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“If you mean—”
Cassius quickly lifted a hand to stop the man from speaking. Practically prowling around the room, he said, “Tell me. When was the last time someone held a meeting of this magnitude inside this room? Or in Sinsation, period?”
He didn’t receive an immediate answer.
“No one?” He stopped moving and looked to his father. “Pop?”
“It’s been a while, son.”
“I bet. So long, in fact, that given the circumstances, no one thought to have this place swept for bugs before entering and speaking about anything business-related.”
At that, Mars moved forward and dropped the audio listening devices that the tech they’d hired had found while scouring the building. Taking note of the looks on each man’s face, Cassius continued. “Luckily, I did, in case an eager advisor decided he wanted to prematurely shoot off at the mouth without realizing the possible consequences of his actions.”
“That’s not fair, Cassius,” Elio Cavataio frowned, speaking for the first time. “There was no need to anticipate a threat when Family business hasn’t been conducted in this room in years.”
“However, there is an active investigation looming over each one of our heads, isn’t there? Wouldn’t implementing proper protocol and security measures be the very least of what we need to do to stay off the Feds’ radar?”
“It’s funny that you speak of ‘we’ when you haven’t set foot in town in years,” Antonio argued. “And now you’ve returned with a chip on your shoulder?”
“I’m here because I refuse to let the legacy my family built crumble because of stupid and avoidable mistakes. You’ve all known peace for so long that you’ve seemed to have forgotten, or are ignorant of the fact, that you’re up against a very real threat.”
“The Farinas aren’t the only ones who helped build the legacy that is now this town,” Antonino argued hotly. “And I would implore you to remember that.”
“Before things get too far,” Armond finally spoke, sensing Cassius was on the verge of losing his temper. “I want to clarify that my son is here at my request and, as such, is not only a direct reflection of me and my decisions but has the authority to act in my absence when necessary. As of tonight, he is the underboss of the Farina family.”
“
Shock hit Cassius like a brick. He’d known that his father planned to let the rest of the families know that they shouldn’t question Cassius’ decisions or involvement in Family affairs, but he had no idea that Armond would take it a step further and make him an underboss. The declaration simultaneously sent a surge of pride and deep regret through Cassius. Despite everything he’d done, he was exactly the man he said he’d never be. Still, it felt good to know his father believed in him.
“With no initiation?” Lorenzo Sabini raised an eyebrow.
“That’s under control,” Armond replied sharply.
“And not that it needs to be said,” Severo sat back in his chair and folded his hands, shifting the trajectory of the conversation. “But Cassius is right. A storm is coming. One we all need to prepare for.”
There was a sharp rap against the door, and one of the burly security guards who’d been tasked with making sure their meeting stayed private poked his meaty head inside.
“Torrisi, you have a visitor.”
Severo’s sharp eyes cut to the man. “Vito, I thought I made it clear that under no circumstances were you to—”
“It’s Kenyon,” Vito cut across him coolly.
Cassius didn’t miss the stress lines that immediately appeared in Severo’s forehead.
Without another word, Severo nodded, giving nonverbal permission for the visitor to be allowed inside.
Sitting back in his chair, Cassius observed the stone man with braided dreads stroll into the room as though he belonged. He didn’t exactly exude arrogance, but his energy was more of a quiet challenge and an unspoken promise that any provocation would be met with the same energy, if not worse.
He stood behind Severo’s chair, both arms in front of him, his left hand wrapped around his wrist, remaining silent as all eyes in the room rested on him.
Clearing his throat, Cassius addressed the Family heads. “Regarding my initiation into my family’s business, rest assured, I’ll have proof of it soon, while taking care of one of the looming threats. Does anyone have any objections to that?”
If they did, no one expressed it verbally.
“I think that about wraps it up for the night,” Severo said. “Unless anyone has anything else to put on the table.”
The revelation of potential impending investigations, combined with the stranger who’d suddenly invaded their meeting, seemed to render the room mute.
