“I’m back.”
Sharon was in the office, and she held a bag of peas to her face. Her makeup was running from her tears, and her clothing ruffled.
“You will organize the wedding for a month from now.”
“A month?” she asked. She turned to look at Anthony. “You promised me Paige wouldn’t be part of this world. She’s going away to college.”
“No, she’s not. I’ve already handled that. You really were stupid enough to think Paige would get away? She’s my stepdaughter. The Family wouldn’t allow any of our girls to get away. Paige is no fucking different. You’re an idiot to think I’d allow it.”
“She’s only your stepdaughter. She’s Richard’s daughter.”
“Paige knows too much. She’s going to be my wife, and I’ll keep her in line. In one month I want to be married to her.” Donnie stared at her mother. “You were the one who brought her into the fold. This is the price you pay for this life. You knew what was going to happen the moment you climbed out of that car bringing her here.” He shrugged. “Be thankful I’ve decided to take her for myself, as otherwise she’d be with someone like Rafael.”
He nodded toward his father, leaving his home. Jake was outside waiting.
“What’s going on?” Jake asked.
“We’re going to Tonio’s place, now.”
Climbing into the car, he waited long enough for Jake to get inside the car. Pulling out of the driveway, Donnie didn’t talk. He only wanted to speak once, not twice. Luiz was already waiting with Tonio.
Thirty minutes later, he pulled into the underground parking facility to the building owned by The Family in the center of the city.
Side by side, Jake and Donnie walked to the elevator, keying in their own code. They all had an apartment in this building, as did his father, who kept a mistress in the apartment for when he didn’t want to screw Sharon.
Luiz opened the door at his knock. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Donnie pulled out the card, throwing it onto the coffee table in the middle of the sitting room. Tonio was drinking coffee, looking way too calm. “This is what Paige was keeping a secret?”
“Yes. I found it today. She didn’t have a clue I was watching her. I’ve got the access PIN as well.”
“It’s in Paige’s name,” Luiz said, leaning down to read the details. “This is the money Richard took?”
“Yeah. He told Paige never to tell anyone about it, not even Sharon. Richard knew he was going to be fucked, but he made sure his girl was set for life.”
“Then Sharon came and put her in the middle of all of the shit,” Jake said, taking a seat.
“This very morning my father was going to kill her for that information.” Donnie ran fingers through his hair, recalling her screams of fear as his father touched her. She’d been so damned scared. This was what The Family did, it destroyed people like Paige, and even Maria.
“What stopped him?”
He let out a sigh, looking at each of his friends. “In a month’s time, I’ll be marrying Paige. She’s going to be my wife.”
“Wait, what?” Luiz asked.
“Dad was already using her birthday to put her on display for one of the men. I wasn’t going to risk Paige being put through hell.”
“Like Maria?” Luiz spat the words out.
“Exactly, the difference with Paige and Maria, is Rafael can’t kill her, whereas Paige could end up dead.”
“How is that any different? Maria could end up dead.” Luiz stood, anger clearly shining in his eyes.
“She’s part of The Family, Luiz. Your father may be a bastard because he married her off to Rafael, but you and I both know he wouldn’t let her death stand. Rafael is afraid of your father.”
“It’s a shame he doesn’t keep his fucking fists to himself.”
It was well known that none of The Family interrupted with anyone’s marriage. What happened between a man and his wife, was between them. Donnie hated it, but there was no choice they had.
“Paige could be killed and my father wouldn’t do shit,” Donnie said. “I can’t let her die. It’s not her fault that her father made a big fucking mistake.”
Richard had been trying to do well.
“Sorry, Donnie,” Luiz said. “I just can’t stand for Maria to be in pain. You know that.”
Picking up the card, he looked at all of his friends. “This is the key to bringing down The Family, and taking our place. It’s time for us to move forward.”
“Can you do it?” Jake asked. “Can you kill your father?”