by Soraya Naomi
Nonetheless, I’m ready to take what I want. However, I realize now that I’m definitely not ready to give up my position of power.
Luca was correct in so many aspects; I’m being led by my dick. I’m not Prince Charming who’s going to sweep her off her feet. I’m offering a life of always being the target without having any substantial influence to protect us, and as a mafia man, I know that’s a precarious predicament to be in.
And for the first time ever, I’m experiencing guilt, contrition for being selfish and wanting it all, but that’s an emotion a Capo can’t afford to have.
A plan starts to construct in my mind, but it’s one that could blow up in my face and ruin many lives.
Losing Cam is not an option.
I want her with me, indefinitely.
I want my position of authority.
And I will take what I want.
***
When I return home that Wednesday night, I’m confronted with the resentment of my current position as a Capo, yet I still want to maintain it, and that catapults me into action.
Cam’s upstairs when I enter my loft.
Hungry, I rummage through the fridge and settle on some chicken parmesan my mother left in a Tupperware container.
Well into the last bite, Cam comes down in my favorite outfit: panties and a tank. Well, perhaps not my favorite since that’s her naked body. Before she gets a chance to speak, a knock sounds.
Our heads whip to the door, then to each other.
Bending to get my gun from the ankle holster, I throw my other arm up. “Go upstairs.”
“Adriano, it’s James,” his voice drifts from the other side of the door.
When Cam hears James, she turns on the top step.
“Put on some clothes!” I whisper-shout and set my weapon on the bar to open the door.
“I need to talk to Cam.” James peeks over my shoulder, and I let him in.
“She’s upstairs. I just got home.”
Discomfort arises, and silence descends like a dark cloud until it’s broken by Cam’s presence.
James speaks before she’s even reached the bottom step, “Camilla, I have good news. You can come stay with me.”
Where’s this coming from? I just saw him a couple of hours ago, and he didn’t mention anything about taking her.
Her footsteps falter, and she freezes.
Don’t look at me, Cam. Don’t ask questions. Remember what we’re teaching you; never show your emotions.
And to my astonishment, she says, “Okay, I’ll get my bag.”
Nonchalantly, I take the fork with perspiring hands and barely taste the last bite of chicken. “What’s changed?”
“I have more guards now. And...I felt regret for not protecting her myself. Did she mention anything to you about how she might be disappointed that she didn’t get to stay with Alessa and Rosalia?” he asks, seemingly genuine.
This man’s had decades of training in the mafia. It’s impossible to determine whether he’s being honest or simply wants her away from me. I’m inclined to believe the latter.
“No.”
A new level of what I can only describe as pure misery overcomes me when she returns, dressed and with an overnight bag, and is about to leave.
“Shall we go?” James doesn’t wait for an answer and touches the door handle. “I’m sure Adriano’s tired.”
I am. And Adriano wants to fucking sleep with her in his bed!
“We’ll see you tomorrow at the house.” Again, his is tone is bland, and I’m not convinced he doesn’t actually know about us.
“Thanks for letting me crash.” Tears pool in Cam’s eyes, making me want to brush them away, but she blinks her sorrow back before James witnesses it.
Only one quick glance that’s filled with a thousand words we don’t get to speak.
I dip my chin, and she’s gone. The vast emptiness of the room crashes down on me. A whirlwind of emotions clash, and everything from the last few days gushes out.
Rolling my neck, I grip my gun and eye it. Then I smash the butt on the counter over and over again until I’m out of breath, shattering the rock-hard granite surface, thousands of tiny splinters covering the bar, while my rage searches for an outlet. I launch my handgun against the fridge, denting it before the weapon clangs to the floor.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye, not now and not earlier. This afternoon, I left without a word because I was organizing my thoughts. Cam might have perceived my hesitancy as second thoughts about us, and I need to rectify that. I can’t message or call her now, because James is probably sitting next to her in the car, so I wait, innately knowing that she’ll contact me the moment she’s alone.
The wait is the longest two hours of my fucking life. Eventually, my phone in my hand notifies me of a message.
Cam: It took them forever to leave me. I’m in my room now. Can I call you?
As much as I want to hear her voice, James will be listening.
Adriano: No calls, Cam. Only texts, and delete them right away. I didn’t know he was planning to take you. How did he act toward you?
Cam: Okay. I’ll delete them. He acted normal, maybe a little too nice, but I get the feeling that’s more because he wanted his family together. I eavesdropped on them, and Alessa badgered him into having me with them too, which is nice, but it sucks because I miss you! I don’t think he knows anything about us. He didn’t mention you at all.
I grin because she’s such a shameless eavesdropper. Her words soothe the tension in my muscles, but I need her to be extra observant.
Adriano: Cam, I’m proud of how you hid your emotions. Don’t forget that James is a master actor. He can blindside us at any moment. Be careful. Promise me that.
Send. And I shoot her another one.
Adriano: I miss you too. It’s too quiet without you prancing around.
And again, I add another text because I can’t help it.
Adriano: It’s too quiet without you screaming my name when I fuck you with my cock.
