Phoenix Rising: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book Two

Twenty-Six

Though everything had been going smoothly, the people around him were immediately on edge having the Columbian mob master in front of them. Other than Declan, Ambrosia, and Callum himself, others walked the straight and narrow when it came to how aggressively protective of his Godchild Xander really was.

"Godfather, not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?" Callum asked as he embraced the man.

"Had to come and see if the rumours on the streets were legit. See, I heard through the Underworld grapevine that there was a particular family’s daughter staying under the protection of my Godson’s mob. Had to come see for myself if it was true," the man replied smoothly. Affectionately addressing Declan’s wife as she moved to put her toddler to bed, he smiled warmly.

Declan laughed at the Don and offered him a beer. As he grabbed one out of the fridge, he said, “It’s nice to see you, Sir.”

Xander accepted the beer with a toothy grin. "Been a while, Diablo. How's the family?"

"Me and the wife have another baby on the way," Declan grinned back at him.

Clearing his throat decisively, Callum admitted to the truth. “Yes, the intel you heard was right, we have the heiress of the Italian mob here in the Towers. She's not like the b***h you guys dealt with back in the day, though.

"Glad to hear it," Xander commented. He took a swig from the can. Burping quietly, he pursed his lips. "Said b***h has been dead for years, but that's nothing. Once an enemy is dead, I see no reason to go after a child. I am well aware that the girl had nothing to do with us losing Hans’s anchor in life. This is a new beginning, and I’ve noticed that you don’t seem particularly aggrieved by the young girl’s presence.”

“I’ve spoken to the Maestro, and have agreed to bury the hatchet in order to save his daughter from a fate worse than death. See, one of his men has turned, and we’re assisting in dealing with it. I only agreed because my eldest son is in deep and already crossed paths with the Italian mobsters,” Callum said.

Xander’s eyes widened, “A fate worse than death in the Underworld? Now I’m interested.”

"Yeah, getting kidnaped and forced to marry a man old enough to be her father. Cal, your Godfather wants something that could potentially start our son on a war-path, and I need you to talk him out of it. Right now, I need to check on Kennedy," she muttered as she shouldered her way past the men.

"That news is somewhat unnerving. I wasn’t advised about that. On the other hand, what the f**k happened to our Golden Girl? That ruthless little fireball better not be hurt," Xander shrugged.

Declan scoffed, “She’ll pull through stronger than ever. Why? What’s your interest in her?”

“Her father was a true gem, and our childhood team swore to protect his daughters in their father’s absence should anything happen to Francis. Hans got to the girls first, but out of all Hans disciples, la pequeña diablita roja is my favourite. No offence, Cal,” Xander laughed.

“None taken,” the blond replied jovially. Something moved in the shadows of the hall, and it took him a moment to realize a very pissed-off Phoenix was staring down his father’s best friend. “How much of our conversation did you hear?”

Stepping into the light of the kitchen, the teen leveled the group with a bored look. It was as if he was ready to fight them all at the drop of a hat. “Just about everything. I don’t really care either way. She passed the Emma test, and is now happily playing with my little sister while keeping Mom company in the room.”

"f*****g sneaky little brat," Declan murmured as he sipped his beer. “Cop any attitude, and I’m putting you against Kenni in the ring. Understand me?”

Phoenix said nothing as he stalked to the fridge and grabbed two cans of soda. Wiping off the tops, he eyed his father pointedly, "Dad, I’d like to take Romie, I mean Andromeda, out for a dinner date.”

Xander’s eyes went wide, “A date? ¿Hablas en serio?”

“Dead serious, Uncle Xander. I want to get to know her better without any strings attached and explain how everything is going to happen. So, Dad, can you pull some strings to get us a booth at the place where you proposed to mom?"

Laughing, Callum pulled out his phone to make a quick call. When he was done, he nodded at his son, "All set, kiddo. You’re telling her?"

