Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Men are sitting in them. It’s eerie how they turn and stare. There are only a few lights on, and the faces are hard to make out. But I can tell they’re mainly old, mainly well-dressed, and all of them are Italian.
Stellan walks down the aisle. I stay close behind him, head tilted down and my hands folded in front of me. I glance up, another flutter of worry in my guts. The men turn to look, and I get more than a few curious glances—and several straight-up hostile stares.
Which is a surprise. Why do some of these men look like they want to strangle me right here?
“We’re glad you could come,” a larger man says. He’s smiling, almost uncomfortable, as he glances back at the men around him. “On behalf of the Corsetti council, I’d like to welcome you both, Stellan Corsetti and Kira Santoro.”
One of the men, a thin and severe-looking gentleman with thin gray hair, grunts out a curse and shakes his head. “Santoro. That’s a name I never wanted to hear in council ever again.”
“Easy, Turi,” another man tuts at him, wagging a finger. “We all know your feelings. You’ve made them clear.”
“Gentlemen.” Stellan ignores the exchange. “I appreciate you all coming here tonight. I know it’s dangerous to bring the council together in one room.”
“Dangerous indeed,” the big man says, the one who originally welcomed us. “But worthwhile given the circumstances.”
“I’m shocked Matteo can talk with his lips firmly planted on Stellan’s ass,” Turi says, still looking disgusted.
The big man Matteo glares back at him. “Don’t you test me, you old fuck. I’ll come over here—”
“Please,” Stellan says, his voice low and booming. The men all look at him, but the bickering stops.
Now I see why he’s desperate to become the Don. If this “council” is running things, I suspect not much is getting done. They’re probably busy fighting each other all the time. There are seven men in total, eight including Stellan. That’s a lot of ego to deal with.
Stellan gestures at me. I risk a glance around again before bowing my head respectfully. “This is my future wife, Kira Santoro. We’ve agreed to a marriage, and I’m only here to present her, as requested. This council has asked certain things of me, and I’ve done nothing but accommodate you all. Now I’ve taken the final steps toward legitimacy.”
There’s a low murmur of assent. One of the men stands. He’s heavyset and has a gold chain around his neck. “Stellan, we appreciate what you’ve done here. It’s obvious you didn’t want to take a wife, but you listened and you made the right choice for the entire Famiglia. However, what I want to know is why this girl? Why not one of the girls we suggested from good families?”
I bristle at that. What the hell does this asshole know about me and my family? But maybe he’s got a point. My dad’s dead and my mom’s an addict. I’m not exactly high-class stuff.
“I appreciate your concern, Saverino, but Kira is the perfect choice. You all know what happened years ago with Bryan. You all were there and you remember how it hurt. Kira had nothing to do with any of it. I suspect she doesn’t even know what we’re talking about.”
I glance at him, heart racing into my throat. He’s right—I have no clue what the hell he’s going on about. Why’s he talking like he knew my father? That’s my dad’s name, Bryan, but he’s been dead for years.
“Even so, to bring a Santoro here, after all that happened—” Saverino sighs and gestures expansively. “It feels like an insult.”
“It is a fucking insult,” Turi snaps.
“Quit, you old cock.” Matteo waves a fist at him. “You closed-minded fuck.”
There’s more bickering and insulting. Stellan has to break it up again. I’d be surprised that these men could possibly run a powerful criminal empire at all, given how dysfunctional they are, but I’m stunned and my head’s reeling. Did they know my father? And if so, what happened that’s so important? They’re all acting like my last name is cursed.
It makes no sense. My dad was a nobody. He died in a car accident. At least, that’s what my mom said back then. I just always believed her. But what if she was lying?
Stellan finally gets their attention again. “My marriage to Kira Santoro represents a new chapter in the Famiglia’s future. The world is changing, gentlemen, and I plan on changing too. We are going to rebuild the Corsetti empire and redouble our strength, and I’ll start by giving the daughter of my old mentor a second chance.”
I step back, staring at him. Old mentor? What the hell is he talking about? My father wasn’t in the mafia… he was just an accountant… he wasn’t anything special…