The Mafia's Arrangement

Chapter 6

Holden POV

“Did you not tell him?” Kenneth looks over to the girl who is indifferent about this information. “You going to that boarding school was contingent on you telling him.” He is very harsh with her as she breathes out heavily.

“No. I didn’t tell him. There was no need to.”

“Tell me what?” Bast interrupts the heated tension that is arising in the room.

“Bast, Den. Aspen is my daughter.” Kenneth says to us. “The one that supposedly died in the accident.”

“What?!” Bast freaks out. To say that day was a tragedy for everyone is an understatement. Bast was still a small child then, but even he knows that Kenneth had a daughter, or rather has a daughter.

“Why now?” I calmly ask as I glance at the girl at the window who goes back to looking at the hockey game.

“Because…” Kenneth breathes in and out heavily. “We need to draw Robert and whoever is helping him out. They’re targeting both gangs and that means something major has to happen for them to step it up and confront us themselves.”

“You can’t do this.” Riley says to Kenneth. “She’s been in hiding for nearly 20 years. Putting her on the radar could get her killed.”

“But that’s not everything, is it?” My father asks and looks over at Kenneth, who looks at both Bast and me. I don’t know if I like that look, he has something up his sleeves.

“Making her presence known isn’t going to be enough. She’s not next in line, but a marriage to the Grim Reaper Mafia would.” You could practically hear a pin drop in this room, it’s so damn quiet.

“Absolutely not!” Tom yells and slams his fists against the table. “They will kill her to keep this arrangement from happening. How could you even think up this plan?”

“He didn’t.” The girl speaks up as she finally peels her eyes away from the window. She walks over to the table to meet us in the circle. “I did. Well, with J’s help.”

“Aspen.” Riley grabs her arm in concern. “Are you crazy?”

“No. Look, it’ll be fine. Once they are out in the open and we eliminate them, everything will be fine.”

“That’s easier said than done.” J reminds her. “My plan was just to spread the rumor down the grapevine that you were still alive and that you would marry one of Uncle Eric’s sons.”

“Even a rumor that I am alive will put me in danger. If I’m out in the public, it will force them to come out instead of trying to find and kill me in secret.” The girl is right. It’s a good plan. I have to say that even I am impressed.

“I agree.” I cross my bulging arms across my chest. And I already have a guess who they want it to be with. It has to be Bast. They went to the same boarding school and they are both the same age.

“So, who is it, then?” Bast asks as he points to himself. I think he assumes like I do that it would be him. He’s the most likely choice, but maybe not.

“No.” I answer instead of the rest of the room. “If we want them out, we have to go all the way. I’m next in line, a madam mafia by my side would force them to show their hand.”

“Would it be believable?” Bast asks as the rest of the room ponders the same thought but not her. She wasn’t thinking of Bast either.

“I may have been out of the country for four years, Bast, but even I know your reputation with women precedes you. No one would believe you could be tied down, most especially… well.. you know.” I nearly glare down at Bast. What the hell does that cryptic message mean? Apparently, Bast understood immediately as he nods profusely.

“You’re right.”

“But it will be your choice, of course.” Kenneth gestures at me. “It’s your title on the line as well.”

“And it’s not an actual marriage.” The girl points out as a matter of fact. “We’re just leaking it to the press that a marriage is coming, some type of engagement of sorts and...”

“And that requires a plan of attack like a public outing.” I take a glance at Bast. “At The Crescent Club. I’m in.”

“You were right.” The girl says as she looks over at J. “He’s good.” She glances down at her watch. “And I need to go.”

“I’ll send you the rest of the plan tomorrow morning.” J gives the girl a big hug. Riley and Tom do the same. Kenneth gets up from his chair and around the desk to lift her up with a heavy breath. Even my father goes around and gives her a gigantic hug.

“Nice to see you again.” Bast gives her a goofy yet shy smile. He offers her a hug and she looks hesitant to give one. But Bast being Bast throws caution into the wind and leans in for a soft hug.

That’s when she comes face to face with me. Those big browns of hers stare directly into mine as she looks up at me. She’s a whole foot shorter than me and probably then some.

“I look forward to working with you.” She takes a hand and puts it in front of me. I take it and shake her hand.

“The pleasure will be mine.”