“Yeah. I’m going to fill her in on everything, wait for the other shoe to drop, and see what she has to say about it. I just don’t want anyone getting in my way, cause I won’t hesitate to gun them down.” Phoenix breathed a sigh. "I'm going to ask Memphis to Shield me in Ken’s absence."

Xander looked at Callum as though he had grown another head with how easily he complied with the teenager’s request. He mulled over the information he'd learned from Damien. Knowing Hans secretly told his friends to let the boy forge his own path into the future. That was when he spotted the unknown teen girl watching the group of men anxiously.

"Well, hello there," he said, plastering a smile to his face. "You must be Miss De Luca."

Phoenix moved quickly, reaching Andromeda’s side in mere seconds. Worry was etched in his features as he said, "I thought I asked you to wait with my mom so you wouldn’t get targeted."

"You did, however she asked me to get you because Kenni woke up. She keeps asking for you, so please go calm her," the girl replied.

A shiver stole through the Columbian Don as he looked over the teen. From the white-blond hair to the sun-kissed shade of her skin, the girl was an almost perfect carbon copy of her aunt. The difference was the soft, gentle tone of her voice, her curiously cautious eyes, and, rather than being stick-figure thin, she was curvy.

Declan laughed as he finished off his beer. “Getting a good look there, Xan?”

Xander snickered, "I grew up with Hans. He wasn't someone to take bad chances or give anyone leeway when it came to safeguarding his people. I trust that my Godson also got that from his father. With all the bullshit that's been going on, one bad decision could destroy everything.”

The girl took another tentative step into the kitchen. Glancing over her shoulder, she motioned for Phoenix to go tend to his friend before Kennedy got any more out of hand. When he hesitated again, she smiled. "I'll be okay. Papa raised me to believe that a real man would never hurt a woman. Don't worry, I’ll be right in."

Turning to the other man, Xander glowered at the guard he’d taken with him. "Ty, go make sure the i***t you got driving my Maserati Tipo didn't dent or scratch it. That's my favourite car, so if there’s any damage, I’ll send the little she-devil to destroy the one who did it. Seeing as she helped me fix it, it is her treasure as well."

"But, Sir, the girl-"

Callum cut the man off with a dark glare. "Go, or I'm going to let my men have some fun. It's been a while since Diablo was challenged."

"Sure has," Declan responded as he cracked his knuckles.

Paling, the man ran from the room and out the door. Xander laughed. Turning to the young girl, he smiled. "So, you're Angelica's niece? It's interesting that your father thought putting you in enemy hands was a good idea. I guess you got under Nix's skin?"

Shocked that this newcomer knew about her, Andromeda felt her heartbeat speed up as fear grabbed her. "Perdon, But I am not allowed to even utter her name. Therefore, I cannot confirm any relation to her as per my father’s orders. As for Phoenix, I honestly do not know where I currently stand with him."

Not wanting to let his surprise show, Xander silently signed something to his Godson. At Callum's nod, he spoke again. "I was there the day we lost Emily."

Fighting her tears, Andromeda shook her head. “Please, don’t do this. I do not want to carry the burden of her sins.”

"The lives of my friend's wife and daughter were cut short by your aunt in a cruel way, so we ended her in a way that paid back double the pain Hans suffered.” Xander continued, fighting to keep the anger he was feeling out of his voice as he spoke. He was gauging her reaction to the news, wondering when she would snap in a way that would show him her true self.

Andromeda wiped the tears from her face angrily, "Then she got what she deserved. If she was cruel enough to bring harm to an innocent child, then she earned whatever Karma came her way. I would never be so heartless as to hurt a bambino non ancora nato out of jealousy."

He blinked, he pulled the girl into his arms. Releasing her, he gripped Andromeda’s face, tenderly kissing her forehead before letting her walk away. "Don't let your boy let that one go. She's timid, but she's got fire where it counts, Cal. Your father would have pushed a little harder, but I really do hate seeing women cry."

“She’s passed your test, then?” Callum asked quietly.

“Oh, yes,” the other mob leader replied. “With flying colours.”