Chapter 23

"You knowyou wouldn't have gone along with it if I told you from the beginning."

I sit in absolute shock, staring at my sister as if she has a second head sprouting out from her neck.

After I sat with Rosie for a little while, and she assured me that she was okay and not in too much pain, I talked to her about what was going on. She admitted to me that she'd just found out that my sister organized and paid for someone to watch over her.

That didn't make sense to me since Christine was right on board with my father in making sure I wasn't sneaking off to be with Rosie while I was still married to Marie.

My dear sister didn't even attempt to lie to me when I asked her.

"You mean to tell me you knew about the Di Santi and the Caprini family coming for us for over a year?"

"I didn't know for sure, but I had enough of a hunch to know either the Caprini's or the Di Santi's were coming up with a plan to take us out. I didn't know that they were working together." Christine picks up her drink and takes a sip before folding her hands in her lap and tilting her head to look at me.

"So why have me marry Marie?" I shake my head, not seeing where she played a part in all of this.

"Come on, you really didn't see it? I mean the same thing that was happening to her was happening to you. Marie was already in a loving relationship. It was like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet. Marie Caprini and Jasper Di Santi met and fell in love, just like every sickly sweet rom-com ever created." Christine chuckles before she continues. "So we split them up. Neither of them were at the top of their families but they had enough pull to get what they wanted, and they wanted back in each other's arms. With you being in love with Rosie, I knew there was no chance you'd develop any affection for Marie, and I was certain Marie wouldn't give up on her true love either. The goal was to see which family would use their resources to get you out of the way. Then we'd know for sure who was gunning for us. I just didn't expect them to team up in order to make it work."

I scoff and fall back in my chair, still in shock that she went through all of this. "You know the Di Santi's are never going to admit that they have anything to do with this. They'll say Jasper and Leo went rogue, or that it was a misunderstanding."

Christine straightens in her seat, leaning forward to make sure to keep my gaze, "Of course, but the playing field has changed."

"How so?"

"When this all started they thought they were going up against one family but now with you taking over the Caprini family, they'll have to go up against two. Not to mention the other allies all see them as lying snakes thanks to Babbo's little demonstration. The Di Santi family are operating alone. The Di Santi family will be little more than a memory very shortly."

I stare into my sister's cold eyes, capturing a glimpse of mine in the reflection. Mine were just as cold as hers, the only difference is a bit of excitement. I can say that I don't want anything to do with this farce, but I'd be lying.

I never expected to become the leader of a separate family, but I'm ready for the challenge. I'm ready to prove myself as a boss, and it starts by making sure those once loyal to the Caprini name know I'm here to stay.

* * *

The air in the main ballroom is thick, but I do all I can to make it seem like it"s not affecting me. I can"t let them see how uneasy I am about all this. After all, the last thing anyone wants to see after a hostile takeover is the new leader acting like a wuss.

This is my first meeting, my first without Christine or my father or any of my other siblings to back me up. I stand alone, minus my security detail, as the head of what will be the new Caprini family. I push my plate away and look up into the faces of the crew still loyal to the Caprini name. Not as many as I"d have thought; there are still a few holdouts trying to distance themselves from the mess, but I"ll get them in eventually.

I"ll get them in or I"ll have them taken out. They know too much about the internal affairs of this family to be let loose. It"s a sorry state of affairs, but as the leader, it"s my responsibility to make sure everyone in the room is protected. I"ve learned at least that much from my father.

I"ve been sitting here for a good twenty minutes, just ignoring the people around me as they watch me eat in silence. I"m not doing it to tease them but more so to let them know that I"m the one in charge now. If I tell them to wait while I go through a five-course meal, that"s what they"ll do.

Unfortunately, I don"t have the time or the patience for a five-course meal tonight. I"ve got things to do and people to see.

"Gentlemen, thank you for your patience," I push the plate away and stand from my place at the table, giving everyone the respect of looking them in the eyes. "I"m sure you"ve all heard what happened to my brother and father-in-law. Their demise left my wife as the sole heir to the Caprini throne. Unfortunately, being in the state that she"s in, she"s not fit to take leadership, so the responsibility falls to me."

If only they knew that she was in much worse shape than the last time they saw her. My father and sister have decided to keep her around for a while just to make sure there are no other secrets she"s hiding from us, and she"ll be able to tell us of any hidden traitors in the Caprini family. She"ll talk or she"ll feel the pain only my father knows how to inflict.

"With that said, I don"t want you to feel like you"ve been pushed to do anything you don"t want to, so I"m going to open up the floor for any comments or concerns."

There"s a flutter of soft mumbles, and people start looking around at each other, obviously waiting for one of them to step forward and speak on all of their behalves. The underlying fear is unmistakable. I understand. If I were in their shoes, I"d be a little fearful too.

Finally, a man whose name I"d yet to get steps forward, his arms crossed over his chest and a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Who the hell do you think you are? We know all about the Bianucci family and your underhanded methods. Why the hell should we be loyal to you?" His words are challenging. A challenge I can"t let stand. Here"s to hoping his isn"t important.

I tilt my head to the side as if I"m contemplating his words, but instead, I reach to my side. I look back up at him and at the same time raise my gun, firing three times. All three shots center mass.

"I"m the head of this fucking family. That"s all the reason any of you need to do what you"re told," I bellow into the room as everyone jerks back in shock at what has just occurred. "If you thought I was underhanded before, I promise you, shit will only get worse for you. I still have to figure out exactly who the traitors are in this outfit, and when I do, you"ll pay. Just remember that your days are numbered."

Coming out from behind the table, I walk over to where the group of them are standing, nonchalantly walking over the still warm dead body, and wait for the next person to come forward. No one does.

All it takes is a little show of force to keep everyone in line. That I learned from my sister.

"Now, it"s going to be a long road coming but together we be great once again." I nod my head and turn on my heel, ready to go back to my seat when one of the men behind me speaks up.

"And what of your family, the Bianucci"s?"

Looking over my shoulder, I glare at the man, hoping he doesn"t have a death wish. "What of them?"

"What happens when they challenge your authority. When they try to take over?"

"They won"t." I answer quickly.

"But what if they do?" The man keeps his expression respectful, it"s the only thing that saves them.

I"ve been thinking over this question since the moment I realized that I was to be the head of a new family. After all that"s been done, even though my pride in my family runs as deep as my soul, I know the only logical response.

"Then we"ll destroy them."