United with the Family - Cherie Benjamin (book reader for pc txt) 📗

in blissful agony.

Collapsing on top of her, he began breathing hard, he groaned out, "Fuck, baby, I love you."

Rubbing her hands up and down his back, she replied, "I love you."

He rolled over, taking her with him in a loving embrace.

After a few moments of just enjoying the connection, Ara rose up and looked at Kane.

"Wow.  What was that all about?"

Smiling one of his signature crooked smiles, he chuckled "Well, someone was having a dream and I needed to be a part of it.  So, who did you kill?"

Ara thought for a second; shit, she was dreaming about killing someone.  She remembered the dream in vivid detail. She and Kane were at the new club when Kurtus walked in, and demanded that she give him his family back or he would kill Kane.  Before Kane could pull his gun, she pulled her own gun, and put a bullet between Kurtus’ eyes with the skill and precision of a seasoned assassin.

"Kurtus."

"Fuck."

"He threatened you, so I just pulled my gun and shot him.  Kane, I did not even blink; I just did it. What does that mean?"

Kane knew she was having a hard time with the idea of killing. She had a loving heart and an uncompromised conscience, but he knew she also had the strength and loyalty deep within her to protect her family.  He needed to start her training as soon as possible.

"Ara, you were protecting your family and that was what was most important to you.  You saw the threat to me, and instinctually reacted to remove the threat. Our world is about protecting our family above all else.  I can guarantee that once Kurtus knows Zachary’s plans for his family, he is going to want to hurt or kill you or anyone close to you.  Ara, you have to promise me that, if by some chance, you are faced with a situation where you either kill or be killed, you will not hesitate to pull the trigger.  I can't live without you; you are my heart. I am weak where you are strong, and vice versa; you are everything to me."

"I really do not want to be faced with that choice, but, Kane, for us, I will try."

"Good, we will start your training tomorrow.  I was thinking about letting Mom train you with your gun."

"Rosa?"

"Oh, she is a very good shot.  Don't let her fool you. She might be the perfect society wife, gracious and accommodating, presenting an image of the prim and proper wife, but all that goes out the window if you threaten her family.  She carries her gun in her purse at all times and has guns hidden all over the house."

"Has she ever killed anyone?"

"Yes.  However, like I said, it was a kill or be killed situation.  Dad was so proud of her, because, like me, he could not live without her by his side.  So, are you willing to let mom teach you?"

"I think I would like that.  I am sure I will learn a whole lot from her, based on your exultations of her skill."

"And I will teach you about the business end.  I will have Uriel teach you hand to hand combat.  He is the best I have ever seen. He will be able to teach you self-defense."

"I never would have suspected Uriel was an expert in hand to hand.  I thought he was just the manager of your club. I was shocked to find out he was a Dominant, let alone Katrina’s Dominant.  To learn this is a whole new ballgame."

"He is my second in command, but, now, he is also yours.  He is your go to guy. Whatever you need, just ask Uriel.  With Uriel, you have trust, loyalty, and resourcefulness."

"Okay."

"Now let's get some sleep; tomorrow is going to be a big day.  We have to pick a date for the wedding and start planning."

"I can't wait to marry you."

"Same here.  In case you didn’t know, the wedding is going to be huge.  Not only will the entire Leone family be in attendance, but I am positive Zachary will want the Morotti family there and other rival families throughout the country will be in attendance."

"But why?"

"To show their respect.  Our marriage is the joining of two powerful families and they will be bending over backwards to show that they recognize the importance of this union.  And in the future, the joining of the two families."

"So we will be viewed as an important couple?"

"Ara, we will be most powerful crime couple in the United States."

"Shit."

"I know, but don't worry about that; let's just concentrate on you and me."

"Now that, Sir, I can definitely do."

"Good, now sleep, woman, you have wore me out."

"Hey, I didn't wake you up."

"Not this time.  Love you." Kane sighed.

"Love you more."

Pulling the covers over their naked bodies, they cuddled close, falling into a deep sleep wrapped in each other's arms.

 

Chapter 16

 

Zachary sat in his home office looking at the photos on his desk.  Claudia, his wife and the love of his life, who had stood beside him through the good times and the bad.

She’d always been the model of what a Don’s wife should be.  They had wanted a large family with lots of kids, but his sweet Claudia was plagued with miscarriages after the birth of their son, Sebastian.  Finally, after their fifth miscarriage, the doctor warned that it was dangerous for her to attempt another pregnancy, so they decided to take preventative measures to ensure it.  Only Roaland, his right hand man, knew that he had a vasectomy. Zachary would do anything to protect his beloved Claudia.

