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“Love.” I say the word with derision. “I will not be held back by love. Love ruins everything. I’ve seen it for myself. My own parents loved, at least one of them did, and look where that got her. She tore a family apart because of love, not duty, and he allowed it to happen. I have no intention of allowing love to even enter my heart all the time I am fighting a war.”
I make to leave, and she rests her small hand on my arm and says sadly, “Then I pray you don’t find love, my son. I pray you don’t wake up one day and realize that you lost out on something that could have made you more powerful than you ever dreamed of. If that happens, you will be destroyed and it will tear my own heart open and leave it bleeding out because if you never find love, Killian, you haven’t lived at all.”
I take a deep breath because talk of emotions isn’t something I understand. I understand business. Nothing else. I desire, I covet, and I enjoy a woman’s company, but the moment I think I can’t live without another, is the moment I’ve failed.
Once I’ve kissed nonna on both cheeks, I leave her behind because the most important thing right now is to dress for my wedding and marry my bride. Then we can return to Chicago, and I can sort this shit out that my grandfather has so kindly dumped in my lap.
* * *
I shower,I shave, and I dress in the handmade tailored black suit and white shirt. My shoes gleam and the gold Rolex on my wrist tells me I am running out of time as a single man. I never expected my wedding to be so soon. Here, with only my family and guards as witnesses. I never imagined marrying a woman like Purity either and as I think of her, my heart races. She is so perfect. Like an angel, and just the thought of owning such a rare beauty makes everything right with my world.
A tap on the door causes me to say gruffly, “Enter.”
I grin at the man who does, and he says with an amused drawl, “I could not miss this.”
“Good to see you, brother.” I reach out and hug him hard and as he pulls back, he grins with a wicked gleam in his eye. “Rather you than me, Kill.”
“It will happen. Make the most of your freedom while you can.” I reply, casually adjusting my tie and staring at the face on my watch.
“We should go. Nonna will not tolerate it if we’re late.”
He nods and falls into step beside me.
“How are your plans progressing?” He says in an urgent whisper.
“As agreed, I will soon take a wife who will shine by my side and reflect the heat off me. We will become powerful, donating millions to charity and building the business into a billion dollar one. Beyond reproach and America’s heroes, all the time we tear down our enemies before they even see it coming.”
“And your wife. Will she pass the test?”
“Of course. Her training has already begun. She will trust me implicitly and do whatever I say. She is unwise in the ways of our world and won’t understand what is happening.”
“I hope it works out for you, brother.”
I nod, not really contemplating anything other than my own success.
“What about you? How are things progressing?”
I know my brother was given his own instructions, and he sighs heavily. “Usual shit. Take out our enemies and make sure our business has no leaks.”
Where I will run the acceptable face of our business, Shade will run the unacceptable one, reporting to me as his don. We will work together as a family and everything we do will be for that family’s success.
Aside from Saint and Serena, Shade is the only person I trust with my life. Brothers by birth, friends by choice. My siblings are close to me because they are of the same blood. The same mind and the same ambition. We will rule the Dark Lords as a family and extinguish those who are trying to bring us down.
Business as usual in the Vieri household.
We head out into the garden, and I smirk when I see the lengths nonna has gone to make this a proper wedding. A flower decorated arch is set on the edge of the terrace overlooking the beach below. The sea sparkles behind it and the waves lap gently to shore.
White seats are set on either side of it, decorated with flowers and ribbons. A red carpet leads me to stand under the arch where the local priest to the mainland is waiting, dressed in full regalia.
The staff and guards make up the guest list and a local photographer is waiting to record the happy occasion. Everything is perfect and as my brother stands beside me and my grandfather and nonna take their seats, the music begins courtesy of a recording playing through the speaker. This will be our wedding, but the celebration will be a far grander event.
When we return to Chicago, I hired the finest hotel in town and invited anyone of power and influence. It will be the biggest celebration Chicago has ever seen where I will launch us high into society. This is the beginning of an astonishing rise to power that nothing can get in the way of happening.
Now I just need my bride.
CHAPTER33
PURITY
