The Dictator Read online

  I squeezed it back.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “You’ve been my greatest joy.”

  “I love you too, Mother.”

  She smiled then released my hand.

  Siena gave me a different look than she ever had before. She was full of emotion and affection, and it seemed like that moment meant as much to her as it did to us.

  “Excuse me,” I said as I rose from the table. “I need to make a phone call.” I stepped inside the house but left the door open. I called Bates, but it rang and went to voice mail.

  Mother’s voice reached my ears. “You love my son. It’s written all over your face.”

  Siena said nothing, letting the silence linger. It seemed to go on forever before she addressed it. “I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a good man…even though he tries so hard to hide it. He always makes me feel safe, like everything is going to be okay even when it doesn’t seem that way.”

  Mother waited a few seconds before she responded. “I can tell he loves you too. When a man looks at a woman like that, everyone in the room can see it. I’m not sure what your problems are, but put them aside and work it out—and not just for the baby.”

  My mother finally left, relieving the stress from my shoulders.

  That lunch didn’t go well, but it didn’t go as badly as I’d thought it would.

  Siena and I walked into her bedroom when my mother was gone. “Your mother is lovely. She reminds me of my mom.”

  “You mean, she runs her mouth and speaks her mind?”

  “Yep.” She slipped off her shoes then sat on the couch.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t run your mouth.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I sat beside her and wondered if it would be stupid to mention it. “You could have told her the truth. No one in the world besides my mother can dictate my actions.”

  “I thought about it.” Her smile died away when the conversation turned serious. “Judging from her personality, she would never allow you to do such a thing. She wouldn’t have to raise her hand or her voice. Guilt would be enough. But then I changed my mind.”

  “Why?” Since I’d compromised with her, was she being more cooperative?

  “Because I know you won’t do it.” She held my gaze with sincerity in her eyes. “I know your heart, Cato. It’s too big to do something that terrible. Your need for revenge isn’t nearly as important as your need to protect your child’s mother. And not even just that…but because you care about me. So why tell her any of it when I believe in you? I want to prove that I believe in you.”

  It was the first time someone had ever said something that left me speechless. I didn’t have a single response to that, any kind of coherent thought. She made me feel like shit and made me feel good at the exact same time.

  “You’re angry with me because I betrayed you. It would be easy for me to ruin everything by confiding in your mother. I could destroy your pristine reputation and hurt your relationship. But I won’t. I could betray you again, but I don’t. I hope that makes up for what I did—by not ratting on you. And I’m gambling my life to do it.”

  I couldn’t look at her because it was such a deep wound. It was difficult for me to feel guilty about anything when I didn’t have a soul. But I certainly felt guilty about this. “Siena…that makes me feel like shit. And it makes me feel worse because it won’t change the outcome.”

  Her eyes fell in sadness. “I still believe in you, Cato. Even if you don’t believe in yourself.”

  15

  Siena

  His mother was a breath of fresh air. She was funny, real, and she put Cato in his place just the way I did.

  And she really did remind me of my mother.

  I considered telling her the danger I was in, but I thought proving my loyalty to Cato would soften his resolve.

  It didn’t seem to do anything.

  Now I didn’t know what to do.

  Maybe I did need to run away.

  Now that I had permission to see my brother, I wanted to take advantage of it. I walked down the hall to Cato’s bedroom later that week and let myself inside without knocking. I’d picked the perfect time to barge in because he stepped into the bedroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist.

  “I don’t have to knock,” he barked. “But you do.”

  “This is a two-way street.” I tilted my head as I examined him up and down, his perfect physique impossible to ignore—especially with those little drops of water. “And I really like this street.”

  The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “Then you’re about to like it even more.” He dropped the towel and tossed it over the back of the armchair.

  Even when he was limp, he was still beautiful. I whistled under my breath.

  He walked up to me and gripped me around the waist. As if the last conversation we had wasn’t at all difficult, he kissed me on the corner of the mouth before he stepped away. “I have a phone meeting in ten minutes. Otherwise, your face would be down and your ass would be up.”

  “Maybe later.”

  “Definitely later.”

  I continued to stand there.

  He pulled his jeans and t-shirt out of the closet. “Something you needed?”

  I hated the way I was about to phrase this, but I had to suck up my pride and just do it. “I was wondering if Landon could come over for lunch? It looks like you’re going to be here today.”

  He pulled on his boxers without giving any distinct reaction. “He can stay for two hours. But that’s it. He’ll pass through two security checkpoints before getting access to the house. If he has even a pocket knife, I’ll shoot him on sight. You got it?”

  That didn’t surprise me at all. “That’s fine.”

  “Then have a good time.”

  I felt the gratitude surge inside my stomach and I didn’t want let it out, but it was impossible to keep bottled up. “Thank you…” I looked forward to seeing my brother. We hadn’t been close, but now that he was all I had, I wanted to deepen our connection. Being with him made me calm, made me feel like everything would be okay.