Cam: Well, it only took you ten seconds to make this convo sexual. Don’t make me horny with my father in the next room; that’s just disturbing.
I’m glad she’s teasing. She’s showing me how resilient she is.
My phone vibrates with another incoming message from her.
Cam: This bed is so cold.
Adriano: Soon you’ll be in my warm bed again, my love. Patience is a virtue.
Cam: One I don’t have. I want your cock when you say stuff like ‘my love’.
I groan around a smile.
Adriano: I promise to make you come in some way when we see one another tomorrow. Be careful. Go to sleep.
Cam: You better! I’ll be careful. You too. Night.
I type I love you but erase it because I need to see her face when I say it to her.
Adriano: Sleep tight.
And within a text message exchange of five minutes, she manages to relax me and make me miss her even more at the same time.
In my master suite, I strip down to my boxers and crawl into bed, plotting while glaring at my ceiling. I’m taking back the power that’s been stripped from me. I’m taking her back.
My longing for Cam both weakens and fortifies me. She’s my Achilles heel. She’s the reason I’m about to shake up the underworld. There’s only one way out now. No one takes my girl from me.
CHAPTER 34
Camilla
As soon as James has shown me to my room in his mansion, I message Adriano, and in his words, I find peace within the war around us. I lie in bed restlessly, missing him so much more than I’d admit. I feel like a part of me has been ripped in two. Within the last week, Adriano has become the center of my existence. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
But now I’m tumbling in different directions. I knew the second James announced that I could stay with him that I shouldn’t pause. Adriano has been drilling me for days about how to read people and make sure they can’t read me. I could
practically see the cloud with text floating above his head with just go with James; don’t show your emotions. It’s inexplicable how in tune I am with him.
The attraction that led us together two years ago has grown into an undeniable love that bonds my heart to his. Even when we’re apart, we’re always connected by an invisible thread that’s tied eternally.
While my life was at a standstill for months, everything in the past two weeks has happened in double-time. And I’ve barely even gotten a chance to wrap my mind around it. Though, this is the life I was born into, and I’ve decided to move forward with it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you should never live in the past. The past is gone; you can’t change it. I’ve tried my best for Santino, but if they refuse to let me join the team, I’ll have no choice but to trust them.
In the end, Adriano is more important to me than Santino, and I’m learning that guilt is a useless feeling.
Sooner or later, I’ll probably sacrifice everyone to be with him; that’s how much of a hold he has over me.
I whisper his name in this unfamiliar room and start the countdown until I see him again.
***
The next morning, I’m pacing near the heavily draped window in the Syndicate’s living room, waiting for Adriano. I was hoping to see him before everyone clocks in.
Soldiers barge in, including Damian, who’s staring at me oddly, and the house is getting busier and busier but no sign of Adriano.
Finally, he arrives with Luca, and as he passes me, he spots Damian and whispers calmly to me, “Don’t talk to him. I will flip if you even look at him.”
So, the Damian issue is still a major problem. He hasn’t mentioned Damian at all since he’s been letting me back in, and I’m not going to bring it up; it’s in the past.
Today, I learn that Adriano, like James, is also a master at hiding behind a mask, and he just greets me like the rest with a formal nod and proceeds into the kitchen. Of course he’s hungry and getting food.
And the same play we’ve performed for years starts again, suppressing our feelings and ignoring each other.
James joins us after getting the floor plans from his office, and everyone quiets down.
“Where’s Adriano?” James rolls out the blueprint with an etching of the architectural style of Club 7 on the coffee table.
Luca arranges a coaster on each of the corners. “He’s in the kitchen. You can begin.”
Adriano’s back within seconds, standing facing us next to Luca and James at the head of the table. He’s popping something into his mouth and chewing casually while James speaks, “Good morning. Most of you know Camilla. She worked behind the bar upstairs for a while.”
About thirty eyes land on me, and I try my best to hide my unease and tilt my chin just like they usually do.
“Camilla is our newest member.” James drops the bomb out of nowhere.
Adriano’s hand stops mid-air to his mouth at James’s revelation, and Luca’s amazed as well. Their eyes cut to each other.
No one utters a word of complaint.
“You will accept her as a member, but not an equal member. Camilla, come join us.” James beckons to me. “Camilla is my daughter. Therefore, she outranks everyone in this room except me. She’s under my protection.”
Now murmurs do start, and I’m speechless.
What’s he doing? Why is he doing this? Out of obligation toward me? Or is he sucking me into the Syndicate so I won’t run with Adriano without his having to use violence to influence me?
“In what capacity will she work with us?” Capo Alessandro asks.
“She’ll be required to oath omertà first. No one is exempt from that. After that, I’ll decide with Luca and Adriano what rank she’ll be rewarded.”
Wait a minute. Are or aren’t Luca and Adriano aware of his plan? And what’s omertà? Everything moves along, interfering with my train of thought.
“Camilla, these”—his fingers trace crisscross paths on the paper—“are the hallways. Do you recognize them?”
