Page 9 of A Wife’s Duty

A ll security footage was gone. The cameras that focused on the street conveniently had a glitch and all stopped working around the time Boone’s car was tampered with.

Boone didn’t need any of them. One of his men had been in place, filming the whole incident, and from the look of things, Valdez was getting sloppy as it appeared he had sent one of his sons to do the job.

Sitting in his office, Boone took a sip of his tea—black, no sugar—and watched not for the first time as one of his brother-in-law’s tampered with his car. Leandro, the youngest son of Valdez, had placed the bomb in his car.

It lined up with all the information he had on him.

The boy had been playing around with explosives most of his life.

He was responsible for killing the nanny.

Apparently, he was so excited to see if one of his bombs worked, he lured the nanny out to the garden shed, locked her in, set the trap, and from a safe distance, watched as it exploded.

Boone couldn’t stand the little shit. When the Bonaldis needed a distraction, Leandro was the one they used.

Closing his cell phone, he looked up and wasn’t surprised to see Lucia in the doorway of his office, about to knock. She appeared to be pale. He’d left her watching television, more importantly the news.

“Did you do that?” she asked.

“If you’re referring to a certain mayor and leaked footage, then yes. Why? Do you know him?”

“He has done business with my father,” Lucia said. “You ... you’re not joking, are you?”

“About?”

“Taking down my father, the Bonaldis.”

“I’m not joking.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say I have an issue with bullies,” Boone said.

“The Bonaldi empire has been growing for a long time, several decades, and in the beginning, it was just like any up-and-coming mafia organization. It looked after its own. It commanded loyalty and in some respects, probably even deserved it. However, with all power and greed, something bad happened, and it became like an infection. It took advantage of those it was supposed to protect. It got dark, it got ... evil.”

“And you don’t like that?”

“No, I don’t.”

He watched as she frowned and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “I don’t get it. You’re like them, right? I mean, you have terrified my family and been a thorn in the Bonaldis’ side, and that is why they wanted a peaceful union.”

Boone smiled and rounded his desk, perching on the end.

“Your family and Bonaldi know what I want them to know. They believe I am just like them—a crime lord. I have men that follow me, and I have multiple businesses.”

“Then why would you try to destroy them?”

“None of my businesses are illegal, Lucia. I am a fully legit businessman. I don’t do drugs. I don’t deal in guns, and I don’t kill people to put fear into them or make them submit to me. I just don’t.”

Her frown seemed to deepen. “Then why did you agree to marry me?” she asked.

“That is for another time and place.” He looked toward his desk and picked up his cell phone.

“I always offer people a choice, Lucia. This choice is yours.” He stepped toward her.

“You can call your father, tell him everything I have done, and agree to work for him, in trying to lure me to my death. He might even believe you and possibly give you a good husband that will only beat you a little. Or, you put your trust and faith in me, and know that no matter what, I will not lay a finger on you. I will not hurt you. I will make sure you live a life you’ve always wanted, where you could do whatever the hell you want without fear.

The choice is yours.” He put the cell phone in her hand.

“I’ll be outside waiting for your decision. ”

He walked past her and got to the door before she spoke, “Why me?”

“Because I couldn’t stand to see you hit.”

And with that, he left her, heading out toward the kitchen. The television was playing to itself, and he moved toward it, watching as the mayor was led away in handcuffs. How the mighty fall, with a little help from an outside source.

He watched for several seconds, then got bored.

He was not interested in what the newscaster had to say.

Turning off the television, he moved into the kitchen.

It was dark and the curtains had been drawn.

He went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. The car had already been taken care of.

Seeing Leandro, he was excited about the next steps.

The young boy was used to going around undetected.

He wanted to make a name for himself within the Bonaldi family.

The title of Capo will fall to the eldest brother, Enzo.

Leandro was nothing. He had to compete with Enzo and Bruno in the sea of sons to make a name for himself, and he had turned to explosives.

His young age and desperation made it easy for him to slip up.

Boone took a long swig of his drink as Lucia came into view. She stepped into the kitchen, and she still held the cell phone in her hand. He watched her as she held the device tightly within her grip.

“I ... I don’t know if I can trust you or not, but I know I can’t go back. Even though I had nothing to do with what has happened, I’d get blamed. Also, I just want to be free,” Lucia said.

“Is that what you’re asking for? Freedom?”

“Is our marriage even real?”

“Yes.”

“Are you who you say you are?”

“Yes.” It technically wasn’t a lie. Boone Grinder did exist, and Boone was technically his real name, his last name had changed, and his history. When he was sure he could trust her completely, he would tell her more of his past. Until then, she would only get what she needed.

“You’re going to kill my father?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“What about Bonaldi?”

“He will end up dead, or he will be handed to the authorities, but most likely, he is going to end up dead.” He didn’t like leaving loose ends.

He had experience handing in high-profile leaders like Bonaldi in the past, and they somehow through a technicality got off from prison time. They either struck a deal or someone in charge was still in their pocket. Boone never made that mistake.

“When it is all over, and there is no threat, what will happen to me?”

He intended for them to be married for quite some time. Boone had never met anyone like Lucia before. After all she had been through, she wasn’t cold or aloof. She looked terrified, almost afraid to be hopeful. Her family had beaten every last shred of love and loyalty she had for them.

“Whatever you like. If you would like to remain married, then we will be so. If you would like freedom and total anonymity, you will have it.” He would make sure she was taken care of.

“Okay,” she said. She looked down at her cell phone. “I don’t want to get involved. I don’t like my father, or my family. I just ... I don’t want to be involved at all. I won’t say anything about what you’re doing.”

He took the cell phone from her, and the moment he touched her fingers, he watched her gasp, just slightly, but she immediately pulled her hand away from his.

“I’m sorry,” Lucia said. “I don’t know if that was the choice you were hoping for.”

“It’s your choice, and that is fine.”

“It is,” she said. “But I am scared.”

“Don’t be.”

“He’s going to know it is you,” she said.

“You let me worry about that.” He closed the distance between them and kissed the top of her head. “Go and get some sleep.”

Lucia nodded and didn’t argue. Instead, she turned on her heel and left him alone.

He looked down at the cell phone, and just to see if he could trust her, he checked to see what her last call was.

She hadn’t touched the cell phone. There were no other calls, no texts, not even an Internet search.

The phone was left exactly as he had given it to her.

His wife was proving to be an interesting person.

Pulling up Ronald’s number, he dialed it.

“Is the cage set up and ready?” he asked.

“Yes, you just need your catch.”

“Good.”

“Do you want to tell me who you have in mind?” Ronald asked.

“No, that will be the surprise.” He hung up and made his way back into his office. Going to the far wall, he slid his fingers along the bookshelf, going to a blank title. Pulling it out, the wall clicked and moved.

Every single apartment had a room he kept hidden.

Years of experience had taught him to always have a backup plan.

Within this room, there were several weapons, files, and everything he needed at his disposal.

One day, he would tell Lucia the combination in the event of an attack.

Until he was completely sure he could trust her, he would wait.

Trust was not just given. It was earned, built.

Lucia had been passing multiple tests. Her reaction to Howard and Nancy. Her response to the car explosion, and now, handing him the cell phone and asking for her freedom. She didn’t ask for anything else. But he knew in time, that would likely change.

Also, she willingly had given him the information she knew. Admittedly, it was what he had already obtained, but she was complicit with him. That was enough. He would keep his word.

Lucia would never be hurt again.