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“Thank you for bringing these to me,” I said coldly. “If I need you, I’ll call.”
“Those papers need to be signed today,” Mateo replied, refusing to budge. “With a witness present.”
Was he serious? I sighed, taking one of the pens from the drawer. I flipped to the last page where one blank line awaited. My hand shook a bit as the tip hovered over the paper, unwilling to start the flowing cursive of my signature.
“Sienna?” Mateo’s head tilted slightly.
I reread the last line of the contract. “This is permanent.”
He said nothing for a few moments. “I don’t think he sent these to you because he believes he will die, Sienna,” he said quietly. “I think he did this because he knows you’re the one who is more capable of leading your people and your business. More so than he is at the moment.”
I looked up at him. “How? I’m the one who ran our business into the ground.”
“Because you’re not blinded with revenge,” Mateo replied simply, shrugging. “When Dante left—I could see what was really in his heart. He was angry. Vengeful. There was no stopping him. He would have left at some point to finish all this. But you? You stayed. And there’s a reason for that. Someone had to.”
I could hear the truth in his words, but I didn’t want to believe them.
“So he just leaves me here to deal with everything while he runs off?” I asked stubbornly. “What the fuck is that?”
“Maybe it’s his way of coping.”
“Coping for what?” I asked again. “His father? He didn’t even like the guy! No one did. His mother, I could understand. I did understand. But doing this shit again?” I shook my head. “I can’t forgive him this time.”
“Forgive him or not…you now own two families.” Mateo sighed, standing. “It’s time to take over, Sienna. This is what your father trained you for.”
I glared up at him. “My father trained me to kill. Not to lead.”
“Then I guess it’s time to learn something new.”
I watched him as he slipped back out the door, shutting it quietly behind him. The papers seemed to mock me as they sat there silently. I shoved them away, not wanting to look at them now. I didn’t know if I would sign them now or if I ever would. It would make everything seem too real. Too…painful.
But I couldn’t help but think about Mateo’s words. He clearly believed that I was capable of running both families, and Dante clearly felt the same. Yet I didn’t. I don’t know why. Maybe I was still hurting from my father’s death to even think about really taking over for him. For the last few weeks, I’d been in a daze. Sure, I’d started taking over his duties, but I’d been avoiding the real problems.
My eyes caught on the file again, feeling nauseous. There was no time to waste anymore. No time to think about it. Dante had forced me into this, knowing I wouldn’t have a choice. Sliding the papers back toward me, I flipped the folder open to the last page. Uncapping the pen, I scribbled across the paper, snapping the file back shut when I was done.
There was no going back now.
The Salamander had moved again.Last week it had been in South Bronx. Now, it was in Hunts Point. I didn’t dare drive myself, knowing I’d be forced to leave my car there if the night went south. I ordered a driver, not trusting any of my own men after finding out just how many had defected to the Snake. At least this driver didn’t know me.
He dropped me off at the entrance, eyeing the bodyguards just outside the rusty door and broken-down building. Giving him a sweet smile, I slipped out, heading to the front of the line. The guards barely looked at me, opening the door as I stepped up.
My dress that night fit perfectly with the new decor. It was tight and short, leaving nothing to the imagination with a sweetheart neckline and strapless. The red heels I’d paired with it were the color of blood, but they looked darker in the club's shadows.
The Arco brothers had tossed their old couches, going for a total black-out. The walls were as dark as the night sky, stars painted on in brilliant constellations. The painted black bar matched the dark velvet couches strewn along the sides, leaving room for a dance floor at the center. Even the music had changed slightly, becoming a darker trance than the livelier beats they were known for.
Declan found me first as I stood within the shadows of the entrance. He caught my eye across the floor from the bar, lifting his drink in a greeting. I made my way over to him, weaving between the already sweaty bodies, the smell of alcohol everywhere. Smoke hung above their heads as cigarette butts lit up the dark between the flashes of light from the strobes.
“So,” Declan said when I finally reached him, “back for more?”
“You know why I’m here.” I leaned against the bar, ordering before scanning the crowd. I knew he wasn’t here, but it made me feel better just to look anyway.
“You might want to come with me,” Declan whispered loudly, leaning closer. “We have news.”
I straightened. Grabbing my drink, I followed him through the crowd. He took me to the back, where a small part was sectioned off with red rope. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. The brothers loved feeling important.
Cain was lounging on one sofa, two girls on either side of him. I couldn’t help but sneer as I watched one woman tip a crystal glass of alcohol to his lips. Archer sat beside him in a low chair, a model on his lap. The woman’s arm snaked around his neck, one fingernail trailing down the open slit of his white shirt.
“Look who I found, boys,” Declan announced, grinning. “Once again, the gorgeous Sienna couldn’t resist our charm.”
