I walk around to the front of the car, “I have no idea. What I have learned is that she’s fucking smart, intuitive, and savvy. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s done a whole lot of research before marrying me. After what Dad did to her, I wouldn’t put it past her. Know your enemy and all that.”
He nods and we climb into the car.
“I did research you. All of you,” she says once she pulls into traffic letting me know that she heard our conversation. “But I know more by observing. Romero, you’re the quiet one. You’ve stood in the shadows of your brother for too long.”
“Look, Kenna,” he says and I know from him calling her by her name, he likes her. Not that I didn’t already know, but having him call her Kenna cements that. “I get that you’re a badass, but you know nothing about me.”
She nods, but her face is void of emotion. “Okay, if you say so.”
“Oh, wise one, enlighten me,” he quips as he rolls his eyes.
Makenna’s lips twitch. “Fine,” she spits. “You’re the middle child, the one that was overlooked. Your mom, because Alessio was the youngest, meaning she spent more time with him than you. Your father, because he was grooming Dante to take over the empire. You had to find your ground and you did, but not in the way you had thought.”
“Keep going,” he says, his jaw clenched tight.
“I don’t know what happened, but I can guess. How old were you when you killed first?” she asks but she doesn’t let him answer. “My guess, you were young, probably not even a teenager. It shaped you, made you believe that you had something inside that needed caging. You may have even been told that.”
He nods and I glance at Alessio, he’s watching enthralled, but wary, we didn’t know this about Romero. “Mom was the first one to find me after I had killed the men.”
Makenna sighs, “What did she tell you?”
“That I was a monster, that whatever was inside was evil just like our dad.” His words are cold and even though he’s hiding it, I can tell that what our mother said stuck with him.
Makenna’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. “You are not a monster. We are not monsters. What we do isn’t easy. Not everyone could do it. Look I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, you’re Dante’s brother and I could have left you and not asked you to take over one of my cities, but I have. You can control your emotions, you’re able to keep cool despite what’s going on around you, and if need be, you’re able to kill without hesitation. That’s not being a monster.”
Silence fills the car. I look at my wife, she’s fucking beautiful and she’s right. Romero has more potential than what he’s been given.
“What is it called then?” Alessio asks.
“It’s called being made. It’s what we do. It’s who we are. It’s ingrained in us from a young age. Sometimes, people are born with it, like Alessio and Dante. And other times, we’re shaped to become them, like Romero and I are. The difference between us and them, is when we cross the line, there’s no coming back.”
“How far have you gone?” Romero asks and it’s as though they’re talking another language because I have no idea what the hell they’re talking about.
“Further than you. I’ve killed more men than I can count. Including family.”
Romero nods and sits back in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest and closes his eyes. “What do you think would be the best course of action to take over as the Underboss of Connecticut?”
My lips twitch, good, he’s finally taking this seriously.
“Are you asking me or Dante?” she asks him as she glances at me looking confused.
“Both of you. I want to know what you both think.”
I nod, “I think it’s a great move. You should have been made an Underboss already and the fact that you haven’t is our father’s way of pulling your strings. It’s bullshit. Makenna’s giving you the opportunity to do what you should have been doing all along. Take it. As for the best course of action—do you see yourself falling in love?”
He laughs. “No, fuck, no. We don’t do that shit,” he tells me and I catch the hurt that flashes through Makenna’s eyes.
“Sometimes it sneaks up on you,” I tell him while looking at my wife. I never thought I’d love someone but in the past twenty four hours that thought has vanished. Makenna has gotten under my skin and pierced my dead heart.
“For you to gain respect from the men, I recommend you marry Holly. You met her brother today. It would mean that you’re stronger as you’re tied to the Gallagher family, giving you their full backing. You’d be the husband of the great-granddaughter of the Mafia. But ultimately Romero, you’re going to have to lead these men. Show them that you’re not a fucking fool. Show them your dark side and fucking embrace it.”
“Have you spoken to your grandfather about this?” he asks and I don’t interrupt. It’s going to be his position and he only should come to the decision.
If it were anyone else other than Makenna offering him the position over the Irish Mafia I’d have told him fuck no and put a bullet in their head. But it’s her and I know that she’s only wanting to build her empire, and by doing so, she wants the best of the best defending her.
“Yes, I wouldn’t have asked if I hadn’t run it past Granda, he agrees that Holly would be the perfect choice. You being Underboss for me is my decision and mine alone. That wasn’t ran past anyone.”
He sighs as he scrubs a hand down his face, he’s frustrated.
“Romero, you have twenty-four hours to give me an answer. If you decide to marry Holly, Granda will set the engagement up and you’ll have a quick wedding. If you don’t want to marry Holly and do want to be my Underboss then you’ll be introduced at the next meeting we have.”
Romero nods, “Thank you.”
She ignores his thanks and turns to me. “Are you ready for the shit storm that’s about to happen?” I take her hand and hold tight, “Da’s going to go mental.”
“He’ll be fine, once he gets over the shock. Besides, you’ve already set it up to have Danny turn up. It’ll be fine. What can he do?” If he even thinks about hurting her, I’ll end him. I don’t give a fuck.
She nods, “I spoke to both Danny and Killian about that fucker Kurt and they’re both working on it. Killian has enough contacts to find out anything I need and Danny, well that arsehole, is useful in his own way.”
“What’s up with Danny anyway?” Alessio asks, “You and he are really close.”
Makenna’s eyes narrow. “Yeah, and?” Her Irish accent is thicker, I’ve come to learn when she’s annoyed or pissed off her accent gets heavier and thicker. Hell when she was talking with Danny and Killian, her accent was thick and fast.
Alessio grins, “I just meant how did you become so close. You’re not siblings.”
She shrugs, “When I was in Ireland, I stayed in Denis’ house. Danny, Malcolm, and Holly are all older than me. Well Holly is a few months older than me. We’re all really close. There’s no rivalry as we’re all doing what we want to. I run the east coast, Danny runs the UK, Mal runs Spain, and Holly, well that woman makes sure that our money is safe. She has a legitimate business and makes investments for all of us. If you were to marry her, she’d set up a business over here.”