. He'd seen this coming. I poured a shot of scotch and downed it. Grimacing, I faced them. "What's her name?"

"Danielle Leone Aristide Giordani, pretty right? But she goes by Dani Souls."

"Her name alone is already a pain in my ass."

"Maybe you should marry her, son."

Fuck me. My back stiffened. I was sure my father saw my reaction. "I'd rather get a bullet to my head. Over my dead, cold body. What else, Papa?"

"That's all for now. Come home with her, and we'll talk about what to do next."

"No, Papa. I need to know now, or let me just kill Francesco, and my headache is over."

"No more killing. This is also a business alliance, Terzo."

I breathed through my nose as I put down the empty glass. "This business alliance, Papa, does this involve marriage?"

"Yes."

Rage rose inside me. "So let me get this clear, if I understand it correctly. I'm going to get that woman and bring her home, marry her for a business alliance to pay my blood debt, or what?"

"Francesco will marry your sister, or I will lose you, Terzo. I don't want to lose you, son. I don't want more blood on our hands. I hope you understand the situation you put us in when you took Tomas' life. You pay the consequences, or Celestina. Your choice."

"Figlio de puttana! Over my dead fucking body. I'm not gonna put my sister in the same situation again. I'd rather pay it with life than-" I blinked off that memory that flashed before my eyes.

"I'm so sorry, T-"

"No, Cee." I faced her. For the first time since that incident happened at the compound, she looked shattered. "You don't ever apologize to me, okay? I will make this right even if it means giving up my freedom."

"You don't have to do this."

"I once promised to keep you safe, and I failed. I also failed to protect Maverick. You don't have to marry that old stronzo. Get a life, Cee. Get out of this hellhole and heal. Go travel, explore, meet wonderful people, and maybe you'll meet the right man for you."

"He's right, Celestina."

I turned to my father. "I didn't regret what I did. He threatened my sister, and I won't hesitate to do it again. I will always protect this family no matter what, even if I have to pay it with my life, Papa. Since you don't want more bloodshed, I will do whatever you want, you know that, but not for Francesco Giordani."

"The marriage might not work out, considering you killed her brother, T."

"Thanks for putting out the obvious, but you want me to use my bad boy charm and take her as my little pet, right?"

She side-glanced at our father. "I didn't mean that. It was a joke, but I don't mind marrying and garroting Francesco on our wedding night."

"Stay put, sis. Don't do anything stupid while I'm away. This won't take long." If my plan did not work, I might have to take another life or two.

Before I could walk out of the office, my sister called me. "Where are you going?"

"To bring that woman."