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Don Vieri nods as we approach and I say respectfully, “Don Vieri, Mrs. Vieri and Serena. It’s good to see you.”
They return my smile, but I detect the steel behind their expressions, and I sigh inside. Typical mafia shit.
I introduce Melissa as if we are just visiting.
“This is Melissa Remington.”
Melissa steps forward, gracing them with a beautiful smile. “I’m so pleased to meet you. You have an amazing home.”
Mrs. Vieri smiles warmly and Serena grins, obviously amused by the whole scene.
“You are welcome, my dear. Come with us to the terrace. I have arranged refreshment while the men talk business.”
Thank God for that. I’m not prepared to play the happy couple when we all know what a lie that is, except the one innocent person in all of this.
Melissa turns to me, and I nod reassuringly.
“I won’t be long.”
She smiles, and it pierces my heart. She is so sweet, refreshing even and like an injured animal on its way to be slaughtered.
They head off, leaving me alone with Don Vieri and several of his guards, of course. He is a very powerful man, more than most, and never travels without close protection, even at home. He is surrounded by an iron fortress wherever he goes, and it would be a foolish man or woman who tries to take him on. I wonder if Troy Remington realizes that yet.
As I watch his sister disappearing into the distance, her soft laughter floats back to me and I couldn’t feel any worse than I do now, especially when Don Vieri says in his husky voice.
“Let’s hope her brother makes the right choice.”
“Let’s hope.” I nod and head toward the main house with the man who commands a loyal army and as we head inside the cool interior away from the blistering sun, I take a moment to breathe.
Mafia is a way of life that is like oxygen to me. I survive this world because I was born into it. It’s all I know, and I understand every dark jagged edge of its rule book and survive because I play the game. An eye for an eye is upheld to the letter in our world and if Troy Remington believes he can use Don Vieri’s granddaughter to bring him down, Melissa doesn’t stand a hope in hell of getting off this island.
I wonder how Troy will take the news when he discovers they were always one step ahead of him. He believes he’s the one in the driving seat. He was never even in the car. Don Vieri is successful for many reasons—good reason, which is why I will do whatever he asks me to because he is holding the key to unlock my own miserable fate.
We enter his den, and he nods toward the chair opposite his desk.
“Bourbon, I presume.” He says huskily and lifts the bottle from the shelf.
“Make it a double, sir.” I say, exhaling sharply and he chuckles softly.
“These are testing times, Apollo. Nothing good comes easily, otherwise there would be no enjoyment of success.”
He hands me the glass and pours one for himself.
“You like the girl.” He fixes me with his dark, brooding stare and I nod.
“I like her, yes. She’s unaware of the mess her brother has caused and just wants to have fun.”
“Fun.” He laughs softly. “I wonder what that is like, Apollo.”
It makes me laugh. Fun isn’t something we enjoy a lot of. We make our own fun, but it’s not something any ordinary person would agree with the title.
“She will be treated as a guest in our home.” He says as he takes his seat and reassures me. “She may never discover why she is really here. That is up to her brother, Troy.”
“And if he doesn’t back down, what then?”
I ask the million-dollar question, knowing I may hate the answer.
“He will.” Don Vieri grins and it makes me laugh softly.
