Chapter Thirteen
1245 Words
Kane's POV
"This was never in the agreement, Victor," Logan growled. "I don't like it."
The man clenched his teeth but refused to pause or slow down.
"Victor." the enforcer called again and this time he stopped, whirling around.
"You're not the one marrying her, are you? They promised a daughter and we got one. She might be a bit mental, but that can't be only her. And besides, her husband has experience dealing with people like her."
He swallowed his words, his gaze remaining on Victor's.
"That's all you can say? Really? They're trying to mock us."
Victor slammed Logan against a wall. "Oh really? It's a good thing you don't make the decisions then, isn't it?"
"Victor!"
"I'm your capo, and I say this conversation is over." He gripped Logan's chin harder and pressed him closer to the wall. Kane just watched them. Eventually, Logan nodded and he was released. He shook his head and walked on, slamming the door of the room he'd been given.
"Son of a b***h!" Victor growled in anger. He wanted to go after him, Kane could tell. He didn't though, slamming his fist against the wall instead.
Kane cleared his throat.
"What?" Victor nearly shouted. "Fancy a meeting with the wall yourself?"
He watched his Capo in silence before shaking his head and turning away himself.
A hand gripped his shoulder and backed him up forcefully. "Say what you wanted to say, or so help me God..."
"Did you make a deal with the Moreni family? Is there something we're not aware of?"
The look he got now wasn't one of anger. No, it was an intentional study as if his Capo was looking for the best place to shove a dagger.
"Why would you say so?" Victor asked, his voice deceptively calm.
He thought back to the feeling he'd had since they landed. That edge of violence, that was what was missing. Victor was known as the cruelest man in Los ..., and yet, this version of him seemed more like a puppy.
"There is, isn't it?" He c****d his head. "I wonder why you're keeping it a secret."
He expected the motion of his head slamming into the wall. Victor got into his face.
"Look here, asshole. I've heard about your conspiracy theories. Maybe another stint with my boys will cure you of that. This is a privilege for you. Marry whoever you're given and make sure to ensure peace. I don't need your brain, Kane. So never presume to think for yourself again. Your concern should be to obey my instructions. Comprende."
He waited a beat and his head was slammed again. He could feel liquid leaking from his forehead.
"I said, did you understand?" It came out in a snarl this time.
"Yes, Capo," he grunted.
He clenched his teeth as he was shoved away, keeping his feet. Victor ignored him, walking towards his room. He didn't quite slam it though.
He wiped his hand on his face. Blood, again. He kept the violence back. The urge to follow and throttle Victor until his face was no longer read with ab=nger but with the strain to breathe.
He breathed out. He hadn't denied it. His instincts had been correct. Victor and Roberto were planning something, something known only to the both of them. He scoffed. His instincts had never failed him, which was how he knew he had his hands full.
That same instinct told him that the woman he'd been shackled to was bad news. Maybe a part of their plan, maybe she had her own plan, but he was going to be involved in something he'd rather not. Once was enough.
Rather than follow the others and enter his room, he turned back around. The best way to curb something, someone in this case was to cut it off at the root. He needed to find out whatever she was planning and stop her from doing anything.
His feet led him in the direction of the room where the party was held. If everything had gone according to plan, they would have been on a plane back to LA at the moment, but no, the bride had been unconscious for almost 18 hours. The doctor had confirmed the overdose and they'd had to pump her stomach. He didn't know why she would want to kill herself, particularly so close to the union, but he intended to find out.
The house was busy. The uncomfortable event had done nothing to stop the wedding preparations. Kane suspected they were even more intense. Men went in and out carrying pieces of furniture, and servants followed behind Roberto's wife as she conducted things.
He stopped by the door and looked inside. People looked at him before looking down and he remembered the blood. He was no longer bleeding, he knew that. But the blood had likely stained his shirt. He curled his lips around his teeth and was pleased with the tiny shrieks and rushing footsteps.
Clara came rushing towards the door, her attention on the phone in her hand and he snagged her wrist.
She shrieked, her palm on her chest when she saw him.
He grinned.
"What in blazes do you think you're doing here? And is that blood?" Her voice ended on a higher pitch.
He put pressure on the wrist and she cried out. He quickly removed it, feigning shock as he considered her wrist.
She glared at him.
"I apologize, ma'am." He intoned politely. "Can we talk? Somewhere away from this chaos?"
She hesitated.
"It's about your daughter."
She looked at his face for a long time before releasing an aggrieved sigh. He buried his smile.
He walked her away from curious eyes, instinctively searching for threats before he stopped.
"What is it?" the woman asked immediately.
He started to slick his hair back with his hand but stopped in time.
"Tell me about her." He said instead, c*****g his brows.
The woman cleared her throat and shifted, "What do you want to know about her that you can't ask her yourself? Isn't that why you're engaged? If not for that unfortunate incident..." she muttered something else under her breath.
His brow moved higher. "Why was I expecting a different talk?" he said, just low enough to be heard.
"What?"
He didn't respond.
This time, she was the one who ran her fingers through her head, her eyes shifting everywhere. "Look, I know this isn't ideal, but this is my daughter we're talking about. She has been with me for ages now and we're just..." she sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I can't talk about this," she said and almost ran into someone. Logan glared at her from a distance, ignoring the sobbing woman as she scurried past him.
He leaned against the wall.
"What were you doing with her?" the enforcer accused.
He was tempted to answer sarcastically but he refrained.
"What do you think of all that has happened?"
"What the f**k are you talking about?"
"Isn't it convenient to you that our trip is being delayed because my bride tried to kill herself? Just before we were due to return?"
When a pinched look appeared on Logan's face, he knew he wouldn't like what he said next and was correct.
"Why?" the enforcer sneered. "Because it's seeming like a habit with you? Your mother and now your bride?"
Kane clocked him in the chin.
- Writer