  I stood in the open doorway and watched Landon go through the second security check. The first one had been thorough, but the second one was excessive. Cato’s security removed Landon’s shirt and his jeans and made him stand in his boxers and shoes. Then they examined every inch of his clothing and even patted down his bare skin, like he might have sewn a weapon inside his body.

  Landon shook his head. “I’m not even that hungry.”

  They finally handed his clothes back to him, and he got dressed. He walked up the stairs and greeted me. “I hope I don’t have to get naked every time I come for a visit.”

  “That makes two of us.” I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him. “I’m so happy to see you.” I pressed my cheek into his chest and sighed happily. It was so nice to see his face in my prison. It made me feel less alone and made the place feel more like home.

  He patted me on the back then stepped out of my embrace. “If you weren’t my sister, I wouldn’t have made the drive out here and put up with all those assholes trying to take my clothes off.”

  “But you did,” I said with a smile. “Because you love me.”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t go that far…”

  I took Landon into the kitchen where Giovanni had prepared lunch. Landon’s eyes wandered as he took in the three-story mansion that Cato occupied alone. It was more of a hotel than a residence.

  Giovanni had the dishes set on the counter. “Lunch is ready, Miss Siena.”

  “Great. It smells delicious.” I turned to my brother. “Giovanni, this is my brother Landon. Landon, this is my favorite person in this house. He makes the best food, and he’s so cute.”

  Giovanni’s cheeks reddened. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.” Giovanni gave a slight bow. “Your sister has been a breath of fresh air to this house.”

  “With that gargoyle Cato living here, that d
oesn’t surprise me.” Landon shook his hand. “I’m glad my sister has a friend.”

  Giovanni led us outside to the table on the terrace. The weather was cooling down because fall was knocking on the door, but the weather was still lovely. “Take a seat. I’ll return with refreshments and lunch.”

  Landon sat across from me under the umbrella. He examined the exceptional landscaping and the acres of grass that extended into the distance. “This place is enormous.”

  “I know.”

  “And he’s got security everywhere.”

  “I know that too.” There was no way in or out of this place unless Cato allowed it.

  “I have to say, it’s not a bad place to be a prisoner.” He leaned back against the wrought-iron chair with his hands held together at his stomach. “Besides, the security trying to get you naked all the time.”

  “Thankfully, they’ve never done that to me.” Only Cato and Bates had.

  “Just the psychopath keeping you here,” he said bitterly.

  “Yeah…”

  Giovanni set the water and iced tea on the table along with the sliced bread, cheese, and grapes. Then he placed our entrees in front of us, salad with grilled salmon and lemon wedges. “The iced tea is decaf, Miss Siena.”

  “I figured it was.”

  Giovanni returned inside the house and shut the door.

  Landon watched him go before he turned back to me. “I need to get a butler.”

  “You could never afford someone like Giovanni. Your best bet is a good woman who’s willing to put up with you.”

  “No such thing. I don’t let women stick around long enough to see how much of an asshole I am. They see the charming guy I am, and before that runs out, they’re gone.”

  “How romantic…”

  “It’s for their benefit, trust me.”

  “Because you’re so unlikeable?” I smeared the cheese onto a slice of bread. Then I added a drop of honey.

  Landon grabbed his fork and went straight for the salmon. “You know I’m an ass.”

  “How about you just stop being an ass?”

  “You make it sound so easy. Like I can just turn it off.”

  “Well, you’d better. You aren’t rich anymore, so it’s not like a woman is gonna put up with you.”

  “But I’m good-looking.” He waggled his eyebrows. “And that’s more important than money.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  He wore a black t-shirt that hugged his muscular arms. Black ink was down his left arm, reaching all the way to his wrist. He looked similar to Father, but he’d also inherited Mother’s features as well. “How’s the kid?”

  “Doing well, I assume. Other than the morning sickness, I don’t feel pregnant.”

  “I can kinda tell. You’re a little thicker around the middle.”

  “You never say that to a pregnant woman, Landon.”

  “What?” he asked innocently. “It doesn’t look bad.”

  “Still not a compliment.”

  “Coming from me, that’s the best compliment you’re going to get.” He ate more of his food, stuffing his mouth and chewing quickly. “Damn, this is good. That guy knows how to cook.”

  “Yes, he’s the best of the best. Maybe the weight gain you’ve noticed isn’t from the baby at all.”

  “Judging by how quickly you’re stuffing your face, you might be right.”

  I threw a piece of bread at his face.

  He let it bounce off his cheek before he kept eating.

  We spent the next few minutes eating in silence as we enjoyed the sunshine. There was a slight breeze in the air that played with my hair. The humidity had died down so it was starting to feel crisp.

  Landon ate everything off his plate then wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I haven’t had a meal like that in a long time.”

  “Aren’t you crashing with some woman?”

  “Yeah, but she doesn’t cook. I eat out most of the time.”

  “And who is she?”

  “No one.” He drank his iced tea. “She’s just giving me a place to crash in exchange for good sex. It’s a win-win for both of us. I’ll probably be leaving soon. Just need to find the next place to go.”

