Chapter 5 Maybe Even Him, You Can Charm

“Are you ready?” Aidon brushed the invisible dust off of Rein’s slim-fit suit as they both checked her reflection. It was finally the day she was to be introduced as Rein Evander, the prodigal son of the Evander family and Delian Leofric’s consigliori. It took a month due to the Swede accident, but they’re here now.

“Yes,” she replied. There’s no room for doubts now. Doubts only bred mistakes. And she couldn’t afford to commit one, too many people’s lives were at stake here. Her father’s vengeance was at stake. Rein wasn’t ashamed to admit that when she took on this responsibility, she didn’t really think of its consequences for her country.

"Oh, before I forget. Here.” The new right-hand man passed a dark mask to Damon. “Our family is known for wearing these.” If each mafia family had its own quirks, this would be the Evanders’. Their secretive moves and preference for anonymity were represented by the mask.

“It’s fine if you don’t, just be careful who you talk to.” Even if Delian didn’t remember her, it was best to avoid giving him hints. Plus it covered a scar, as small and thin as it was, on her cheek from her time in the military. She was proud to flaunt it but most people seemed to consider it a defect.

“Better than the gas masks we had to put on during training,” her friend said as he swiftly put on the material. “This way, we’ll look cooler and more handsome.”

“I also have something for both of you.” Aidon grabbed two distinct boxes, different from the aisles of accessories and pieces of jewelry on the glass display tables.

Approaching Damon first, “Compared to the other watches here, she is the most durable and dare I say, finest timepiece I’ve seen. Take care of her.” The don’s electrifying stare kept the younger man in place.

Damon knew he wasn’t talking about the watch. “Don’t worry, Sir. As long as I’m here, I’ll keep her safe. But dare I say,” imitating Aidon. He took the platinum mesh-strapped watch and let it glint against the sunlight. “she seems more than capable of protecting both of us.”

The Evander head smiled and faced Rein before clearing his throat. “This one’s more special and maybe a hundred years older than your friend’s gift.” For his niece, he opened the box itself and presented the contents to Rein. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she saw the burnt sienna wood and black metal curves clinging on the edges with the same peony flower burned on the surface. “This is Dad’s.”

“Yes. Well technically, it is an Evander heirloom. So the family head is supposed to pass it on to the next. Alexi, he,” he paused, thinking how to delicately word his next statement.

“My father died and wasn’t able to hand it to you as the next in line,”  Rein continued for him. “You don’t have to tiptoe around me about these things. I’ve learned to keep my emotions in check.” She gently held her uncle’s arm, like it was glass she was scared to break. “What happened last breakfast was a lapse on my part and it won’t happen again.”

Aidon’s tense form relaxed a bit that he joked, “It’s not my style so even if he did give it to me, I wouldn’t use it anyway.” Rein chuckled but knew she could never deceive her uncle. Her hidden anger always stopped all her smiles from reaching her eyes. And that anger would only leave once she avenged Alexi.

Aidon carefully held out a pair of cufflinks. “Oh, they are lovely!” Waves of white gold sprinkled with small diamonds surround a rectangular naturally-colored azure diamond. “But they’re for you, the don.”

“Dear, they’re just accessories. No one looks at these and interprets them as symbols, we’re in the 21^st century!” Aidon placed them in her hands and headed for the door, not wanting them to see his eyes watering. “Now, both of you move faster! Our car’s waiting.”

The driveway to one of the biggest mansions in the city was filled with people. In the vicinity were regular citizens wanting to see the grandeur of the mafia, reporters with their cameras to capture anyone important, and non-uniformed police officers to make sure everything goes smoothly. Only those invited by the Leofric family were allowed past the manor’s imposing gates.  “It’s like a celebrity’s house,” Damon commented.

“Go on, step out. I have to talk with the rest of the Council,” Aidon shooed them after the car stops to a halt. “Be friendly, no fighting,” he advised them, “Especially since you both are still considered outsiders.”

Before Rein could even appreciate the exterior of the house, a man took her aside. “Sir Evander, if I may. I am Rafiq Ayda, Sir Leofric’s aide.” Choosing to stay quiet, Rein waited. “What the hell does he want now?” She thought.

“Before your recognition, Sir Delian Leofric would like a word first.”

Shooting a warning glance at Damon, he continued, “Alone.” Well, shit.

From one of the French windows, “I knew your brother was not meant to be the consigliori, particularly when you compare him to that,” an old man seethed at Rein’s stature. “Kora, I’ll make sure you get a high probability to be Delian’s wife.” He looked at the woman in an emerald green silk dress. “Make sure you do your due diligence.”