I’ve explained my memory is a blur, and this mathematical drawing just seems like a lot of lines to me. “No.”
He talks me through it by explaining how to read the blueprint, and it comes to life in my mind.
Pointing to the room next to Fat Sal’s office, I say, “There are rooms with adjacent bathrooms that lead to small chambers. This one was where I saw Santino being beaten. This hall”—my finger follows a parallel line—“leads to the elevator that goes to the underground club, instead of that hall, I believe.”
“It’s highly possible he rebuilt that place,” Luca states. “Is this the way to the club?”
“I think so, yes,” I answer and glance around. I thought this was a huge operation. Fifteen soldiers doesn’t seem like a big group.
Adriano takes it over. “You all have your teams of five soldiers. Check your gear and material that’s in the back of the house. You, as the leader of your team, instruct your soldiers further.”
So there are more soldiers. These are just the men that’ll lead the operation, probably the Capi.
Adriano orders, “Get your equipment for your team. Everyone needs spare ammunition. And I have extra silencers. Gather your soldiers to bring them up to date. We formulate the entire plan today. You have two days to memorize this floor plan. We meet daily, and we’ll do a final run through on Saturday afternoon, before we attack.”
The men take their cues and span out.
I look at Adriano, who’s scanning the floor plan and is deliberately turning a blind eye to me. But the moment my stare lands on him, I can see his lip twitch twice. He’s as aware of me as I am of him.
James asks me, “Camilla, this is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
I did hint I wanted to join them, because I never want to go back to being poor and alone. Or find myself in any kind of situation where I’m defenseless and men like Fat Sal can get to me. But that was before Adriano turned my world upside down, yet again, within days by professing his feelings.
“Yes, but why did you announce it...like that?”
“I’m the boss. I can do whatever I want, and we’ll need you there because the building is unique. This way, they’ll make keeping you safe a priority. The soldiers now know that your life is worth more than theirs,” he replies.
That seems like a reasonable explanation.
Luca and Adriano are suddenly riveted on something behind me, so I turn and stiffen when I’m greeted by Wade, who enters the room, grinning widely, with a black bag in his grip.
“Gentlemen.” He then smiles at me and adds, “And lady.”
He is actually working with the Syndicate. But in what capacity?
The tension in the room just tripled. Luca gives Wade a stony stare, and Adriano’s lips curl up before he smacks Luca playfully on the shoulder.
In the meantime, the other members have dispersed, so we’re alone with Wade.
“Wade,” James says. “What have you got for me?”
What is this about?
And like always, it’s as if these men can read my thoughts because James comments, “Wade is our ally, Camilla. We’re working together. He provides us with equipment. So,” he asks Wade, “what do you have that can aid my operation?”
Wade places his bag on the table and unzips it.
I notice that each person is watching everyone else with wary eyes. All five of us. Wade catches my glance once, and nothing is missed by Adriano, because I see a frown appear for a split second.
“I have enough earpieces for your team leaders that connect to software on Henry’s laptop so that he can easily guide and maneuver you through the halls.” Several small round objects fall through his fingers and clank on the table. “And I can arrange for the street at the back entrance of Club 7 to be blocked Saturday night without raising any unwanted questions.”
This guy is definitely not just some regular P.I.
“That’s perfect,” James tells Wade
as Luca and Adriano survey the objects. Then James addresses me, “You have shooting classes now. You need some training or else I can’t take you Saturday. Your guard will drive you there and then home. It’ll be a long session; be patient.”
I’ve been subjected to so many new things in the last week, and while a rush of excitement surprises me at every turn, I’m also intimidated by the speed at which these men work. There’s something unrestrained in their eyes that’s both thrilling and frightening at the same time. And now I’m being dismissed, so I wonder what else is going to be discussed among them that I can’t know.
“I’ll see you at your house tonight then?” I say to James, yet loud enough for Adriano to hear.
He meets my eyes and sends me a fleeting smile right before I leave.
***
I’m alone with the instructor, who’s an associate of the Syndicate, in a fire hall.
My afternoon that started with enthusiasm ends in an exasperated battle with shotguns that almost dislocate my shoulder. It always looks so easy and cool on TV, but I’m having trouble even controlling my shot the first hour.
When the afternoon ends, Adriano messages me to meet him at Fallon’s penthouse so we can get a few minutes alone; the guard won’t come up with me. He’ll wait downstairs.
CHAPTER 35
Adriano
I wasn’t surprised that James announced Cam would be part of the team, but I was taken aback that he told everyone she was his daughter, which was a smart move. Now the soldiers realize the importance of protecting her.
I initiated all of this last night, and it’s working out perfectly so far. Now that the men are informing our entire team, I get to focus on the small addition that was made to our original plan.
Later in the day, I’m throbbing to be alone with her, to be inside her, even for a quickie. The risk will be worth the reward.
***
Our rendezvous doesn’t go entirely as planned though.
From the moment I saw Cam this morning, I’ve been sporting a hard-on. And as the elevator ascends toward Luca’s penthouse, I’m itching to be with her.