Chapter 9

Sierra POV

“Maybe,maybe not,I just want this to end quickly so I can go home “ I told Mia.

“Uhhmmm, give me few seconds i need to go meet Leo”. Mia said.

“Okay,no problem “I said to her.

I spot Stephen approaching me when I moved towards him ,he is one of my father’s bodyguard and the only one I like.

“Hey Stephen,how is it going”I asked him smiling widely.

Smiling widely, oh my goodness,I am drunk ,I should have listened to Mia’s advice.

“You look flushed” Stephen said looking around.

“Are you drunk” he asked me seriously.

“No,I’m not” I told him a little drunkenly.

“What is wrong with you,you know how important this event is to your father”he said angrily.

That sobered me up.

I know Stephen is not angry at me,just reminding me why I’m doing this in the first place.

Stephen’s father was one on my father’s best friend before he died.

My father took Stephen in and he has been with us ever since.

He has always been my asssigned bodyguard whenever I have to go out and it makes it easier since we have been friend since he started living with us.

Stephen was the only friend I had when I was younger,although we didn’t get to see each other a lot because he was staying at the other side of the house where the other bodyguard were.

But we became closer when i moved to college and he was assigned to monitor me.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,just had a little drink”I told him.

“I know,but he is angry at you” he told me.

“Why” I asked frightened thinking maybe I had offended him somehow.

“He is asking for you,let’s go” he said signaling to me.

“Okay,what is wrong” I asked him while moving.

“He didn’t say anything but I think he is annoyed you haven’t talked to Lucas” he said to me.

“But that is not my fault,immediately I got there the man said he had to receive a phone call,was I supposed to go after him?” I spewed out to him.

“I know but if anything goes wrong,your father is going to hold you culpable, and so far,it’s not going well” he said sighing.

“What could possibly go wrong “I said,gesturing toward my father where he was standing with his head tipped to the back laughing with Lucas’s father.

Even I could tell that his laughter was restrained.

“He is just trying to curry favor with him “ he said.

“Isn’t it working out”I asked him.

“It is,but Vincent stepped down from his position and put Lucas in charge” Stephen said “that is who he needs to curry favor with”.

“Their are tons of building at the shore towards the Northwest your father wants to acquire which are very low-key and under the radar that is going to make smuggling easier for the business,hell it could even make business bloom better but you father doesn’t have the connections to get the building “. Stephen explained.

“That was why he wanted you to be married into the Salvatore family as they have connections with the owners of the buildings” he explained further.

“Until they weren’t interested anymore “I said.

“Yeah,but you marrying Lucas makes him connected to the Luciano family and that will pave ways for him”said Stephen.

“So,problem solved right?” I asked him.

“No,it’s not that simple,regardless of the benefits he gets for being the Luciano’s in-law,he still needs to acquire those buildings so businesses cannot just stay a float but move smoothly” Stephen clarified.

“So this is all about a building?” I asked.

I can not believe that my marriage is just a way for my father to own buildings.

“Well,I guess?” Stephen said unsure.

“So what has Lucas got to do with him acquiring the buildings “I asked Stephen.

“If the Don of the syndicate introduces your father to the Latin kings,they own the buildings,it’s going to be a done deal, your father will own the property” he expounded further.

“Then can’t he just ask Lucas?” I asked.

“That is the issue,Lucas doesn’t seem to want to speak with your father” Stephen said.

“Okay,I get it now,but I still don’t understand what this has to do with me,I don………. Ohhhhhhhhhhh”. I said as Stephen gave me a pointed look.

Now I get why my father wants me to talk to Lucas.

He wants me to get Lucas to talk to him and have him introduced to the Latin kings.

“You see how this has a lot to do with you” Stephen said to me.

“But that is impossible,it can not work” I said to him “the man will not even talk to my father,why do you think he will hear me out,we don’t even know each other” I told him additionally.

“You just have to find a way to make this work,think about what he will do to your sister if otherwise “he said to me.

I was visibly panicked and fuming when he spoke.

“Did he put you up to this” I asked him relatively lowing my voice in an attempt to calm myself down.

“What”he asked me shockingly.

My father always mentioned my sister whenever he needed me to do something with a subtle warning that if I didn’t get it right my sister will bear the brunt of the consequence.

“I just wanted to keep you in loop so you wouldn’t think you did anything wrong if things went sideways”. He said. He looked angry at me at this point.

“I’m sorry,I just thought he ,,,”I said unable to complete my sentence as Stephen cut me off.

“It’s fine”he said waving his hands as he walked off.

He was angry.

I offended two of the most important people in my life just within twenty-four hours “just great”.