Page 45 of Angel of Light (Lords of The Commission: New York #5)

“You think you can just walk in here armed and we won’t do anything to try and stop you?” Fabio asked.

“How did that turn out for you earlier? Besides, you both know I could kill him with my bare hands. Guns are not the real threat here, my lack of patience is,” I snarled.

They didn’t move again, but then again, those were probably their orders. Vincenzo knew we were coming the moment our cars hit the curb. Fabrizio opened the door for us, and instead of stepping aside like a gentleman, I walked in first, keeping an eye on her as she followed.

Vincenzo sat near the window again, his cane across his lap, eyes trained on our every step.

“Back so soon, Max?”

I didn’t reply to his provocation. Instead, I let my narrowed glower tell him how I felt about his little game.

“Miss Battaglia, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Alison had regained her poise, walking into the room like she owned the place and everyone in it, while I stayed behind, closer to the door.

“I came here to thank you for the life-threatening experience. I found it quite eye-opening. I also came to discuss the fine print in our marriage agreement if you have a minute. If I recall, we’d agreed on a six-month engagement followed by the wedding, but it seems that you’ve used my temporary memory lapse to try to expedite things. ”

“I can see you’ve got your memory back,” Vincenzo said, looking at me for confirmation. I merely shrugged. “I get that your brother told you about my new proposal and you’re here trying to save your knight in shining armor from a date with the guillotine.”

“No. Kill him all you want, I honestly don’t give a damn.”

“Oh! Trouble in paradise, I see. Tell me more.”

Before Alison could reply, the door swung open again, and both of her brothers walked into the suite, Fabio and Fabrizio right behind them as escorts.

Matt had a death glower in his eyes while Liam’s expression was blank, and I’d seen him at work enough times to know that look meant he’d crossed over into his darkness.

It was a little over three years ago that I was the recipient of such expression.

“You brought an entourage. Welcome, gentlemen. Would you like a drink?” Slowly, Vincenzo stood, purposefully forgoing the cane, the ornate skull glistening in the afternoon sun as he poured himself a drink.

“We didn’t come for pleasantries,” Liam replied.

“As I was saying,” Alison interrupted, getting back on track and not allowing the show-off made of testosterone and who had the biggest Don balls to break her momentum. “I have a deal of my own to propose.”

“Impose would seem more like it, seeing that you brought the cavalry.”

“The Battaglias are an honorable family, and we live up to our word, but I have a proposition that might resolve your predicament with the Cartel.”

“I’m all ears, Nessa .”

“Alison. My name is Alison.” She waited for the nod of acknowledgment from Vincenzo before proceeding, “I have a connection in the Yakuza that can take over your business with Diego’s Cartel.

They can assure that the drugs get new distribution routes and that their money is squeaky clean.

This means that ending the deal you had with the Cartel is possible without any bloodshed. ”

“The Yakuza?”

“Yes. Their leader owes the Battaglias, and this is how we are choosing to collect.”

Liar liar, pants on fucking fire.

Jackson didn’t owe them shit. I didn’t even know if what he was asking for was possible. But here she was, my mafia angel, twisting the truth to meet her needs. If pride were visible, I’d be firing up like the Fourth of July.

“If you can guarantee they’ll accept the deal, we can bring it to Diego for approval.”

“I’ll do that. We had the opportunity to get acquainted this morning, but as the word goes, you know that, too. Especially since he was there to threaten me to put some sense into my fiancé’s head, or else.”

“Or else?” Vincenzo asked, and I wasn’t quite sure if he already knew and was playing dumb, or if he genuinely had no idea what Diego had decided to use as leverage.

“Yes. He threatened to send you my engagement ring with my finger still attached to it in case you didn’t comply. So I’ll be the one to tie all the loose ends and make sure he accepts my proposition.”

“Perfect. It seems like we have a deal.” Vincenzo stalked closer towards us, which had both Matt and Liam slowly reaching for their guns. “I’m glad to see my future wife is growing into her role as a mafia queen.”

“With this deal, the marriage between us would be off.”

“A clever solution, Bella . But, no.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because there are two kinds of power, Alison. The kind you hold quietly, and the kind the world needs to see you wield. If I back out now, I look like a coward. If I cancel the engagement, I look like a fool. And I’m neither.