  “You have money saved, so what are you waiting for?”

  “Trying to lay low. I’m sure Damien is still looking for me.”

  “I’ll ask Cato to tell them to grant you immunity.”

  He cocked his head. “And why would Cato do that?”

  “Because I asked him to.” He usually did anything I asked him to do, if it was that important to me.

  “And I don’t see why Damien and Micah would agree.”

  “Cato can be very persuasive.” Cato could make anything happen because he had all the power. Since annihilating the Siberians after they tried to steal his money, Cato had probably reminded everyone in the underworld that he was at the top of the food chain.

  “So what’s going on with you two?”

  I preferred to speak in person because my cell phone was being screened. I couldn’t share any secrets with Landon over the phone—not if I wanted them to stay secrets. Talking in person was the only way to ensure we weren’t overheard. But I wondered if Cato could hear me anyway, if there was a cracked window somewhere. My eyes scanned the side of the house, but I didn’t detect anything abnormal. “We have a relationship, but he still claims that he’ll kill me.”

  “Do you believe him?”

  I found it hard to believe that Cato could kill me after the deep bond that had formed between us. I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt that pull, that magnetic energy. We weren’t just lovers, but something deeper than that. If he ever lost me, he wouldn’t brush it off the way he brushed off his other murders. “No. But…I could be wrong. The other night, this organization tried to steal almost three hundred million dollars from him. His men destroyed the group and then brought the people in charge to the house. He executed each one…including a woman.”

  “What does it matter that she was a woman?” he asked. “Women are criminals and murderers too.”

  “She cried as she begged for her life.”

  “Trust me, men do that too.”

  “I just…it made me realize that could be me. He killed her, so why wouldn’t he kill me? He was barbaric and shot five people to their deaths, letting their blood drain into his fountain. Sometimes I forget who Cato really is…what he’s capable of.”

  “He’s a stone-cold killer.”

  “And he cares about his reputation more than anything else.”

  “Reputation is important,” Landon said. “It precedes you in every room you walk into. It dictates the way people treat you. It keeps the monsters in line. Without a powerful reputation, you have nothing.”

  “Which is why I think it’s possible he might do it…”

  Landon gave me a look of pity. “You know I would get you out of here if I could. But there’s nothing I can do.”

  “I know, Landon. I would never ask you to rescue me. Now that I’m under his thumb, there’s nothing anyone can do for me. The only person who can get me out of here is Cato himself, but he won’t.”

  His eyes fell in sadness. “Does he treat you well?”

  With the exception of a few setbacks, my life had been comfortable. “He’s very good to me. There are a couple things I dislike about him, but other than that, I really like Cato. He’s gentle, kind, and affectionate. When I’m with him, it’s easy to forget he’s a crime lord. He seems like a man…like a normal person.”

  Landon’s elbows rested on the armrests, and his hands came together. My brother watched me with sympathetic eyes, like he really wished my situation were different. Landon wasn’t affectionate, just the way my father was. He failed to express his emotions even at the most critical moments. He was withdrawn and cold, unable to speak his mind. So he turned quiet now, unsure what to say in response.

  “But the more I think about it, the more I think I can’t stay here. If he is going to kil
l me, then I may as well run for it. At least right now, he can’t hurt me, not while I’m pregnant. And the longer I wait, the harder it’ll be for me to get around.”

  Landon shook his head slightly. “If the Siberians couldn’t take down Cato, you think you’re going to outsmart him by yourself?”

  I shrugged. “I have to try.”

  “You wouldn’t make it very far.”

  “Not unless he doesn’t know I’m missing for a few hours. That would give me the head start I need. Even if he doesn’t kill me, I don’t want my child to grow up like this. I don’t want my child to look out the window and watch his father execute people. My child will be the number one target of Cato’s enemies, and I don’t want that either.”

  “And you think you can not only get away, but manage to live the rest of your life without him finding you?” he asked incredulously. “This isn’t some abusive boyfriend you can run away from. This guy has every resource in the world to hunt you down.”

  “If I change my name and live off cash, how will he find me?”

  My brother shrugged. “There are ways.”

  “I’ll go somewhere really remote, somewhere he won’t think of.”

  “Like?”

  “Iceland or something.”

  “That is pretty remote,” he said in agreement. “But even if he doesn’t find you right away, he will find you. That’s a given.”

  “I have to try, Landon. I owe it to myself and my baby. You know me. When do I ever give up?”

  He gave a slight nod. “You don’t.”

  “And that’s not going to change now.”

  He sat forward and rested his arms on the table, his hands coming together. He looked across the terrace and to the perfectly manicured gardens as he spoke. “This guy fetched Father and buried him for us. He takes cares of you. Cato Marino isn’t the kind of guy to go soft like that…not for anyone. I think you’re better off staying here and hoping he changes his mind.”

  “Every time I ask him, he says he’s going to do it. That he has to do it.”