Bound by Mafia's Vows

Chapter 3: Terms and Secrets

The door was shut behind Dante.

The echo fell on the bosom of Sienna.

She was before the center of the room and still holding the phone shaking in her hand. Her eyes were haunted by the face of her mother, which was alive, smiling, serene. Too calm.

Dante didn’t move closer. Instead he leaned against the door, and crossed his arms and watched her as though she might escape.

“You knew,” Sienna said. Her voice came out thin. She hated that. She drew herself straight. “You knew she was alive.”

Dante’s jaw tightened. “I knew she wasn’t dead.”

“That’s not an answer.”

It is all you are going to get at the moment.

She gave a sharp laugh even at herself. You pulled me into your world, married me, at gun point, and now you are telling me that my mother belongs to it also?

“No,” he said quietly. I got you married to preserve your life.

Her breath hitched. That was a thing she did not wish to believe. She did not want to trust anything he said.

She moved to the opposite side of the room, and pushed the phone against him. “She sent this. That is, she is aware of my location. That implies that I am no longer a secret anymore.

Dante looked at the screen, and did not pick up the phone. Thou hast never been a secret, Sienna.

That made her pause.

He threw himself aside and went to the window. He drew the curtain aside so that light could stream in. Guards changed their positions. One spoke into a radio.

Since your father at that table was seated, Dante said, you were branded.

Sienna swallowed. “Marked for what?”

“For leverage.”

Her hands drew up in fists. “So what am I now? A shield? A threat?”

Dante turned. There was something new in his eyes, not cold. Calculating. Heavy. “You’re a variable.”

She frowned. “That’s supposed to comfort me?”

“No,” he said. It is the one that is supposed to keep you alive.

There was a silence between them.

Sienna moved first. She got up, laid aside the phone on the dresser and turned back to him. Her hands were steady now. Her voice too.

It is a contract about marriage that you said.

“Yes.”

“Then I want terms.”

Dante’s brow lifted slightly. “You don’t get to negotiate.”

She looked into his eyes without washing her eyes. You must have a wife who seems to be obedient. I need answers. We help each other.”

Like a chessboard he examined her.

“Go on,” he said.

“I won’t run,” she said. “I won’t embarrass you. I will act as you desire me to do on the outside.

“And in private?”

Privily, you say the truth, I said.

Dante signed deeply, as though that were not to be. It is a hazardous thing you are soliciting.

“I’m already in danger.”

A beat.

You are not as stupid as I thought, he said.

She tilted her head. You took me as a wife without knowing me?

“I knew enough.”

There was a clang of feet at the door.

A knock followed. Sharp. Urgent.

“Capo,” a voice said. “We found something.”

Dante chose a glance at Sienna. “Stay here.”

She stepped forward. “No.”

His gaze hardened. “That wasn’t a suggestion.”

Neither is this your courtroom, I shot at you.

It seemed like he was going to argue awhile. Then—unexpectedly—he nodded.

“Fine,” he said. “But you don’t speak.”

They trailed the guard into a long corridor into a smaller room. There was just one table in the mid center. On it lay a folder.

Dante opened it.

Inside were documents. Old ones. Contracts. Signatures.

Sienna leant nearer, and was unable to restrain herself.

She knew the name very well.

Her mother’s.

“What is that?” she whispered.

Dante didn’t look at her. “A vow.”

Her heart pounded. “Between who?”

Your mother, and my father, he said.

The room seemed to tilt.

“No,” Sienna said. “That’s not possible.”

She struck a bargain, Dante went on. “Protection. Power. Silence.”

Sienna’s hands shook. “She wouldn’t—”

“She did.”

The watch changed fidgetily.

Sienna withdrew, and put a hand to the table. Her mind raced. Memories came and went by of late nights, phone calls, of sudden trips.

“You used me,” she said softly.

Dante finally looked at her. “No. They did.”

A phone buzzed.

It was inspected by the guard, who stiffened. “Capo… there’s an incoming call.”

“From who?”

The guard hesitated. “From your wife’s mother.”

Sienna’s head snapped up.

The cell phone was laid on the table. It rang. Once. Twice.

Dante looked at Sienna. “Answer it.”

Her throat felt tight. “Why?”

Now starts whatever she wants, said he.

Sienna reached for the phone.

Her finger hovered.

Then she answered.

“Hello?”

The voice of her mother filled the room and it was soft and soothing. “My daughter,” she said. You do not sound as weak as I think you are.

Sienna’s chest burned. “Why are you doing this?”

A soft chuckle. “Because the game has moved on.”

Dante leaned closer.

Her mother went on, You married the correct man. However, you are on the wrong side.

The call ended.

The line went dead.

Sienna dropped the phone down.

Dante’s voice was low. Making things deeper than I supposed.

She lifted her eyes on him and courage and fear fought in her gaze.

“No,” she said. “I finally see the board.”

And first to Dante it became dawning--

Sienna was not only a part of the deal.

She was about to change it.