Page 12 of The Boss

No…

It’s more like nothing.

She wasn’t lying about how short this document is. I remember reading the intel she pulled about Mark White when Ellie’s marriage was arranged. It was a thick stack of paper. This is a few sheets. I start scanning and reading the highlights aloud as my eyes roam over the information, most of which I already know.

“Skulls Quinn…leader of the Irish mafia…killed his twin brother, the heir, when they were thirteen. Unclear if that was his first kill? Damn, I certainly hope so…At twenty-one, he killed his two uncles in order to ensure he’d take over from his father. Right, I forgot there were uncles too. Holy shit.

“…took over at 30, father is in his seventies now and semi-retired…Skulls is reclusive, rarely seen out in Boston or photographed…owns multiple strip clubs and a few body shops for money laundering…clan handles exports out of the US and incoming product from Canada…suspected real first name is Brian.” I stop and let out an unhinged laugh that has more to do with my mental state than the subject matter. “Brian?! No wonder he chose a cool nickname for himself. So…normal.Lame!” This tidbit makes me feel better. Something a bit ridiculous about the mystery man.

But my smile fades as I keep reading.

Vix covers a multitude of punishments—murders—accredited to my future husband. It’s just like the whispers; decapitations, split heads, snapped necks, bullets through the forehead and both eye sockets, as if the forehead shot isn’t enough.

My stomach is so sick already, I hesitate to read the “Personal” section. But I need to know. I read out loud again to keep breathing and stop the terror from overtaking me.

“Lives in a fortress outside the city with a small army…don’t we all…Gets around with dancers from his clubs. Probably intimidates them into sleeping with him. Gross…rumors of large parties and orgies.” I look up, then back down. “Orgies?! Oh, hell no…has an affinity for alcohol, cigars, vehicles, blah, blah, same as the rest of them… and dogs…wait, dogs?” I scan faster, looking for something creepy or horrifying like he uses them for torture or makes clothes from their skins. “Breeding and training? Trains all of their guard dogs himself…Okay, control freak much?”

Finally I get to something interesting.

DISCREPANCY:

The above information was gathered via word of mouth. Could not break into the residence network because the house does not have one. no internet, wifi, no closed camera system. Highly irregular.

Could not detect secondary hidden network or underground system. Drone surveillance confirmed lack of cameras and network cables. Lack of security is inexplicable, however, drone—small, top of the line military grade—was somehow detected and shot down before it could make a thorough sweep of the outskirts of the property.

Could try again with different model for additional fees.

What the hell? No wifi? I’m going to be married to a psychopathandcut off from high speed Netflix? Or if service is shoddy out in the boonies…no Instagram? No FaceTime? Absolutely not. That’ll be the first thing his little wifey has a fit about, I guess.

Speaking of…

I lean forward and move my eyes back to the bit about the orgies and the girls from the clubs.

My stomach flips.

Because I can’t tell much from this breakdown. Will he and my father expect the traditional presentation of bloody sheets?Surely not. This isn’t the eighties anymore, thank God. And everyone in our world knows I’m a virgin, Papa made sure of that over the years.

Still, I’ve heard some made men insist on “trying out” their wife before agreeing to the marriage. And there’s his personality, if it can be called that. This man is not right in the head. What kind of depraved, sick stuff is he going to want in bed? Will he want it from me? Maybe I should encourage his orgy habit. Stay off his radar.

Although, that was the tactic I took with my father. Lay low, bide my time. That backfired.

So maybe I blow his radar right up? Get in his face and seduce him. Learn every single one of his secrets. Then report them to father in exchange for my birthright. Move home. Rule.

Yes. This is good. I can work with this.

My phone starts to buzz with what I guess is Ellie’s call. I forwarded the report to her, and I could use her feedback. She did just go through this a few months ago. I tap Accept.

“It’s not so bad,” she starts.

“It’s not great, either.”

“Well if you skip the killing part, he doesn’t sound so different from any other made man.”

I huff in disbelief, “Uh, what about the orgies?”

“You think your papa’s men don’t have parties where women are passed around with the drugs? C’mon Luna. I’m sure even Z and Bosco have been to those. Ugh, maybe my brothers, too.” She grimaces and I join her.

“What do you think about the lack of security?” I change the subject.