Page 5 of The Boss

Should I have told Papa? What would he think if he knew I have been training this whole time? That I’ve been playing a long game, one where I come out on top. That I know the business so well I dream about delivery routes. I’m pretty sure I can evade most of his men in hand to hand combat, positive I can outshoot them with a gun and I am almost lethal with my knives, too.

I wonder what he’d make of the fact that I have my own black leather book with copies of all his accounts, contacts, projections? That I was going to marry Bosco to take myself off the market and stay in my own house. Next, I planned to make alliances, win over or kill off the necessary opposition and then announce my reign. With or without my new husband at myside. I’ve never killed but I was prepared to have to make an example of him.

Maybe my father would be proud. Maybe hewillbe. Maybe I should tell him now, show him who I really am, what I can do for our empire. Maybe he’ll agree.

I’ll handle little Luna.

Yeah. Doubtful.

Still, what other choice do I have?

I’m not marrying some puffed up goon from another family.

It’s settled then. I get up and head out in search of protein and stimulants.

When Papa comes to tell me the news, I’ll tell him the truth.

CHAPTER 4

Luna

Dinner. Of course. I’ve been on edge all day, waiting for him to come and find me or call me to his study. I should have guessed.

Since Mama died, we’ve had dinner together every night that Papa wasn’t out working or traveling. He’s not a loving man, but he’s not cruel. To me, anyway. He’s the don, first and foremost. I love and respect that about him, even if it meant we never had a close relationship. Dinner every night is how he tried to connect with me. The older he gets, the more nights he spends at home. At seven sharp, I take my place at the long table, sitting right next to my father’s spot at the head. Often we have guests with us, capos and their wives or business contacts and their families.

Not tonight.

A few minutes and many sips into my first glass of wine later, Papa joins me. I watch him walk in and sit down, seeming slower and smaller than usual. He’s still an intimidating man, striking with shiny dark hair, strong facial features, and near-black eyes. I inherited all three of those traits from him. He has a threatening air about him, a seriousness. I inherited that too, though he may not know it.

“Principessa,how was your day?” He starts.

“Good, Papa. Yours?” I reply. It’s a script we’ve shared since I was young.

“Good, good.” Everything isgoodbefore we start eating. Then after about ten quiet minutes the real discussion begins about my grades when I was young, or usually now about some upcoming event I need to go to and why it’s important. Like clockwork…

“Listen,mia figlia,I have some news.” He straightens and looks at me, with an unusual expression. He lifts a brow, waiting. Waiting for what?

“You do?” I feign ignorance.

He smiles a small smile. “We knew this time would come. It’s time for you to marry, Luna.”

“Ah,” I try to keep my voice calm and my face neutral. “I have some news for you too, then, Papa, because—”

“It’s not going to be Bosco, Luna.” His tone is firm as he cuts me off. My mouth hangs open, all my calm vanishing. I did not expect him to say that, and his tone, his expression…everything is off. “I know what you wanted. Honestly, after all this time I thoughtyou knewthat I knew.”

“Kn-knew wh—” I hear myself stammering and hate myself for it.

“No one does that much pilates, sweetheart.” Pilates? Wait…“Your secret combat instructor. Years of martial arts, fencing, knives. Hours at the gun range.” The food in my stomach sours as he continues. “You really didn’t think I knew what you were doing? Really thought your bodyguards were that dumb? That bad at their jobs?” He’s almost smiling, almost laughing down at me from his tall, overstuffed dining chair and for the first time maybe ever, I hate him a little bit. But his features soften.

“Come now, Luna. You are smart. Smarter than anyone gives you credit for. In all your eavesdropping and spying and acting,you never wondered how your old man could be so blind to you?”

Eavesdropping.

Spying.

Acting.

I’m going to vomit right now at the table.