Fight Me Little Pearl

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

VALENTINO

P alazzo della Seraphina was handed down to me by my father, Vincenzo. It was given to him by his father, Oleo, and it has been passed down in this way across eleven generations. I lead Francesca past the grand foyer with fine frescoes depicting Italian mythologies on the curved ceiling, past the grand salon, and up the curving marble stairs. One of the steps is cracked, but no one would dream of replacing it. It is part of the house’s history, just like the dark mahogany furniture that glows with the patina of centuries of women lovingly polishing the wood.

I hear Francesca’s soft footsteps behind me, but we don’t speak until I stop at the door next to the master bedroom. My grandmother used to sleep here when she had one of her famous temper tantrums and refused to share a room with her husband.

“Your room.”

She stands beside me, eyeing the oak door momentarily before sliding me a black look. She’s always frowning at me. “Are we to stay together?”

“Would you like that?”

“No!”

“Then we’re not.”

“Good.” She opens the door, marches into the room, and shuts the door without a backward glance.

I had planned to shower and change, but I don’t want to keep Zio Marco waiting so I trace my way back up the hall and head for the large library downstairs.

This is my favorite part of the house. It’s my quiet place where I make crucial decisions. But right now, it’s not quiet because half the Barone clan is waiting for me. They get to their feet when I walk in, including Zio Marco, the oldest working member of the clan.

When I take a seat behind my desk, they return to their respective seats.

“You look well, Valentino. How long are you staying?” Zio Marco asks.

“Not long. I have to be back in New York by the middle of next week, so I only have a few days to solve this problem.” I lean back in my chair. “Now tell me what the hell is happening.”

“Something is going on. There are whispers that there’s a bounty out for Franco Barbieri,” Zio Marco says. He pauses and chooses his words carefully. “It appears Franco’s son was in talks with other players who wanted Terra de Barbiera and who are now furious that you swooped in and pecked away their prize from under their noses. As you know the land does not legally belong to your wife until she turns 21. Franco has power of attorney over it until then. I suppose they believe they can force him to sell to them.”

“Who are these players?”

“Nobody knows,” Matteo answers. “We suspect Sal is one of them. Everyone knows he is desperate for the land.”

“I’m starting work on that land next month,” I tell everyone. “And I don’t want any hitches. Franco and the rest of his family will be moved to one of our safe houses, which means the attack will now turn to us.”

“Let’s hit them before they do, Fra Valentino,” Giuseppe says, pushing a shock of thick hair back from his face. He has small, beady green eyes, unlike his brothers, and right now, those eyes are trained on me. “Let’s put them down once and for all.”

“It’s Francesca they want,” Matteo says.

Hearing my wife’s name fall from his mouth has me on edge. She called him dreamy. Him? She’s such a fucking liar.

Oblivious to my thoughts, Matteo continues. “Terra de Barbiera is about to make us all fucking rich. That land is worth its weight in gold.”

“The land belongs to me,” I remind him. “There’s no us when it comes to Terra de Barbiera; only me.”

The room goes silent as everyone glances at each other. I wait for any opposition, but there’s none. The relationship between me and Terra de Barbiera is way more than anyone knows. Yes, it’s a land flowing with milk and honey, but it is mine Valentino, not the Barone clan. Once the land is half-developed, I have a plan that will make them all rich beyond their dreams, but not now.

“I suggest we use Franco as bait,” Zio Marco says suddenly. “Someone obviously wants his head, and we want to know who it is; we will use him to draw out the enemy and eliminate them.”

“Or we can use Francesca as bait. A far more attractive option,” Matteo counters.

Did this fucking guy just mention Francesca again? I’m getting a little upset, and that’s not good for anyone.

“What did you just say?” Roberto asks incredulously. He was always the one with the brains.

“Hear me out,” Matteo says. “If we use Francesca, they’ll take the bait quicker. We all know that Paulo and Franco Barbieri hid her well because she is the real prize.”

“I think he’s right,” Federico says. “This might work. What do you think, Fra Valentino?” he asks me, and I stare at him, wondering how in hell he thinks Matteo made any sense.

“We’ll be sure to protect her, of course,” Matteo says. “No one would actually be within touching distance of her. But we will fool them into thinking she’s up for grabs, I swear it’s the fastest way to fish out the face behind the bounty. Think, Fra Valentino. Using Francesca is a no-brainer.”

The more he talks, the angrier I get. The thought of Francesca being used as anything makes my blood boil.

“I’ll let you off this time just because you are famila ,” I cut Matteo off. “But I swear to holy fucking God, the next time my wife’s name falls from your lips, I’ll make sure to kick you within an inch of your life.”

The room goes silent, but this time, it’s pregnant with shock. I turn to Federico. “And that applies to you, as well.”

“Valentino!” Zio Marco says crossly. “Don’t say things like that. These are your brothers. You should know better than to threaten to hurt them.”

I respect Zio Marco, but he is demented if he thinks I’d let him speak down on my authority as the Head of the family organization. “Speak to your sons, or you’ll lose one of them before night falls. I promise you that.”

“Come on, bro,” Matteo says.

Bro? What is he, a black rapper now? My eyes narrow to slits.

“You can’t let Francesca-”

I always keep a gun in my drawer, and it is drawn and cocked and pointed in his direction in two seconds.

Matteo’s eyes bulge in astonishment and everyone freezes.

“Valentino!” Zio Marco growls, springing to his feet with impotent fury. “You don’t do this to your family.”

“Francesca is family! Suggesting I put her up as bait lets me know you haven’t taken her as that.” I look into his eyes. There is shame there. “I suggest everyone take tonight for introspection because we will have this meeting again soon. I will shoot you all down before I let you disrespect my wife.”

With that said, I walk out of my study.