Besides, I’m sure you know by now, trusting that Diego told you the whole story, that this deal doesn’t expire.

Same with his threats in case the contract is broken.

How suicidal would I have to be to hand over my survival to an uninterested third party and not have any insurance policy? ”

“She’s not your fucking lifeboat,” I spat.

Vincenzo ignored me and slowly closed the gap between himself and Alison as he spoke, “Blood is thicker than any promise or business deal. By now, it’s clear that my dearest brother was wrong in his assessment, and you are, in fact, very worthy, Alison.

Your brothers, their empire, their army would come running, guns blazing, if any harm came to you.

Of that, I’m sure. And if you try to kill me?

The other Dons in the Commission already know about our upcoming nuptials, so my sudden death would look very suspicious, and I’m sure Don Battaglia knows what happens in those cases. ”

“An eye for an eye,” Matt said.

“Indeed. Death is a business hazard for us, but in the case of a deal like ours, we have contingency plans in place to ensure both parties follow through. That’s the power of The Commission.”

The fucker had covered all his bases. There goes my Plan A for tonight.

“Why do you want to break this engagement, if just a moment ago you didn’t care if I put a bullet in your lover’s head? Why are you so desperate to be free? For him?” He pointed at me, “Let me tell you a little secret, cara mia. Max isn’t who you think he is.”

“She knows, Brother.” I used the word purposefully, ending whatever spew of poison he was about to throw at her.

“Does she, now? Then she knows why you came to New York in the first place.”

Silence spread through the room, infesting Alison’s mind with questions Vincenzo wanted her to ask. He gave her the match and was just waiting for her to light up the fucking room.

“What does he mean?” Alison asked me.

Vincenzo circled me, slow and predatory, the glint of victory clear in each one of his steps. His words were a whisper and a whip all at once, and something inside me knew I was about to lose the last grip I still had on the love of my life.

“Since the cat got his tongue, I’ll do the honors. Max, or should I say, Gabriel, was sent here to seduce you. To infiltrate the Battaglias, win the girl, marry the legacy. And he agreed to it, because that’s what loyal soldati do.”

I turned, meeting Alison’s eyes. Her brows drew in. There wasn’t anger yet, but confusion and doubt marred her beautiful features. Hurt was coming next, because I knew exactly where this fucker was headed.

“It wasn’t like that,” I quickly said.

Vincenzo kept going, slow, deliberate steps, sharp, cutting words.

“But he couldn’t follow through because we’d overestimated your value.

He told me you weren't worth it. That your brothers wouldn’t risk their lives for you, not even their empire.

That you were just a pretty pawn, too fragile to survive this world.

They would never go to war to protect you, because you weren’t worth the hassle. ”

“Stop,” I growled.

“Why don’t you deny it?” he asked, his eyes gleaming.

“It wasn’t like that,” My voice cracked.

“Then deny the words,” he pressed. “Look your woman in the eye, and tell her you never said those exact words to me. That you didn’t fuck her and talk to me on the phone while she slept in your bed saying she wasn’t worthy of your effort. That she wasn’t enough.”

I opened my mouth.

And nothing came out.

Because I had said them. I’d said them through gritted teeth and clenched fists, trying to make him believe I didn’t care so he’d leave her the hell alone.

But she didn’t know that. And the way Vincenzo put it spoke directly to the most fragile part of her. The damage was already done.

Matt took a step closer to me, fury radiating off him like heat. “You came here with a fucking mission? I trusted you. I welcomed you into my fucking family.”

“I didn’t do it,” I said, eyes locked on Alison, desperate. “I never laid a finger on you with an agenda. Never. It was my way out, nothing else.”

Alison stood still in utter silence, her eyes visibly drying out from not blinking. Just a cold, quiet distance that burned worse than any scream ever could.

Vincenzo smiled, satisfied, and I had to resign to cuss under my breath before I had a moment to explain this whole fucking mess and come clean.

“The wedding is on,” he said to her. “And if you want lover boy to keep breathing, you’ll be dressed in white in two weeks.”

“Fine,” she replied. “But it happens in New York.”

Then she turned her back on both of us and walked out the door.

Vincenzo raised his glass toward me in a mock salute.

“To family.”