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CHAPTER20
LEO
We sit in my father’s den surrounded by the stench of whiskey, cigars and bitter memories. A giant portrait of the man himself gazes down on us as if he is the third person in this discussion. It’s slightly unnerving, which is probably why Diana chose this room. I catch her studying the portrait with a bitter expression in her eye, but I give her no such insight into my soul. She doesn’t get the privilege of my thoughts and as I reach for the glass of whiskey, I swirl it around the glass and wait for the theatrics to begin.
“He was an intimidating man.” Diana acknowledges the ghost among us, and I nod. “I agree.”
She sighs and crosses her legs, revealing a long shapely leg, probably to draw my attention elsewhere. It doesn’t work and I say impatiently, “What do you want to tell me?”
“The Dark Lords.” She shivers as the name passes her lips. “Mario was obsessed with it.”
I say nothing and wait for her to continue and watch with interest as her eyes flash with distaste.
“When our grandmother died, they sent us to live with Sam and Claire Bachini. They wanted a daughter and got two by default. Mario was their son, or so I believed at the time.”
“You mean he wasn’t?”
I already know who that bastard really is, but I want her to confirm it.
“No.” She shivers. “I found out many years later that honor belonged to Carlos Matasso.”
She studies me for a reaction.
I don’t give her one.
“Mario revealed it one day when he had an argument with his father. He told me that Sam was no match for his real father and as soon as he proved himself, he would go and live with him.”
“He had to prove himself?” I shake my head and Diana nods. “Giselle Matasso wasn’t Mario’s mother and wanted nothing to do with his bastard son.”
“And Carlos listened to his wife’s wishes? I find that hard to believe.”
I laugh softly and Diana says abruptly, “Then you haven’t met Giselle Matasso.”
She snaps. “I had the misfortune of growing up with the woman and let me tell you, there is a reason she has survived this long.”
This is interesting, but I keep that to myself and stare at Diana with a bored expression.
She shivers. “Giselle is manipulative, cold and unfeeling and only kept Carlos’s interest because of who her parents are.”
“So, she comes from another mafia family.” I shrug with disinterest. “Which is nowhere near as large as Matasso’s, so why should he care?”
“Because he owes Don Vieri.”
“For what?”
“To pay up his membership.” She studies me with a contemplative expression, and I can tell she is loving every second of this.
“You see, the real Supreme Dark Lord is Giselle’s father, Don Vieri. Carlos expects the title will fall to him when the Don dies because of his marriage to Giselle. According to Carlos, the Don’s grandsons aren’t interested in carrying on the family business regarding The Dark Lords, and he sees it as the perfect opportunity to be more powerful than any other family because of it.”
I lean forward and stare at her with a hard look.
“This Dark Lord’s organization. Why is it so powerful?”
“Because its members’ list is impressive. It’s not just the mafia but prominent businessmen, politicians, law enforcers and celebrities. It spans the whole continent and membership guarantees success. If Carlos disposed of his wife, he would face the wrath of the whole organization, which is why he merely tolerates her. It’s why he sent his only son to live with the Bachinis, and it’s why he is so cruel.”
“Because of his wife.”
“No.” She appears almost bitter. “Because of the way she makes him feel.”
