Seduce & Destroy - Page 71

“You’ve got to look composed up there, Sunshine. It won’t be like Tilly’s funeral, this is a big deal.” I rolled my eyes to mask the hurt, blinking away the forming tears.

“She deserved this more than Granddaddy.”

“No,” he spat. “This is what I mean. No mopping about, no irritations and absolutely no talk back. Edward is a symbol. Show some respect. You hear me?”

“You get what you gi–”

“You hear me?”

I bit my tongue. This man had marked this family with a curse all those years ago, the discontent in his ranks was proof of it, and the traitors that walked among us were of his own making.

“Good.” His head in hands, he leaned back. “No matter what you think about me or this family right now. Leave it alone. Let it go.”

“You massa—”

“That’s exactly what I mean, Laney. None of this.” He dropped his hands and pointed toward me. “Yes, I killed them. You don’t get to harbour hatred toward me for it. I did it for you. For this family.”

“You’re not going anywhere, Father. Why are you scared?”

“It’s tense at the estate. We must be prepared and not divided.”

“But you didn’t prepare me!” I burst out. “You kept me hidden for most of my life, and now magically, I can take authority? That’s not how that works. How can I be on your side?”

I sat back, quietly seething.

“This doesn’t leave the car.” Of course, he’d be thinking about his image above the real root of the reason. This family was built on death. Was the money laundering not enough? The seedy bars? Illegal gambling?

As we drove toward Great Tenor chapel, I could see the droves of people lined up along the street. Some with their heads bowed, others staring directly at us. Either way, they had blank expressions on their faces. Our car trailed the hearse that had flower arrangements in the formation of a large ‘E’. Funerals were one of the only large scale events wherein our underworld operations were public.

Guards were noticeably sparse around the heaps of people, but no less armed. I recognised only some of the faces. Others were unfamiliar in their stoic stance yet nodded at each other as if they knew each other.

The car slowed as we neared the chapel, silence pervading across the whole crowd. And the show begins.

Neenan opened my door, extending a hand to guide me up the steps. As we did, he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “You look great, show ‘em what a leader looks like. For Grandfather.”

Ah sweet confidence boost. I made sure that in the next step you could hear the click of my heels on the stone stairs and with a sway of my hips I made them believe in it too. The power.

Father walked behind me, but I led the way. Through the doors, I stopped to greet the clergymen conducting the service. Thanking them for their dedication to a faithful and dignified sent off for my grandfather. My father bypassed all of that and had already taken a seat at the first pew from the front. His body was turned to the side seemingly, to argue with one of the clergymen that was handing out service programs to each row. We were one of the last to arrive.

It hit me. I could usher in a new era for us. Neenan at my shoulder seemed to feel it too, standing close like a personal protective officer. As I moved to follow Father to our seats I caught a glimpse at the image by the casket.

A portrait of Edward Ravencroft standing tall and proud, but with a gentle smile so unique to him. He wasn’t good, but he was so good to me. Stepping up when my father took a step back, I’d be forever grateful for the times he listened when no one else had before.

Next to the portrait sat a smaller painting. It was a group image of the Ravencroft and Karstein families at Christmas. I smiled at it. Granddaddy was proud of forming that union, it was only right that it be honoured in his death.

“Father, it’s fine.” I placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him down to a seated position.

“It’s not, the fucking Karsteins cannot be honoured in such a way.”

I gritted my teeth trying to suppress my anger. “It was his greatest legacy, he wasn’t the one to ruin it. Sit. Down.”

His eyebrows shot up at my tone, but I continued. “You wanted me to lead?” I shrugged. “I’m doing it my way.”

A deep, hearty laugh escaped from him. “Don’t be silly, child. You’re not in charge yet.”

“Have you read his will, Father?” He looked down. “Once this facade is over, I get to sit in your seat.”

“Don’t count on it,” he said, darkly.