Page 156 of Vows of a Mobster

“Declan agreed.”

* * *

When Antonio and I arrived at our meeting spot with Declan, he was already there. He waited with his brother. Thankfully, it was his oldest brother, rather than youngest. At least that one knew when to keep his mouth shut, unlike his youngest.

“Mateo,” Declan greeted me curtly. His hands were folded in front of his chest.

I could feel tension rolling off of him, the same one I felt within me. The impending war was not the only thing pissing him off right now. Me asking Marissa not to meet Declan till tensions eased up probably contributed to it. She was furious too. I ended up having to order her, as the head of her family, not to meet with him. There was no debate afterwards.

“Declan.”

I watched him for any signs of aggression. Marissa and Declan together were an unexpected surprise although knowing how Marissa grew up, I could see how she’d search for the same type of men in her adult life.

“You called this meeting,” Declan broke the silence. “I’m guessing you have something to discuss. Although I am positive your beautiful, young wife is not the topic.” He taunted. “Unfortunately.”

I wanted to punch him just for mentioning my wife.

“It’s simple,” I told him, not willing to let him bait me. “I want to know if you are orchestrating these attacks on my people?”

“I’m not.” There was no hesitation in his response, no deceit. “Are you attacking my people and businesses?”

“No.”

“Fuck,” we both muttered at the same time.

The assassin that Brianna’s mother sent after her daughter and granddaughter kept lingering in my mind. His words that repeated what her mother said. Could she have orchestrated all this? It seemed unfathomable but I couldn’t dismiss it.

This was the moment I had to make a decision whether I trusted Declan O'Connor with a piece of information such as this. I would never tell him Emma was his cousin’s daughter but this information regarding her mother impacted the Irish and Italians. It was causing death on both sides.

As I promised, I sent the head of her assassin back to Brianna’s mother along with one of my own assassins, but she couldn’t be found. The woman was in hiding.

“I have information that could help us potentially but I want to keep it between the four of us here,” I started, my mind made up. I sensed Antonio tense next to me, but he said nothing. Yes, it was a risk but it was a necessary one. If a full-blown war broke between our two families, Brianna and Emma would be at even greater risk. Every single member of our families would be more vulnerable.

“You have my word,” Declan replied firmly.

“Mine, too,” his brother confirmed.

“Last week we captured a man who was targeting Brianna and Emma,” I told them both, watching them carefully. The surprised look on both of their faces was my confirmation. “He claimed the Irish sent him. It took a few rounds ofconversationsfor him to finally admit it had nothing to do with the Irish.”

“Then who?” Declan asked, frowning.

“Her mother hired him, and more than likely others, to get rid of her daughter and granddaughter. And blame the Irish for it.”

“Motherfuckering bitch,” his brother spat. I couldn’t agree more.

“How would she know about us and the Italians?” Declan asked. “How could she orchestrate it to point the evidence to both of us to start a war? And why? What does she get out of it?”

“Money,” I told him, keeping it brief. I wasn’t ready to tell him that her mother might have learned a thing or two from Brianna’s biological father. “She wants her daughter’s inheritance.” There was no need for them to know how much Brianna was worth.

“Who is Brianna?” Declan asked and I knew what he meant. At first glance, my wife was just a young woman with a simple life. That couldn’t be further from the truth. She was the stepdaughter of a senator, one of the most influential ones that ever lived.

“California Senator Williams was her father,” I replied, keeping to vague facts.

“No fucking way.” Declan was shocked as much as I was when I found out. “No fucking way,” he muttered again.

“Do a Google search of his daughter and the first picture will confirm my words.”

His brother was already googling it and his mouth would have dropped onto the ground if it weren’t attached to his jaw. He showed Declan his iPhone with results.