Page 14 of Legacy (The Sovereigns #2)

Angelo

Two Months Later

B eing the Don of Cosa Nostra is everything.

All I wanted.

I hold all the power.

What I didn’t expect was to feel like I’m missing something.

It wasn’t until Vasilisa.

My brother’s wife.

Beautiful, blonde, blue eyed, small.

A little too thin for my taste, but she’s Santo’s so that doesn’t matter.

What got me was spending a month with her and seeing the adoration in her eyes, the way she lights up from the inside out over the thought of my brother.

I want that.

I had that.

But she’s gone.

I’m five years too late for that now.

I can still remember those sweet almond eyes, the softness of her skin, her taste.

I had that shit managed. For years.

Threw myself in to the family business and everything we owned. The strip club, restaurant, the hospital, the vineyard .

Now, with alliance and the war. I was focused.

Busy.

My sister almost getting taken, my father getting shot. My mind is busy.

Was busy.

Now all I can think of is her and how much I want that feeling again.

That addiction.

Before I can think more or talk myself out of it, I call my brother.

He answers on the third ring

“What’s going on Angelo?”

Always annoyance from him.

“You hear Maksim has Vera?”

With Vasilisa’s parents on the run for betraying the Bratva, Maksim finding Vera, her mother, would more than likely trickle down to Santo’s ear.

He tells me he knows, that he’s driving back from Maksim’s, he’s talking about intel and secrets with her parents and the Bratva and he’s handling it

I don’t give a fuck, I need to get this out.

“Good,” I say dismissing his information. “I need a favor.”

“My last favor to the family is sitting at home waiting for me,” he retorts.

His last favor.

Fucker.

She’s his crowning achievement. Thanks to me.

“And what a pretty little favor she is,” I seethe.

“What do you want?” he grits.

I chuckle.

Got him.

“I need you to take over for a bit.”

“Fuck no, why?”

“I can’t say right now, but it will be for a week at most. ”

“I’m not cutting my time with Vasilisa short. No.”

Stubborn asshole.

Time to hurt him.

“You can just bring her around with you, she never leaves that house.”

He has her stuck in that house, constant surveillance.

Caged.

In the house our mother was taken from before she was murdered and mutilated.

Two birds, same cage.

“It isn’t safe,” he says sternly.

Lie. He’s afraid.

“It’s not safe if she’s alone, but she has a small army including Nico, that you’ve somehow roped into your orbit.” I spit.

Nico is suppose to work for me, but he keeps Vasilisa pretty in her cage like every other guard Santo has acquired of mine.

“Take her out, show her your life, show her who you really are.”

“She knows who I am.”

Fucker.

“What the fuck ever. I need you to step up and take over for me for a week.”

“Get your consigliere to do it.”

“You’re my brother,” I command.

“Then tell me where you’re going,” he demands

Bastard.

My throat heats.

“Florida.”

There isn’t even a pause before Santo bursts into laughter.

My blood boils.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, now will you do the fucking favor or not?”

“Fine, tell her I said hello,” he drawls.

I can hear the smirk in his stupid voice, so I end the call

I text my pilot and head off to the hangar to get a flight out as soon as possible.

***

South Florida is way too fucking hot, and as soon as I’m done here, I’m never coming back.

Nico’s missing, so I brought Giovanni with me.

It’s not the same.

Nico doesn’t talk unless he needs to. Doesn’t ask questions. Doesn’t fill the silence just to hear himself think.

Gio does.

He drives like he’s in a movie—one hand on the wheel, sunglasses too expensive for someone who still answers to people like me.

He’s been with us for a couple years now, clawed his way up from runner to shadow.

He wants more. I can feel it in the way he watches.

The way he listens when he thinks I’m not paying attention.

But I am.

The gates to the Castillo estate loom ominously ahead, a grand display of wealth and power.

A guard appears from a booth, scrutinizing us carefully before stepping away to make a call. After what feels like an agonizing eternity, he waves us through.

I shouldn’t fucking be here.

Gio whistles low as we approach the mansion.

“Nice place,” he mutters.

I don’t respond.

Stepping out of the SUV, I’m hit by the intoxicating scent of blooming orchids and salt water from the nearby sea.

I wonder if that salt sticks to her skin .

The mansion itself is impressive. A display of Spanish colonial architecture, sprawling terracotta roofs, large courtyards with lush greenery, and splashes of vibrant colors from flowering bushes everywhere you look.

