I never gave him much thought. The Amato family is high-ranking but not one of the top. They have strong ties but have never managed to move up. A marriage into the Marino family would give them that. Over my dead fucking body.
All of those politics are normal for this lifestyle, but one glaring issue I have is how they knew Cosima’s whereabouts in Italy, down to the small town she was staying in. It has my hackles rising.
I'll be digging into him and his family when this night is over. That is if I don't end up killing Sal before that. He touches my wife again and he’s gonna be a goner. I don’t give a fuck who his family is.
Cosima is on her best behavior right now, not lingering in any conversation with the men her father takes her to one by one. I see her glance my way repeatedly.
"Why don't we move to the dining room? Chef Marcello says dinner is ready," Tova announces over the room.
"Where is Ronan?" I ask War, lingering behind. I'm not leaving this room until Cosima does.
"Why? You want him to set up the red barn for you?"
"I would gladly do that on my own." We don't often use the barn. In fact, we haven't for years. War doesn't want to bring that kind of work home with him. We now use the dozens of warehouses we have, many of which are located right on the ocean.
"It would be like old times out there," War says with a hint of a smile.
I shake my head. "I know what Dario is doing. Did you?" I ask War as we follow everyone out of the room and toward the formal dining room that is only ever used for events such as this one.
"When I saw the list of people invited, I thought it could be the case, but he and I have had many conversations about Cosima, and I have made it clear I won't force her to marry."
War and Dario are still in a power struggle. Dario isn't letting the reins loose easily, but it doesn't matter. War, Ronan, and I have all been making plays behind the scenes.
I'm sure he would see that as dirty and underhanded, and maybe it is. But I get why War is doing it, and I know why I am. I won't be beholden to anyone except my wife at the end of the day.
Everything could go to shit, and I would still have solid grounding to keep my family safe. I understand more than anyone how swiftly your entire world can vanish, leaving you with nothing. I won't allow that to happen to me or Cosima. It's why I have always had my fingers in other projects outside of the Marino family.
We follow everyone into the dining room. I pause right outside, motioning for Mickey to come over to me.
"The server that dropped the tray." He nods. "Tip him well." Mickey nods again, and I am confident that he will handle it.
It was a dick thing to do to the guy only trying to do his job, but in war, there are often casualties, and this is without a doubt a war for me.
When I fully enter the dining room, I see Cosima is sitting between Sal and Tova. That’s not happening. I don’t give a shit if I make a scene.
“Sal.” I walk over to him. “That’s my seat.”
“Your seat?” He chuckles. I stare down at him, letting him know I’m not fucking laughing and he won’t be in a few seconds if he doesn’t move.
“He’s fine,” Dario tries to say. I pretend I don’t hear him.
“Move,” I order him.
“Damn, man.” He pushes back from his chair. “Didn’t know you were so protective of your sister.” Sal stands, and I know he’s made that jab on purpose.
“Watch it,” I say to him, warning that he doesn’t really want to go down this road with me.
“Right.” The fucker smirks. “You’re a Marino. Not sure how I forgot that.” That glint in his eye suggests that there is more to that statement than he means. This motherfucker really does want to end up in the river tonight. Maybe I should take War up on his offer to use the barn.
“Z,” Cosima says, drawing my attention. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“You do.” I drop down in the chair.
“Z has always been protective of our Cosima. He has been since she came home from the hospital,” Rochelle tells the table.
"He forgets she's all grown up," Dario adds.
"Doesn't matter how old she is." I turn my head toward my wife. "I'll always watch out for Cosima." A soft smile pulls at her lips.
