Evil Intentions

Romero stood in front of his floor-length mirror in his hotel suite, checking out his appearance before meeting his father. They were in New York to attend a party at Leonardo Conte’s home, a small-time mafia boss. Everyone knew he wanted the two families to merge into one instead of remaining rivals. A knock sounded at the door, and he heard someone enter; knowing it was his father, he picked up his gun, put it in his holster, and went to greet him.

“Pour us a shot, son,” his father said. Sitting down, he looked around the room. “This is a very classy hotel; I might even consider buying it.”

Romero looked at his father and walked to the bar by the window. He had always looked up to him. Xiomara, at his age, fifty-two, was still in great shape- tall, fit and still able to get any woman he fancied. He was also one tough bastard, and no one dared to cross him. His father had been grooming him since birth to one day take over as head of the family; he was only allowed to call him Xiomara. Pouring them both a glass of bourbon, he handed one to him.

“Thanks, son.”

“Must we really go to Conte’s party? He is such a small-time criminal who wants to become a big shot, and by getting you to join him in partnership, he thinks people will fear and respect him.”

Xiomara crossed his right knee over his left, holding up the glass as he admired the bourbon Leonardo had sent him and Romero. “You have to admit the man is being quite generous, sending us both a bottle of the finest Bourbon around. Michter’s, a twenty-year-old bottle; it has a nice dark amber colour mixed with red tones, and the taste is delightful. The old fool probably paid over a thousand dollars per bottle.”

Romero ran his hand over the back of his neck in frustration; unlike his father, he didn’t have the patience to wait for an answer. “I hope you aren’t considering joining our families; he is small-time and can’t possibly contribute to our organization.”

“That’s where you are wrong; even the small can be beneficial in one way or another. I could use him; he is not a man without some influence. I will listen to what he has to say; we’ll see if he has something worthwhile to offer us.”

Romero finished his drink and got to his feet. “I doubt he has anything worthwhile to offer us in exchange for becoming partners.” He checked the time on his Rolex. “We should go now and get this over with.”

They sat in the back seat; two of Xiomara’s men sat in the front.

“Nice place Conte has, much smaller than mine but still nice,” he said, getting out when his driver opened the door for him and Romero. “Son, try and keep it in your pants tonight; we don’t need to cause trouble.”

“I’ll try but can’t promise,” Romero said as they walked up to the mansion.

They were shown into the main room where others were gathered. Between twenty and thirty people were standing around, talking with drinks in their hands. Leonardo saw them as they walked in and went over to shake their hands.

“Mr. D’Angelo, I am greatly honoured that you and your son could make it tonight. I hope your rooms at the Plaza are satisfactory.

Xiomara shook his hand. “Yes, very nice and thank you for the lovely bottle of Bourbon.”

“Come, let me introduce you to everyone and get you a drink.” He snapped his fingers, and a waiter came over and was told what to bring the visitors.

Romero followed them; his eyes kept wandering around the room, checking out all the women who were also checking him out. As he shook hands with the men, he would occasionally flash a smile at the women who were eyeing him up and down. He knew he could have any one of them if he wanted, but he wasn’t about to embarrass his father by getting caught doing the nasty in their host’s home.

He was starting to get bored, so he decided to go exploring. He excused himself from Leonardo’s wife and headed towards the front entrance. Instead of going out the door, he made a right turn and found himself outside the kitchen. He peeked his head inside; no staff were around, but a young girl was standing by the counter. He quietly slipped inside and, leaning his back against the wall, he watched her. He could tell she was very young, maybe sixteen. She opened a bottle of beer, and he watched her take a drink; she was slender, with beautiful, long brown hair. It was then that he knew she would be his wife, but he also realized he would have to wait until she was at least twenty.

When she turned her head and saw him, he smiled and walked toward her. Getting up close, he took the bottle from her hand. Lifting the bottle to his lips, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. Placing the empty bottle on the counter, he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. He heard a faint gasp escape her mouth and felt her body trembling.

“What is your name?” he asked, staring into her big blue eyes.

“Serena Conte,” she answered shyly.

“When you turn twenty, I will make you my wife,” he said and started walking out. “Save your virginity for me to take on our wedding night,” he said before he disappeared. She was a beauty, and he knew that she would be even more beautiful in a few years.

When Xiomara saw Romero, he went over to him. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you. I hope you weren’t banging one of these women.”