Fucking tropical nightmare.

Way too much color.

A servant opens the door and leads us into a sprawling receiving room.

Luciano Castillo stands near an open balcony.

If this is his idea of a breeze, the bastard really might be the devil.

He turns at our entry.

The man doesn’t age. He looks the same as he did when I saw him five years ago.

He’s only a couple years older than me, but he’s been at the helm of the cartel longer than I’ve been at the head of Cosa Nostra.

I know he’ll use that.

That’s my weakness. Makes me look inept.

His eyes narrow at me, he smirks.

Smug bastard knows I need something and if he lives up to his name ‘El Diablo,’ he’s going to make me go through hell to get it.

“Angelo.”

He smiles, his eyes dark. “Was the scarred one not available?” his eyes cast toward Giovanni.

I don’t answer.

No one speaks for Nico.

Luciano studies me for a moment.

A silent stand off before inviting us to sit down on plush cotton chairs that feel too soft.

A man walks in, around the same age as us, he nods at Luciano and takes a seat beside him.

He reminds me of an older version of Romeo, one of my soldiers, with his soft features and smirk that I want to rip off his face.

“This is my Consejero, Rafael,” Luciano explains.

I only nod .

Luciano’s maid offers drinks. I decline.

We sit in silence.

Luciano studying me unhurried.

“So, what have you come here for, certainly not the weather?”

“No, definitely not that.”

How the fuck am I going to play this.

I shouldn’t be here.

“I want to offer an alliance into Sovereigns.”

Luciano’s eyes flash before he schools his features, “An alliance into the middle of a war?”

He chuckle darkly.

“Pass.”

“It’s being handled.”

I swallow the rage bubbling.

“We don’t need to utilize you or your men for that, but as time wears on, it’s better for us to be bigger in numbers don’t you think?”

Luciano’s eyes narrow.

I steal a glance at Rafael whose face gives nothing away.

“Perhaps,” Luciano finally admits, swirling the drink in his hand a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But alliances aren’t made without assurances.”

He pauses.

I hate this fucker.

“What is it we gain from this association with the Sovereigns?”

I sigh inwardly.

I knew this was coming.

“Access to ports on the northeast coast,” I offer.

Luciano has wanted them for years.

His sole weakness is lack of territory that only I own.

His eyes light up but he doesn’t respond immediately.

Smart.

“And what do you want? ”

This is the hard part.

My humble pie.

I lean forward. “An arranged marriage to solidify the alliance.”

Luciano smirks, “Thank you, Amato, but I don’t play for that team.”

Rafael chuckles.

Gio joins in, his laugh’s too loud. Too eager.

I silence him with a look.

He still doesn’t know how to read a room.

“You have… a sister—”

“I have two sisters,” Luciano interrupts his sharp eyes boring into me. “But I don’t give them up without their consent.”

“And I wouldn’t expect you to”

I take a breath quelling the fire.

“But that’s where discussions come into play, right? That’s always been your way, Luciano. Consent, discussion, compromise.”

Luciano sits back, his face impassive but his eyes contemplative. His fingers drum soundlessly on the armrest of his plush chair as he absorbs my words.

He glances at Rafael who shrugs noncommittally.

“Which sister are we discussing?”

“Adriana,” I say evenly, my voice not betraying the nervous thump of my heart.

The edges of Luciano’s mouth lift into a half smile at the mention of her name.

“Adriana,” he murmurs thoughtfully.

“She’s a wild one, Angelo. Rafael can attest to that.”

He nudges Rafael who smirks knowingly.

What the fuck.

White hot jealousy clings to me.

“Are you sure you’re up for that challenge?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t think I could handle it. ”

“She also yields her own power,” he says thoughtfully, “She handles her own sector of the family business, our jewel trade, her specialty is—”

“Rubies, I know. That’s why I’m willing to offer this as well.”

I reach into my pocket and pull out a small velvet box. Placing it on the table between us, I push it towards him.

“An old treasure of ours.”

My mothers.

“It’s been in our family for years.”

Luciano opens the box, and his breath hitches slightly as he sees the crimson jewel, glinting ominously under the sunlight flooding in from the balcony.

“The Blood Ruby…” He trails off.

His gaze flicks to me calculation in his eyes ebbs to curiously.

“Why part with something so important?”

For her.

