“I get the chance to make my ex-girlfriend’s life a living hell. I can’t pass up the chance.”
“Nico, this will be an Italian marriage, and you’re asking for heirs. I told you I didn’t want children. Let’s not forget how much you hate me because I walked out of your life five years ago.”
“I know what I’m signing up for. You’ll pay for everything you did.”
I remove a green ring box from my inner jacket pocket. I open the box and remove the ring.
“Give me your hand,” I order.
“Wish I was marrying a man who loved me. Every girl wants the man to drop to his knee and propose,” she sighs.
Serenity stretches her left hand toward me.
Taking her hand, I get down on bended knee.
Love. Her private jet left skid marks on it as it burned rubber down the runway.
“Serenity Cichello, you will marry me. You’ll give birth to all my children. We’ll live in hate forever.” I wink, sliding the fifteen-carat princess diamond engagement ring onto her finger.
Her honey-brown face turns a light red hue. I pissed her off again.
Standing to my feet, I lean over and press a kiss to her temple. “We’re getting married in two days. Our wedding night will be one for the history books.”
I snicker as I stroll out of the dining room.
“Fuck,” she roars at the top of her lungs.
I moved up our wedding date because if she thinks we’d sleep apart another night, she’s mistaken. Hands in my slacks pockets, I saunter outside and inhale the freshly clipped grass.
“How are we doing on all fronts?” I ask my soldiers.
They gather before me.
“We’ve beefed up security. Adding another SUV to follow Serenity’s men,” Reacher says.
“Good.” I pull a cigar from my inner jacket pocket.
Miff clips the butt of the cigar. I place it between my lips and puff as he lights it.
“Does she know?” Miff asks.
“That she’s in danger? No.”
“I’ll tell her after we’re married.”
“But Nico, we’re at war,” Reacher states the obvious.
“I get it. Instead of getting married in two weeks, we’ll get married here in two days. I’ll speak to Dillon. Let him know I need the help of the five families. That asshole Novikoff called in help from his friend Vero, who’s built up his army over the last three years.” I blow a few smoke O’s.
“Cairo is with us one hundred percent. They won’t know what hit them.”
I’m convinced Tizáno didn’t have the manpower needed to end Vero from taking over his territory years ago. It appears Vero and Novikoff have each other's backs when the walls start closing in. I have to be honest with myself. One of the main reasons I gained control of Newark, Delaware is because of my grandfather Demario Marino, the Don of the Cosa Nostra. He wields the kind of power mafia men would kill for. Grandfatherhas buried a lot of bodies. I wonder if he ever thought about killing Fia’s husband. I hate that they were torn apart by the demands of the mafia world. If they could’ve been together when they were young, Serenity and I wouldn’t exist. I’m happy after all these years they were able to be together again.
“Where is that asshole Kobi?” I bite out.
“Ellendale. He took a helicopter there. He’s staying in a gated community.”
“It’s time to bring Brandon and Sebastian in on this. Kobi’s too clean. I understand he has territory in Florence, but does he have territory in the U.S.?”
