Reign (The Syndicate_ Crime and Passion Book 2)(6)

But there would be something.

If not today, then tomorrow, some day in the future.

It was the nature of our lives, the nature of the business to which we had all dedicated ourselves. Pretending otherwise wouldn’t make the danger any less real.

Or the stakes any higher.

I walked to the front door and knocked, though I was certain the home’s occupants had been aware of my arrival long before I reached the front door. Still, Senna, Maxim’s wife and one of my best—and only—friends appreciated these little niceties, and I was happy to oblige.

I waited a moment and then entered, walking into the small front area where Maxim stood waiting for me. He was impeccably dressed as always, a navy suit and gray tie both handmade for him, his face deceptively blank, eyes cold, empty.

Also deceptive.

Maxim was famous in our world for his distance, his reserve, and I supposed I was one of the few who knew that an actual human lived behind it. Not that he would ever admit it.

“Security’s new. And eager,” I said.

“Good. I have things to protect,” he replied.

He turned then, and I followed him to the portion of the house he had taken as his office.

Maxim also owned six other houses that surrounded this one, his buffer from the outside world, but this was by far the smallest and most modest. I suspected that had everything to do with Senna and knew Maxim would live anywhere if it meant being with her. My lips quirked with laughter I’d never let out. The stubborn fucker had fought his feelings for Senna for years, and I was glad he’d finally come to his senses.

“You’re settling into family life,” I said as I took off my jacket and tossed it aside, then paused to look at the baby monitor perched on Maxim’s desk.

He gave me that same icy stare, but I saw an almost imperceptible shift in his expression, annoyance at either my tossing the jacket or mentioning his home life. Or he could have simply hated that I wasn’t wearing a tie. It was sometimes hard to tell with Maxim, though he had no trouble speaking his mind, and I had no doubt he would if the mood hit him.

He didn’t address either and instead said, “So it’s done?”

“Yes. It’s done,” I said.

Maxim nodded. “And Santo was there?”

“There as instructed with all of his men and their families. It was a beautiful wedding,” I said sarcastically.

“Good,” Maxim said. “Now we wait, see how Santo’s going to respond.”

I frowned. “I thought the purpose of all of this, including me getting married, was so Santo wouldn’t respond.”

“You were mistaken,” Maxim said.

I’d slouched down low in the chair but sat up quickly. “You care to explain? Because getting married for no reason is not my idea of fun,” I said.

“Why? Do you think your marriage to Santo’s unfortunate daughter will change your life?”

“Isn’t it supposed to?” I asked. I wasn’t sentimental, but having a wife would change something. Apparently Maxim didn’t agree.

“No. What it’s supposed to do is give Santo a reminder and incentive to stay out of my way and yours. As an added benefit, it might help those swayed by such things look more favorably on the Syndicate taking over,” Maxim said.

I shook my head, surprised yet not. Maxim’s calculation knew no bounds. “Your very own hearts and minds campaign?” I said.

“I have no interest in their hearts or their minds, only what they do. Had I not made a promise, I would be more than happy to have Santo and any who support him wiped from the face of the earth,” Maxim said.

Santo had been a boss of his small territory for years, but when he’d gotten sloppy and started drawing attention, Maxim had acted. Relished it, in fact, in a way I’d never seen in the usually detached Maxim.

“Do you think it will come to that?” I asked.

“It will if Santo steps out of line.”

“And you’re banking on him doing so?” I asked. “This is all just an elaborate trap for you. You’re waiting for the moment that Santo fucks up?”

“No. But if that moment presents itself, I won’t hesitate to capitalize on it,” Maxim said.

“So this marriage was meaningless?” I said, frowning. I didn’t want distractions, and some part of me recognized Daniela Carmelli would be one if I let her, probably still would be despite my best efforts.

“Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Santo’s most recent brush with death has opened his eyes. Maybe you and Daniela will live a long and peaceful life together. I don’t know,” Maxim said.

“And you don’t care?” I replied.