He gives me a smile. “Yes, I do want you to meet Jim. Thanks for reminding me.”
He holds his elbow out for me to take. I loop my arm through his and give a wave to Emilio before we step off, not sparing Rico a single glance. I can feel his eyes on me, but I refuse to acknowledge him.
“What the hell was that?” I ask when we’re out of earshot.
“My brother playing his games.”
“I hope that means you have another son.”
“No, bella. I only have the one.”
“Un-fucking-real.” I seethe.
“You handled that well. I’m proud of you. You did good, kid,” he replies and winks at me.
Rico
“Doyou know why I’m so hard on you?” Uncle Emilio asks as we ride in the back of his car.
He demanded I ride with him so we could talk. This pissed me off because Juliana rode with Oni and Pop. This motherfucker had Pop offer Juliana the guesthouse on his property.
If he wouldn’t catch me in a lie, I would move back to my place. I’m still tempted to. If I didn’t know this was all part of his game, I would say fuck it and follow my first instinct.
This is the part of all this I hate. I want to be my own man, not someone’s puppet. I’m not marrying Juliana. I don’t give a fuck what he has to say.
“I have no idea. I think outside the box. I do everything you ask me to and then some. Behind my pop, I’m your highest earner,” I answer.
“Yes, this is why. Fredrico could have easily taken my spot if he wanted to. He’s not just feared, he’s loved. My birthright is the only reason I am Don and not him. You are so much like your father, and you will fill my shoes with ease.”
“But? I hear a but.”
“But you have yet to show a weakness, which tells me when you have one, it will be great. I will not hand you my position to hand you your death. I want to make you strong, impenetrable. Not just here.” He taps my head, then points to my chest.
“In here too. I’ve seen many men broken from the inside out. If you can break a man’s heart, you can break his mind.”
“So what are you saying? You want me to marry someone I don’t love so I can’t be broken?”
“This is not what I’m saying. The Abato family offers me an opportunity. A marriage between you and Juliana opens that door. I want their territory and contracts. It has little to do with you.” He shrugs.
“You don’t even trust them. Why would I marry her?”
“She’s a pretty girl. No?”
I frown. “Not to me.”
“Ah, no. You like the littlemulignan. You think I don’t have eyes?”
My nostrils flare as I ball my fists. I won’t allow him to get a rise out of me. This is what he wants. I’m not going to play into his hands.
“Oni is one of my soldiers. That’s it. She earns, I collect.”
“Then Juliana shouldn’t be a problem. You will entertain her for the next four weeks. Keep her happy. Make it seem like you are interested,” he says slyly.
“Why should I bother? It’s not like I’m going to agree to marry her. You need to stop calling her my fiancée.”
“I don’tneedto do anything. If I wanted you engaged to her, you would be. Do as I say, Rico.
“You might be my first choice, but you are not my only option. You should know by now it’s better to follow my lead than to think you know better than me. You have not gotten there yet,” he says coldly.