But I don’t say that, instead I shrug.

“Consider it a token of goodwill and assurance of our commitment to this alliance.”

Silence.

Broken only by the distant sounds of waves crashing against the shore.

Luciano focuses on Rafael who remains expressionless, still.

A smirk spreads across Luciano’s face as he closes the box and pushes it back towards me.

No.

“I respect your offer,” he finally says, sitting upright and leaning in closer. “But you’ll need that if you want to convince Adriana, not me.”

Is this a yes?

“What do you think?” he asks Rafael, who looks at me before leaning in to Luciano to whisper.

Luciano nods .

“I want the ports, I want in on the Sovereigns, but not part of this current war you have going on. That blood ruby you can keep for Adriana.”

I did it. My relief is short lived.

“Rafael has given consent on her behalf.”

I catch Rafael’s gaze. He nods

“Why would your Consejero be able to speak for Adriana?”

Luciano’s face contorts in genuine surprise.

“I thought you knew, she belongs to him, she’s his girlfriend.”

“I prefer the term lover,” Rafael smirks.

She’s taken.

The lump in my throat grows tenfold.

“Would you prefer Valentina instead then?”

A devious smile spreads across Luciano’s face.

“She’s just turned eighteen, but maybe you’ll find something in common.”

The fucker is toying with me.

“Forget it.”

I stand.

I’m done here.

“I see you’re disappointed,” Luciano says with a chuckle as he leans back, stretching out languidly in his chair. “Maybe this wasn’t as easy as you thought it would be.”

“No,” I spit. “I don’t play games.”

His smile falters slightly at my words.

Good.

Smug bastard.

I head for the exit.

“Amato,” he calls after me. “You’ve forgot your ruby.”

I pause, my hand on the doorknob, but I don’t turn back.

“Keep it, give it to Adriana.”

The door closes with a final click, and I storm out into the hallway.

** *

The suite is all polished marble and sleek lines, the kind of place meant to impress, not comfort. A panoramic window overlooks the ocean, but all I see is the reflection of my own fuck-up.

I pour myself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid matching the raging fire behind my eyes.

I ignore the side glance from Giovanni and make him needlessly guard the door.

Rage. It’s all I feel.

Here I am drunk on the poison of a woman who belongs to someone else.

Giovanni’s voice breaks my thoughts

“Boss, there’s someone here for you.”

My eyes flick toward him ready to tell him to fuck off

“It’s Rafael.”

My grip tightens on the glass.

“Send him in.”

Rafael enters, hesitancy clinging to him. His eyes glance at the glass of whiskey in my hand.

“I hope I’m not intruding,” he says his accent playing with his words.

I scoff.

“You are.”

Rafael doesn’t flinch. He extends his hand toward me, holding a familiar velvet box.

The Blood Ruby.

She didn’t take it.

“Why are you here?”

I don’t take it from his hand.

“To tell you the truth. ”

He pauses.

“About Adriana.”

“Spit it out then.”

He sits across from me.

“I cover for Adriana,” he begins. “A lot. And she covers for me. She asked me to pretend to be her current boyfriend, to stop her brother from arranging marriages for her.”

“But you were willing to give consent on her behalf.”

“Because Luciano wouldn’t be able to pass up the deal you brought him.”

He shifts in his seat.

“An arranged marriage would devastate her, it’s not what she wants.”

Of course he knows what she wants.

He continues despite my silence.

“Why not get to know her instead, let her meet you and choose for herself?”

“I already know her, we—”

“Angelo…” he says to himself

His eyes light with recognition.

“You’re the one she snuck off with… and now you’re back, it’s been what? Four years?”

“Five,” I reply bitterly taking another swig of my drink.

Rafael sighs heavily.

“Well, if you want her, you can have her. Luciano is telling her tomorrow if you agree today, what’s it going to be?”

“Tell him it’s a deal,” I say before I can stop myself.

Rafael’s eyebrows lift. He places the velvet box between us like a challenge. Then stands.

“I’ll tell him.”

He leaves, the suite filling with quiet once again.

The blood ruby sits silently, a sparkling reminder of past mistakes and potential future ones .

I pick up the box; open it and take in the deep red jewel nestled inside.

My fingers run over it’s smooth surface.

I should feel relief. But all I feel is the weight of her name pressing down on me like a promise I don’t deserve to make.

Scarlet.

It all comes back to her.