Crowned In Blood

Chapter 5

5

Catalina

Forty hours later

I clenched my shaking hands and took a deep breath.

Calm down. You can do this. You have to do this. You can pretend like you always do.

I'd handled everything: shot and killed Fernando's remaining guards from behind, found the police he had on his payroll and made them deal with the bodies, then submitted Fernando's death certificate for the insurance company. Now it was time to deal with his men.

I studied each man's face as they arrived from my office above the meeting hall. Some seemed confident, others slack. Some joked, clearly friends with other high-ranking members.

They had no idea that their boss had been brutally replaced by me.

On the other hand, I knew each of their names, their families, children, girlfriends, even their mother’s favorite color. I’d investigated and memorized everything. And it was because of those efforts that I was certain I’d get exactly what I wanted: recognition.

As the new Do?a of the Salazar Familia, this would be my first address to the capos who had previously reported to Fernando. I expected they’d challenge my authority. In fact, I was ninety-nine percent sure who would be the first man to say it was all bullshit.

I was a woman, and in all my research, there had never been a single woman named the head of a mafia family. Some even considered it bad luck. However, while Fernando ruled through fear and violence, I aimed to gain true loyalty, not submission. Of course, that depended on how the men acted today.

If they were willing to give me a chance and respect me, we could be on equal, solid ground. I promised myself, and the people I was now responsible for, this power would not go to my head. I would make choices for not only my survival, but theirs as well.

However, if they berated or disrespected me, much like I unfortunately believed they would, my hand would be forced, and they would suffer the consequences.

As the men glanced around, confused by the empty chair at the head of the table, I smoothed the wrinkles that didn't exist from my black, satin blouse and pleated trousers, checked the heels that gave me a much-needed boost of height and confidence, and made sure the gun beneath my blazer had a full round and another clip, just in case.

Truthfully, I wasn't any good with it yet. I needed time, training, and to put on muscle so my arms didn't shake when I used it. But I didn't need to be an expert if someone was at close range. All I needed was the element of surprise, and there would be plenty of that today.

Squaring my shoulders, I descended the curved staircase then stepped into the room. The men's eyes flickered my way, some with interest, before glancing behind me, clearly searching for Fernando.

I strode to the head of the long table, then sat in my new, comfortable, leather chair. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming. I’d like to?—"

Juan jumped up. "What the fuck do you think you’re doing, huh, puta? Get the fuck out of that chair?—"

Bang!

I sighed gently, sliding my gun to the left, crossing my legs at my thigh, waiting for the men to come to terms with their new reality.

Juan was who I'd guessed would be the first to question me, although truly, I'd wanted him to prove me wrong. He would have been a good capo. But now his dead body was slumped over the table with blood pooling around him.

Faces morphed. Those who held smiles when Juan opened his stupid, little mouth, now, held nothing but horror. Those who had looked at me with disgust as if I were nothing more than a cockroach had eyes now bulging out of their heads. Shock. Disbelief. Then, finally, fury.

Before someone else opened their mouth, forcing me to kill yet another person today, I held up a hand, commanding silence. "I know this is a shock for all of you, but I would advise you to be careful about what you say. I am more than willing to be understanding and work with you, but the one thing I refuse to tolerate is disrespect ."

Antonio jumped to his feet. "You just walked in here and killed Juan. Now you want us to respect you? We don't even really know who you are!"

I'd been correct again. It was disappointing that two big, bad, ruthless mafia men could be so ridiculously predictable. "Yes, I do, for the reason you just mentioned. You have absolutely no idea who I really am and what I can do. But I know everything about you, Antonio Perez. I'd like you to make it home to Marie and your baby girl she's carrying, but that all depends on you."

He froze.

I smiled as my eyes touched on every man in the room, knowing I had them fully ensnared in my carefully casted web. "I know everything there is to know about every single one of you. If you're married and to whom, how many children you have, who your parents are, even the street you grew up on and the hospital you were born in."

I twirled my fingers in the air. "In this room, I have the power. Every single glorious drop of it. And if you'd like to learn why and how that will affect you for the rest of your hopefully long lives, I suggest you sit down and shut up." I sneered, sliding my finger to the trigger. "Or will I need to shoot someone else today?"

Antonio slowly slid back in his chair, and a quick glance told me the rest of the men were either afraid, shocked, or angry. All things I'd expected and could deal with accordingly.

"Thank you." I carefully folded my hands in my lap. "My name is Catalina Salazar. A few days ago, I married Fernando. Some of you and your guards were at the ceremony. Fernando Salazar is no longer with us."

Gasps echoed around the room.

"Who did it?" someone shouted.

"Who killed him?" another one of my capos yelled.

"I'll get that son of a bitch!" Eduardo shouted, slamming his fist on the table as his large body shook.

"That would be me."

The room fell silent, the men looking at me like I'd grown a second head. If this wasn't such a serious meeting, I would have laughed.

" You … killed Fernando?" Luis asked.

"I did. I also killed his guards, Alfonso and Benito. You see, I don't take kindly to men who believe women are beneath them or men who don't understand the definition of the word, 'no.' I'm certain I don't need to explain it to you, correct?"

Slowly, they all nodded, some unable to meet my eyes.

"Good. Now let me explain how things are going to go. As Fernando's widow, I now own everything he had. Every asset, every responsibility. The entire Salazar Familia. Effective immediately, I will be taking over all operations here and rebuilding the connections needed to keep this family, my family, safe."

Eduardo opened his mouth, but I narrowed my eyes at him, and he promptly shut it. He was one of the few men I hoped to eventually win over. He was loyal, fiercely protective of this familia, and to him, Fernando had been a mentor and friend. I was certain that he saw me as the enemy, and he wasn't the only one.

"I understand that I have a lot to learn here, and that you all have concerns. There has never been a woman leading the mafia on her own nor someone not explicitly trained in your day-to-day functions." I looked around the room. "Let me assure you, I will do what needs to be done. As you can see"—I waved a hand at Juan's body—"I have no issue with violence and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty."

Lifting my head, I sat up straighter in my chair. "I would like to offer each of you two options. First, stay here, cooperate with me when necessary, do the job you've been doing and do it well, and continue to reap the rewards you have been. Or leave."

Several of the men drew back while some leaned forward, interest written all over their faces.

"Should this be too much for you, I'm offering you a chance out. Leave this room now, and you leave the familia, with one small caveat. You will never share what you've learned about the Salazar Familia with anyone. Break that rule, and I will break you. Threaten my family, and I will destroy yours," I hissed. "Make your choices, men."

I leaned back into my chair, silently watching them. From what I'd been able to find, I doubted most of the men would leave.

The mafia lifestyle was similar to that of a celebrity. It was grand. The thrill of power was infectious. Working up the ranks created a sense of pride for many, and the money and perks were just as addicting.

But it all came down to whether or not they could listen and learn to take instruction from me.

After a few minutes, I was pleased that not a single man had gotten up to leave. They may, later. They might be difficult with me, disrespectful, or even try to kill me one day. I was aware of all of that. I didn't trust a single person here, and I doubted I ever would. But, for the moment, they at least had the decency to hear me out, and that was enough.