Cruel Intentions

MI

iele came by. He didn't need to see more of this. The red roses the maid had bought for Camila as a gift for our eighth

"Damion, don't you have a dinner reser

Can you re

la is

mio

before the kids see it. Send a c

ected emotions, but I felt only anger and resentment

A fitting end to a bond that had been doomed from the very start. Maybe it was fate that today was the

and Camila's death didn't help matters. He met my gaze, worried. Cataracts clouded his eyes. Each day that passed had him fad

hen turned back to the g

his wife. They all wore their solemn faces-perfect masks, just like mine. They'd soon give me their condolence

. They didn't realize their mother was dead. Even Gabriele, at two years old, couldn't grasp

; most of them were looking for a sign of weakness. I was a young Underboss, too young in many eyes,

ept soundly in my arms. Gabriele clung to my leg, looking confused. It was the first time he'd sought my closeness since Camila's death. I

er to take care of. My sisters gathered around us, cooing at Gabriele. Samantha picked him up and pressed him to her chest. My sisters, too

d, son," Fathe

ath, neither Gabriele nor Amara had slept more than two hours at a time.

r your children," Father said, le

med under her breath. "

keep decorum in mind. Not to mention that I wasn't sure I wanted another woman in my life. What I w

and you need someone who'll t

," Samantha muttered. She, too

," I clipped. She sn

mind for Damion," my eldest sister Kian

ghter of marrying age will already have

ldn't have listened. However, Samantha was likely right. I was

my family a sign to be silent. Phoenix shook my

rom your duties for a while

osition now, I'd never get it back. Philade

t's not a good day to discuss matter

what Phoenix was going to s

follow me outside into

death, I wouldn't have broached the subject today. It'

n't wait the expected year. M

hoenix, tired of my father and him knowing

ould become your wife. A union between Philadelphia and B

sition by marrying one of Phoenix's aunts-not because he was good at

ing Made Man, she would have been promised to someone in th

Phoenix and Father exchanged a look which raised my alarms. "She was promised to the son of a Captain, but he got killed during a Bratva attack last year."

n, Father added, "She didn't know him. Sh

was

mber. That way the wedding wouldn'

Novem

e turns eightee

hey lost their minds? "The girl is a

gly. "All the other available daughters of high-ranking Made Men are even young

d. "Today isn't the righ

too long. Altair wants to find a matc

ng, and Samantha was on her way out of the living room with Gabriele in mid-tantrum. I need

down in the armchair across from mine i

t smile. "Another

in less than four months. He desperately wants you in his family, saving his sorry ass, or else he wouldn't have waite

st fourteen years between us. You realize I'

lly want a woman who's hung up on another man

ele had stopped asking for his mother, realizing she wouldn't be coming

k a repeat performance, but all the widows on the market had kid

y were suffering, and no matter how much I tried, I w

What's the problem? The girl will

ung girl in their bed once more, yet you play woe-is

would have relieved you of one of

ends, then," Logan sa

full of screaming, I cal

ltair. It

me you've come to a decision reg

n't exactly the truth. She was th

know I have two small ch

"Of course. Alejandra is very caring. We could set up the wedding for early November, a day after Alejandra's eighteenth birthday?"

h. "All right. Th

s for the feast. It'll be a lot of work to set up a grand wed

cial for her. With our son, she couldn't really plan as much as she wanted. Not t

I have enough on my plate as it is, so

scuss the details when you come ov

at my house to keep an eye on the kids

right decision, Damion.