The scene at the headquarters of the Delano mob was tense.
Piers was listening carefully to the Capo, Philippe, who also to happened to be his brother, when Hila walked in.
One look at her husband’s tense face and she strode across to him.
She sat down on the side, behind Piers, hand on his shoulder, kneading his tight muscles.
“What’s up?” she drawled in her throaty voice, her eyes fixed on Phillippe. The Capo sighed, he was a large man with black hair tied back in a ponytail, a hairstyle his baby daughter thoroughly approved of; she used to tug at his hair and giggle when he pretended to yelp in pain. Now he met Hila’s direct gaze and said,
“There’s word on the street, Perez is stirring.”
Hila did not flinch.
She had also heard that Gabriela was looking to settle scores. The woman was enraged at the part played by her former lover, Lucien Delano and that of O’Grady and St Just, who had brought down her sex trafficking network
Now Hila inclined her head, encouraging the Capo to go on.
Philippe sighed and rubbed a hand over his chest absently as he growled,
“She’s planning to take down the Boss, by getting to the people he loves. She knows that the security around Mumma is intense; she might target one of the family.”
And, he thought silently, her list also had the Irish pugilist and his brother on it. To make matters worse, Finn St Just was currently in hospital so the security for him would also be a little lax, as the hospital authorities had freaked out at the sight of O’Grady’s muscle men with guns.
“Serena can help there,” said Hila, almost reading his mind and the Capo nodded slowly.
*
Bianca came awake to the smell of frying bacon.
Or rather, burning bacon. She sighed and tried to hide her face under the pillow. Finally, giving up, she went in search of O’Grady who had been trying to make breakfast. She gazed sadly at the blackened bacon on the plate and desisted from saying anything rude.
He was trying, she thought as she stepped to him and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“I wanted to surprise you, ” he growled and her heart went out to this big, soft-hearted giant, who loved her with all his being.
She pulled him around, removing the skillet from the fire as she said,
“It’s all right. I don’t feel like bacon anyways.” She kissed his mouth and said suggestively,
“Hmmm…since I’m the one who is carrying your baby, Mr O’Grady, I get to choose.” He grinned widely, scooping her up in his arms and kissing her nose as he said, tenderly,
“What do you want, baby?”
“Bagels,” she said promptly and he chuckled.
“let’s have breakfast and then go check on St Just,” he said softly and she nodded. Both of them were worried sick about St Just but were also trying their best to hide their fears.
Neither of them was fooled.
*
The Mafia Don was speaking to his old Underboss, James Schwartz, who was sitting, his legs stretched out, talking about his beloved Scotland. The door flew open and Proserpina bounced in, looking ecstatic.
Lucie Delano sat up. His Woman looked so beautiful, he thought with a pang, young and bubbling. She was waving a letter as he danced over to him, dimpling shyly at Schwantz as she cried,
“Lucien, I have been invited to inaugurate the conference of Buddhist academicians! It’s at Washington on Tuesday! ”
And settling happily on his lap, she kissed his stubbled jaw as she said, her eyes dancing,
“Isn’t that marvellous?”
The Mafia Don was proud of his lovely young Woman; despite all the problems that had riddled her life, she had single-mindedly gone on to make a name for herself as an authority on Buddhism. And she had chaired many meetings over the years.
But this time?
The men exchanged looks and an unspoken message passed between them.
It suggested that James Schwartz was also fearful for Proserpina’s life.
She looked to Schwartz who had sat up, alert and tense.
“What…? What’s wrong Lucien?” she whispered softly, aware that he was not smiling indulgently as he normally did when she brought him such news.
The Mafia Don’s hand tightened on her waist as he shook his head.
“You’re not going, Woman,” said the Don crisply and she stared at him, her lips parted in shock.
“Why ever not? “She cried, anger tinging her words.
He held her as she made to climb off his lap, spots of red on her cheeks, her fury evident in her jerky movements.
“Because Gabriela…” he began but Proserpina was enraged.
“You and your tacky wh*res!’ she cried, tears springing to her large brown eyes. Then she turned and flounced out, the envelope dropping weightlessly on his desk.
He knew she was hurt and upset. Sighing, he looked at the letter which had fallen open.
Proserpina Delano had been invited to preside over the International Conference of Buddhist Studies as the chief guest.
*
Gabriela Perez smiled as she raised her arm, in the large room where she was working on training a submissive.
Her informant had just filled her in about the matter of St Just and his stay in the hospital. Apparently, the man was seriously ill. He might not be survived- that was the prognosis…
One down, a handful more to go, thought the woman craftily.
She had plans for the man in hospital and if she worked quickly, St Just would be meeting his Maker in a matter of hours!
She brought her whip down on her submissive’s broad back with relish.
*
Accordingly, as St Just stirred awake, a nurse entered, a man he did not recall having met before. Not that he had much recollection of the people who had kept entering and leaving his room since he had been shifted into a private room the previous evening.
He had been sedated and he knew the doctor would be around to conduct the tests as soon as he was wheeled out, to the MRI unit.
Bleary-eyed and not very coherent, the handsome man watched as the man, dressed in the pale blue uniform of an orderly stepped to him. His face was hidden behind the mask as he reached to check the IV machine. Then, the orderly took out a syringe and prepared to plunge it into the bag of saline liquid dangling from the side…