Zachary took the vows that he promised to Claudia to heart.  He had never, in the fifty-five years of marriage, broken them.  How could any man who had vowed to love, honor, and protect his wife break those vows over and over again?  Yes, many Dons had goomahs, but Zachary could never do that to his sweet wife.

Next, he looked at the picture of his son, Sebastian.

With a heavy heart, he knew that his own flesh and blood was a disgrace to him and to the family.  Where had he gone wrong? Both he and Claudia had loved and nurtured him, but the older he got, the more evil he had become.  Claudia has spent many a night crying over the actions of her son, wondering what she did wrong. Zachary has assured her over and over again, that it was not her.  He had numerous talks with Sebastian to find out why he continued to do the things he did, and he would just laugh in his father’s face, saying, “Because I can”. Zachary had hoped that once he married and settled down, that he would change his ways, but, again, he was wrong.  Sebastian and Portia had two boys. Their first born, Kurtus, was a carbon copy of his father in every way, evil and cruel. Then there was Simon, a sweet special boy. Early in life, you could tell that Simon was different from most children his age. His responses were delayed.  He liked to play alone, hated loud noises, and would never make direct eye contact with anyone except his mother. After many consultations and tests with different doctors, he was finally diagnosed as autistic.

When Zachary decided that Sebastian was too sadistic and self-absorbed to be in control of the family, he had high hopes that maybe Kurtus would mature and develop into the type of Don whom Zachary would be proud to pass the family onto. But Kurtus had proven that he was as sadistic and vile in nature as his father, if not more so.    

Nazario had been right in his assessment; any other man would have blown Kurtus’ head clean off of his shoulders for his treatment of Ara.  Ara, his sweet, loving granddaughter, who appeared to be the saving grace of the Morotti family. She seemed gifted with all the traits that he had hoped his son and grandson would have possessed.

Zachary knew that there will be stiff opposition against the merging of the Morotti and Leone families, but he also knew that he would do everything necessary to make them see that this young woman, his granddaughter, was the best hope for the future of this family.  With this union, and Zachary and Nazario’s support, Kane and Arabella Leone would usher the families into a new era. Times were changing; even though there was great money in drugs and trafficking women, he had lost heart in it. Shit, he was getting old and soft. It was time to surrender the control of the family.

"Zachary, dear, what is wrong?"  Claudia said, walking into the room.

Zachary stood and walked over to her, wrapping his arms tightly around his love.  He needed to tell her about Ara. "Claudia, we need to talk my love. I need to tell you something that will be shocking, yet wonderful.  Come, let's sit down."

Sitting down on the sofa that was in his office, he turned towards his wife, taking her hands in his.  "A few days ago, I ran into Nazario Leone and his family at the Pink Door."

"Oh, how are they?"  Claudia asked. She had always thought highly of the Leone family.

"Very well, darling, very well, their son is getting ready to take over soon."

"Oh, how wonderful."

"Yes, but there was also a beautiful young woman with them.  She is Kane's fiancée."

"Really? Rosa must be so excited! Who is the young lady? Anyone we know?"

"Her name is Arabella White."  Zachary said, taking in a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to tell Claudia.  "Claudia, what I am about to say will be a shock, but please hear me out."

"What is it, Zachary?"

"Claudia, about twenty five years ago I walked in on Sebastian and one of the neighborhood girls.  I thought he was taking advantage of her, but I just found out it was all a game. I gave some money to the girl and told her to leave."

"Was this before or after he got married?"

"After.  However, what we did not realize is that she became pregnant with his child.  Claudia… we have a granddaughter and her name is Arabella."

Claudia’s mouth fell open and her hand came up to cover it.  "A granddaughter?"

"Yes, my dear, and she is wonderful."

"Zachary, you've met her?"

"Yes.  However, it is very complicated, my love.  Claudia, she is older than Kurtus, which makes her next in line to take over the family."

"My God, Zachary, I have a granddaughter! Where has she been? Where is she now? Zachary, I want to meet her.  I need to meet her. Does she know about us?" Claudia asked, excited over the thought of having a granddaughter.

"Claudia, hold on; I told you, she is engaged to be married to Kane Leone, the next Don of the Leone family."

"Oh my."

"Claudia, I went over to the Leone's home today to meet with Arabella and Kane.  Arabella is now aware that we are her grandparents, and she is also aware that I am the Don of the Morotti family.  I made a decision after talking with them. I have decided that I am going to turn the family over to Arabella and Kane."

Claudia looked at her husband in