“And if you can, find out more about the Evander boy. We don’t know much about him. Because I was expecting a woman who would compete with you,” he chuckled bitterly. “Maybe even him, you can charm. He doesn’t seem too bad, for someone raised outside the mafia.”

The fair-skinned woman likewise observed the newcomer and adjusted the curl of her hair by the ear. Her lecherous smile and raven eyes followed Rein entering the house. “Don’t worry, Father. By the end of the day, that man’s mush in my hands.”

>>>

The all-too-familiar click of a Glock reached Rein’s ears as she closed the door. Being pointed at with a gun right as she entered was not a great welcome from being unceremoniously dragged to a den.

“So, you’re the man,” she heard Delian’s voice from the intricately upholstered chair. His back was on to her but she was sure the weapon wasn’t.

“Yes, sir,” Rein replied beneath a masked mouth. Her stance was that of the military with her hands behind her back and her legs together.

“The guy who will control me, the mafia’s next don, in favor of the Council. Am I correct?” He asked, his tone laced with disgust. It was clear that he was scowling from his seat and tension was emanating from him together with the smell of brandy.

Finally facing her, he scoffed, “Rein Evander, the prodigal son.”

“I think you misunderstood, sir,” she replied in a gruff voice as they finally locked eyes. “I was chosen as your right hand, to work FOR you,” she emphasized. “Now, whatever a right-hand means would be up to you.” She let their eye contact linger for a few more moments, showing that she wasn’t one to be easily intimidated before continuing, “Sir.”

Rein didn’t want it to start this way. She was expecting some type of disapproval from him, but being met with such hostility right away was definitely surprising. Mainly, because of their first interaction before. “Which one is the real Delian?” She thought to herself.

But that’s not really the pressing issue here, is it? It’s whether her appearance as a man was as convincing as she hoped it would be. Hopefully, Rhapso’s miracle makeover was what he claimed it would be. A miracle.

The thick atmosphere was finally cut with the mafia heir’s forced laugh as he stood, leaving his gun, and offered Rein a glass of alcohol. “They told me you were tough, seems like they’re right for once. Well then, on behalf of the Erinyes mafia, congratulations.” He raised his cup for a toast, although his smile never reached his still wary eyes. The female in disguise likewise took and raised her glass to his. “Hear, hear.”

Rein thought as she took a whiff of the drink before taking a sip. “Delian Leofric wouldn’t poison this brandy, right?” She could feel him watching,  anticipating her every move. Since she badly needed that liquid courage, Rein took a big gulp. Though the liquor did burn her throat, she was used to it. A few years of being in the Marines with more alcoholic men than she can count seemed to have made her immune to getting drunk.

“I won’t need you as much.” He faced the high windows of his study, looking beyond the manor’s land. “Since I’m still not the Erinyes don, you don’t have to be with me all the time.”

Taking advantage of his lack of surveillance, Rein took a mental picture of anything that might be useful in his office. But everything seemed so bland: rows of books that were never touched, papers on the table that didn’t amount to anything, and not a lot of furniture or decorations, despite having so much space. “This man will never trust me,” she sighed to herself.

“Although, if you really are capable as they say,” Delian took her attention again, “you might be able to help me with one thing.” His devious look gave Rein the idea that it wasn’t going to be good. Here it is, his first test for her. Will he make me kill someone? Or maybe torture someone in front of him? All sorts of questions raced into her mind, hoping that the answer to all those would be no.

Seemingly reading her mind, Delian asked, “If I tell you to kill someone outside, will you question me?” He wanted to check her moral code.

“I’ve done it for the military countless times. I don’t see why it would be a problem now.” Good answer.

“Well, worry not cause it’s not what I’m making you do,” Delian paused, his injuries still throbbing in pain, “for now.”

The mafia heir looked down and for a split second, his conflicted face revealed his vulnerability. Although, the right-hand man was sure it was just her imagination. “I need you to find a person. Before the Council once again makes the decision and marries me off to someone I don’t know or don't trust, just like they did with choosing my consigliori. No offense to you.”

Being unsure of how to continue, Rein just said, “None taken. May I ask who this person is?” Praying that her name not be brought up, she wanted to ask why he had to have her as a wife.

“I mean, he doesn’t look bad,” Rein thought as her eyes roamed his chiseled face, piercing eyes, and frowning full lips. “He could be added to the sculptures of gods in a museum, and I’d never notice anything out of place. He could have anyone he wants, why me?”

“Her name’s Eirene, a Marine like yourself,” he sighed, fatigue evident in his tone. Rein almost felt bad, if it weren’t a literal criminal she was talking to. And if it weren’t her that he mentioned.

“I’ll see to it, Sir.”

Running back outside towards Damon, Rein’s thoughts were plagued with worry, “Seems like we have a problem with Delian. We might have to really kill him sometime soon.”