The Syndicate’s Bride

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Vanessa

“I’m sorry, what?” I interrupted without thinking.

There was a pause at the other end before a slow warning in reply. “Vanessa.”

I exhaled through my nose, practicing a small breathing exercise to bite my tongue. “My apologies, Mr. Logan.”

Satisfied, he continued. “You will marry Ryan Winchester. Preparations have begun between our families for the beginning of a new powerful alliance and as your duty as the family’s sole heir, you will follow through. Do I make myself clear?”

If I wasn’t at the verge of loosing my s**t, I would have laughed so hard I’d probably pee myself.

Ryan Winchester, the man and his family whom I started to despise and wanted no part of. What were the odds?

Yet, I knew better than to rebel. Mr. Logan was a lot of things, but one thing he was not was understanding. His word was law and to go against it was a crime.

Even with his own child.

Still, I couldn’t accept what I had been told. An arranged marriage with Ryan Winchester was simply not possible.

Over my dead f*****g body.

“And if I refuse?” Waiting for a reply, I bit my lips nervously. I knew I was bound to hate whatever reply he’d give but what he said next chilled my bones.

“I know what you love, Vanessa, one of which includes that unseemly job as a race car engineer.” I felt my heart stop. “Disappoint me and I will take it away from you before you can blink.”

My voice trembled slightly. I should have known, nothing went passed him. “How did you...”

“Do you take me for a fool? “He snapped. “Your oil stained overalls are just as unseemly as the job you find so much joy in. It is beneath your reputation as the elegant heiress of my estate and it can destroy it, just like it can destroy the family’s reputation.”

Elegant heiress? I scoffed mentally. It was just one of the many facades he fed to the public. I wanted no part in the family business and he knew this.

So, instead of waiting for the day I’d decide to comply, he fed a fake image of me to the public while bending me to obedience with threats that I knew he would see through if he so wished.

Knowing this, there was only one course of action; give him what he wants and plan a rebuttal later.

“I will do as you wish, Mr. Logan.”

***

At the Logan estate, I could immediately tell Mr. Logan had double the security around the house.

At the gate, there was an addition of eleven new guards, and at my room door, which was usually empty, were two gruff looking men in black mercenary-like uniforms.

There was a time when actions like this frightened me till my lungs gave out. I couldn’t eat comfortably, use the bathroom or even sleep knowing someone was watching my every move.

But now, paying little attention to the guards, I walked to my room with little fear and a growing irritation. Plopping on my bed with a sigh, I chuckled bitterly as I closed my eyes, reminiscing.

“Just like old times.”

The only difference now was I was so much stronger mentally. Old me would have cowered in fear at Mr. Logan's actions and eventually let my fear push me into a rebellion that would end badly.

I knew better now.

Wait, listen, plan. That was the only thing I was grateful to Mr. Logan for drilling it in me. I would wait and see what he had planned, listen to his execution, and plan my escape from this marriage. This loveless marriage.

Just like my parents.

It was the last thing I wanted. Tensions that only grew, cold glances that never melt and silence that dKavand one mentally. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life going through this pattern. I wanted out.

Even if it meant teaming up with the man that hated me.

That was my comfort; that he hated me as much as I did he, so he’d be willing to cooperate no matter what.

Till then, I’d wait, listen, then plan.

The next morning was a blur from servants dolling me up to look ‘elegant and refined’- Mr. Logan’s orders – to my father’s brief warning before we left for the Mafia banquet which he only informed me about when I arrived at his home office.

“Today is the Mafia banquet,” he started. “You will act affection towards Ryan as a display of compliance towards the agreement between the families. It will be your first appearance as an engaged couple.” He dropped the cigarette in his hand on the ash tray on his desk before looking me dead in the eyes. “You will not disappoint me.”

I held my breath, unwilling to make a sound that would come across as defiant to him. “Yes sir.”

Wait, listen, plan.

“You will not disappoint me.” He repeated, the warning deadlier than the last.

His black hair, which was similar to mine, moved slightly under the air conditioner. His dark grey eyes bore into mine, searching for a sign of rebellion. He found none.

Wait, listen, plan.

“I will not.”

Satisfied with my answer, we left for the banquet.

The banquet was a gathering of the most powerful and influential Mafia families held in an underground estate. Father never missed a year, and unfortunately, as the sole heiress to his estate, I didn’t miss either.

Entering the venue, Mr. Logan sighted two men engaged in conversation and invited himself over, leaving me by myself. They exchanged nods and clicked their glasses in greeting, none of the men offering their hands in greeting, an indication of certain levels of distrust.

I recognized them. Mr. Winchester and Mr. Rossi, the heads of two of the most influential Mafia families. Father gave me a briefing about their dynamic.

Their children, Ryan and Tia were engaged to be married to form an alliance between the families. But for some reason – Mr. Logan refused to explain – the Winchesters broke off the engagement and decided to form an alliance with the Logans instead.

The discovery made me uncomfortable. No matter how you looked at it, it was a recipe for disaster. Mr. Logan said the two families maintained a truce, although tense. Still, I decided it was best to keep the Rossi family at arms length.

For the purpose of the alliance, the Logans and Winchesters dined at the same table, meaning I had to sit beside Ryan who didn’t so much as look at me when I sat next to him.

Great, I was glad we were on the same page.

(To be continued...)