“No, I wasn’t, but I have just found the one I plan on marrying.”

“You what?”

“You’ve been telling me it’s time I married and settled down.”

“Who is this woman you want to marry? Do I know her?”

“No, I just met her; she is Serena Conte.”

“Leonardo’s daughter, but I hear she is only sixteen. Do you not think she is a little young? I think you'd better find someone closer to your own age.”

“She’s the one I want, and I plan on waiting until she is older. So if you want to merge with the old man, make her part of the deal.” He stared his father down, knowing he would give in, as he had never denied him anything before.

“Are you sure about this and won’t change your mind later on? Once we arrange the marriage, there will be no backing out.”

“Trust me, I won’t back out.”

“Alright, let’s go have a private meeting with Leonardo.”

They were all seated in his office, with Xiomara’s two men standing behind Romero and his father. Leonardo sat across from them behind his desk, with his own two men standing behind him, keeping watch.

“Have you come to a decision on us joining forces? I really think that together we can accomplish so much more than we already have,” Leonardo added, looking from father to son.

“My son and I have discussed it, and we might be willing, but there are a couple of conditions before we agree.”

Leonardo started to smile; he couldn’t believe his luck. Joining them would give him more power and respect than ever before, and he would do anything to get what he wanted.

“Whatever you wish, but please, tell me the conditions.”

“First, we will both keep what we have now without stepping into each other’s territory. Any new ventures we do together, I get the final say, and under no condition do you make a decision without talking to me first, and I’ll do the same for you.”

“I can live with those terms, but what is the other condition?”

Xiomara looked over at Romero, then back to Leonardo. “An arranged marriage between my son and your daughter.”

He slammed his fists on the desk, making Xiomara’s men reach for their guns, and Leonardo’s men too, until both men raised their hands, motioning for them to put their guns away.

“My daughter is only sixteen.”

“Calm down, my friend; we’re not talking about it right away. I am sending my son to Italy for a few years to set up a project, which isn't part of our deal. When he comes back, then the marriage will take place. This is the deal, take it or leave it.”

Leonardo sat back, rubbing his chin and thinking over what was being said. His daughter would be twenty by then, so he nodded, agreeing to the terms. “Alright, we have a deal,” he said. Getting up, he shook both of their hands.

Xiomara smiled as they shook hands. “I will have all the necessary papers drawn up and sent to you. I trust you will make sure your daughter goes along with the marriage and won’t try to get out of it.”

“Don’t worry, she will do as she is told.”

An hour later, they left the mansion and went back to their hotel; they would be heading back to Chicago first thing in the morning.

*****************************************

Earlier: Serena was bored, sitting in her room. Whenever her father had people over, she was made to stay hidden in her room. She knew who and what her father was, but having grown up in that life, she thought nothing strange about it. In her world, the men were bosses, and the women had to obey them; that’s just the way it was. Her mother had passed away from cancer when she was only six, and her father remarried two years later to a woman she despised, and vice versa. Knowing no one would be in the kitchen, she snuck downstairs through the back way and took a bottle of beer from the fridge. She took a sip when she saw him; he was the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on. He had to be in his early twenties, she guessed.

She backed up, her back hitting the edge of the counter when he got close, taking the bottle from her. She watched as he tilted his head back and emptied the beer down his throat, her eyes glued to his face. Her breath hitched in her throat when he placed his thumb over her bottom lip, and she could barely answer when he asked her what her name was. Her knees felt like they were about to buckle; his scent was pleasant, and she was mesmerized by his blue eyes, which sparkled as he stared into hers. The light touch of his skin on her lips sent a weird sensation coursing through her body, one she was unfamiliar with.

His words to her when he walked away sent a cold chill down her spine. His words would haunt her for the next few years. (Save your virginity for me to take on our wedding night.) Grabbing another bottle of beer, she took it with her as she went back to her room; the stranger’s face was imprinted on her brain. Crawling into bed, she laughed to herself, thinking about what he had said. She was only sixteen, so she wouldn’t be marrying him or anyone. When she did marry, she was determined it wouldn’t be to some mobster; nope, she wanted to marry someone normal and live a quiet, safe life away from crime and danger. Little did she know that at that very moment her father was arranging a marriage between her and Chicago’s mob boss, Xiomara D’Angelo’s son.