I'd handled everything: shot and killed Fernando's remaining guards from behind, found the police he had on his payroll and made them deal with the bodies, then submitted Fernando's death certificate for the insurance company. Now it was time to deal with his men.
I studied each man's face as they arrived from my office above the meeting hall. Some seemed confident, others slack. Some joked, clearly friends with other high-ranking members.
They had no idea that their boss had been brutally replaced by me.
On the other hand, I knew each of their names, their families, children, girlfriends, even their mother’s favorite color. I’d investigated and memorized everything. And it was because of those efforts that I was certain I’d get exactly what I wanted: recognition.
As the new Doña of the SalazarFamilia, this would be my first address to the capos who had previously reported to Fernando. I expected they’d challenge my authority. In fact, I was ninety-nine percent sure who would be the first man to say it was all bullshit.
I was a woman, and in all my research, there had never been a single woman named the head of a mafia family. Some even considered it bad luck. However, while Fernando ruled through fear and violence, I aimed to gain true loyalty, not submission. Of course, that depended on how the men acted today.
If they were willing to give me a chance and respect me, we could be on equal, solid ground. I promised myself, and the people I was now responsible for, this power would not go to my head. I would make choices for not only my survival, but theirs as well.
However, if they berated or disrespected me, much like I unfortunately believed they would, my hand would be forced, and they would suffer the consequences.
As the men glanced around, confused by the empty chair at the head of the table, I smoothed the wrinkles that didn't exist from my black, satin blouse and pleated trousers, checked the heels that gave me a much-needed boost of height and confidence, and made sure the gun beneath my blazer had a full round and another clip, just in case.
Truthfully, I wasn't any good with it yet. I needed time, training, and to put on muscle so my arms didn't shake when I used it. But I didn't need to be an expert if someone was at close range. All I needed was the element of surprise, and there would be plenty of that today.
Squaring my shoulders, I descended the curved staircase then stepped into the room. The men's eyes flickered my way, some with interest, before glancing behind me, clearly searching for Fernando.
I strode to the head of the long table, then sat in my new, comfortable, leather chair. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming. I’d like to?—"
Juan jumped up. "What the fuck do you think you’re doing, huh, puta? Get the fuck out of that chair?—"
Bang!
I sighed gently, sliding my gun to the left, crossing my legs at my thigh, waiting for the men to come to terms with their new reality.
Juan was who I'd guessed would be the first to question me, although truly, I'd wanted him to prove me wrong. He would have been a good capo. But now his dead body was slumped over the table with blood pooling around him.
Faces morphed. Those who held smiles when Juan opened his stupid, little mouth, now, held nothing but horror. Those who had looked at me with disgust as if I were nothing more than a cockroach had eyes now bulging out of their heads. Shock. Disbelief. Then, finally, fury.
Before someone else opened their mouth, forcing me to kill yet another person today, I held up a hand, commanding silence. "I know this is a shock for all of you, but I would advise you to be careful about what you say. I am more than willing to be understanding and work with you, but the one thing I refuse to tolerate isdisrespect."
Antonio jumped to his feet. "You just walked in here and killed Juan. Now you want us to respect you? We don't even really know who you are!"
I'd been correct again. It was disappointing that two big, bad, ruthless mafia men could be so ridiculously predictable. "Yes, I do, for the reason you just mentioned. You have absolutely no idea who Ireallyam and what I can do. But I know everything about you, Antonio Perez. I'd like you to make it home to Marie and your baby girl she's carrying, but that all depends on you."
He froze.
I smiled as my eyes touched on every man in the room, knowing I had them fully ensnared in my carefully casted web. "I know everything there is to know about every single one of you. If you're married and to whom, how many children you have, who your parents are, even the street you grew up on and the hospital you were born in."
I twirled my fingers in the air. "In this room,Ihave the power. Every singlegloriousdrop of it. And if you'd like to learn why and how that will affect you for the rest of your hopefully long lives, I suggest you sit down and shut up." I sneered, sliding my finger to the trigger. "Or will I need to shoot someone else today?"
Antonio slowly slid back in his chair, and a quick glance told me the rest of the men were either afraid, shocked, or angry. All things I'd expected and could deal with accordingly.
"Thank you." I carefully folded my hands in my lap. "My name is Catalina Salazar. A few days ago, I married Fernando. Some of you and your guards were at the ceremony. Fernando Salazar is no longer with us."
Gasps echoed around the room.
"Who did it?" someone shouted.
"Who killed him?" another one of my capos yelled.
"I'll get that son of a bitch!" Eduardo shouted, slamming his fist on the table as his large body shook.
"That would be me."
