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“I will discipline you,” I repeat myself coldly. “If you do try me, I will punish you, and you will not enjoy it. That’s my final word on the matter.”
I lead her out of the room and back downstairs. I know she is following me because she wants to find an escape route, but she won’t find one, not here.
We stand at the base of the stairs, and I look at my watch. “I have guests arriving shortly. You can go back to your room and remain there until dinner. Your exploring for an escape route can wait until then.”
She looks at me, surprised, but I motion for one of the guards to come forward. “Harry will escort you to your room and make sure you stay there. Someone will be up with clothes for you to wear to dinner. I expect you to be on time. I’m not a patient man, don’t make me wait.”
Harry motions for her to go upstairs, and she glares at me one last time before she goes upstairs with my guard.
I wait until I hear her bedroom door shut then I go upstairs and head to my study. I pull out a cigar, not my Cubans, as those are kept exclusively at my apartment in the city. I light the cigar and sit down in my office chair.
I don’t have to wait long. Everyone is aware of my patience level.
My three brothers, two uncles, my father, and Lyle and Jarred come into my office as soon as they arrive, all finding a place to stand except the older men who find seats.
“Gentlemen, you’ve obviously heard of my cousins' blunders.” I glance at Lyle and Jarred, but that’s all I say on the matter. “We have Kira Sorvino as a hostage, and Alessandro has already tried to get her back once.”
“Don Rossi,” Lyle says, and I look at him, “they’ve completely destroyed the apartment. It was not long after you left. They left a message on the wall that they are declaring war on us if we don’t return Kira.”
I smile. “I wasn’t expecting a response so soon, and the apartment can be redone.”
I look at my father. “I’ve decided to keep Kira here until I can negotiate more territories with Don Sorvino. I’m sure he will call for the meeting as soon as he realizes he can’t take her by force.”
“I advise against this war,” my Uncle Fabio says quietly. “A war against the Sorvinos? Jose Catalan would tell you what a bad idea that is if he were still alive today.”
My other Uncle Marcel nods in agreement. “Sometimes we have to give a little to the big families to protect our smaller family.”
“See, that’s where you are wrong,” I say, heat rising on my face. “We’re not some shitty small family. We’re the second-largest family in New York. We’ve risen over the years under my father’s guidance, and I intend to take us all the way while I rule.”
Fabio and Marcel both hold up their hands in surrender, and I stand, turning my back on them. “We’ve been taking shit from those Sorvino bastards for too long. They think they can walk all over New York as if they own it. They need to think again. We need to show them, through force and power, what we are capable of.”
“What do you suggest? We start attacking their territories and risk the lives of our people and their families?” Marcel asks from behind me.
I chuckle. “Zio, you think too much of Alessandro. The man has gone soft as he has aged. He doesn’t want to risk any more lives than you do. He will fall to his knees quick enough.”
My father hasn’t said a word, and this worries me. I turn to look at him, and he’s staring at me. Everyone looks at him, and he nods. “I think it is worth taking the risk. It could pay off handsomely. But remember to keep your emotions in check, Miguel, don’t make rash decisions.”
I stand stock still. Everyone’s waiting for my reaction, but I remain calm and cold. I nod. “Of course, Padre. I know what I’m doing.”
“You are Don. We follow what you say.”
I nod and sit back down to plot out our next move.
Chapter 9 - Kira
I sit at the window. It’s open and overlooks the garden where I watch the guards patrolling. I count as they walk, timing how far they go, how long they stop, and where they go next. How long does that take? I track it in my mind.
When you’re a chef, you’re required to remember many complicated things, from ingredients to measurements to tastes to how to tell if something is perfectly cooked. How to select fresh items. I smile. I excel because I have an excellent memory, and it’s serving me well now.
I strip my bed and start to knot the sheets together. I don’t know if this will actually work or if it will hold my weight because I’ve only ever seen this done in movies, but I need to try to get out of here.
What’s Miguel going to do if I get caught? Ground me?
I time the guards carefully. I don’t want to mess up this chance. I give it an hour, maybe two, to ensure that there is a routine to their patrol. It’s getting closer to dinner, and they’ll come to tell me to get dressed soon. I have to get out of here before that.
A guard walks from the left toward my window. I count slowly to a minute, then another minute. I watch as the guard passes under my window and wait until he turns the corner. I have four minutes before the next guard walks by.
I toss the makeshift rope out the window and throw my legs over the ledge. I take a deep breath, don’t hesitate, and shimmy down the cloth quickly. I hear a slight tearing noise, but it holds just long enough for me to get to the bottom. I’m about five feet from the bottom, so I dangle at the edge of the cloth and drop, bracing myself.
