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.