Behind the Mask

Chapter 72

Axel's POV

Marrisa sat next to me with Gabe on the other side of her, still holding his hand. The room was filled with our two teams as well as the more intimidating-looking mafia members and their guards.

Leonardo tapped the side of his glass when everyone had finally been seated. "Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to la nostra principessa, Marissa Ryland. She is the woman I spoke with you about in relation to the Academy and their actions." She nodded her head at the men as Dominic's father continued. "She is engaged to these fine men..." - he went around the table introducing all of us and stopped when they grumbled about Raven.

Aleski responded, "Yes, she is to be his wife as well as the others. This is a family matter and we are asking for your help." His voice was harsh and I could tell he was daring one of them to respond with disrespect. I'd seen that man slit throats for less. "Marissa, I believe you've already met Arthur Carini, head of the American mafia based out of New York. This is Finnegan O'Connor, head of the Irish mafia; Anton Morales, head of the Cuban mafia; and Yasu Tanaka, head of the Japanese yakuza." Each of them inclined their head toward her in acknowledgment.

"Sho kokumin wa on'na no ashimoto ni taoreru (Nations will fall at the feet of a woman)," Yasu said quietly.

"Subete no inochi wa josei kara umaremasu (For all life comes from women.)," Sean responded, making the man's eyes lock on him.

"You speak Japanese?" he asked.

"Yes. My adopted parents are from Japan," Sean answered, inclining his head in a show of respect. He then placed his hand on Marissa's stomach. Yasu nodded his head in understanding.

"Please, explain to us," Yasu asked him.

Sean cleared his throat and stood. "We are asking for your help in taking down the Academy. Killing the man that is after Marissa and our child won't stop them. They need to be wiped off the face of the planet once and for all."

"Why is she so special?" Anton interrupted, "Why should I risk my men to save some woman?"

Finnegan nodded, "I agree. Taking on the Academy is fecking crazy! Sorry, but who cares if this one woman disappears?"

Raven and Dominic both jumped to their feet. "Shut your mouth," Raven roared. "Malen'kaya shalun'ya is twice the fighter you are. You have no idea what you are talking about." He glared at Anton, "If this were your woman, would you just walk away? Would you abandon her and your child?" Anton glared but hung his head.

"What makes her special is her upbringing," Dominic said. I watched as Marissa cringed. She was trying to mask her emotions, but there was no hiding from this. He turned to her, "Marissa?"

She nodded and rose to her feet. "Gentlemen, I used to work for the Academy. While it was coerced, I am a fully trained assassin. I can blend in with almost any setting, speak eleven languages, and am trained in an assortment of weapons - up close and long range." I heard the Blackbourne men suck in a breath. I guess they never went into details about her training.

"I mean no disrespect, but why now?" Yasu asked, his hands folded in front of him as if he were praying.

She placed her hand on her stomach and took a shaky breath. I moved to take her hand, but Corey shot me a warning look and shook his head. He was right, she needed to stand on her own for this. More importantly, these men needed to see her as strong without us. "I left home at seventeen when my father tried to sell me to his business partner. The Academy used my runaway status to keep me in the program. Once the Giovanni's got me out, they had no more hold on me. However, now, this child is all the leverage they'll ever need. I'd never leave my daughter behind and they know it." She met the eyes of all of them as she spoke. "If they do this to me, then where will they stop gentlemen? The Academy is becoming brazen. They are not even attempting to hide their motives or the corruption that has seeped into every facet of the legal system. I have no doubt that this can be seen in more than just the United States." She turned to Aleski, "How many of your connections have been severed by the Academy? How many operatives now work for them instead of you?" Turning to Arthur she continued, "How many judges did you have on the Carini payroll that are now working against you - how many more you don't even know about?" She placed her hands on the tabletop and glared at all of them. "You are all becoming obsolete. The Academy is taking over organized crime gentlemen, and they're doing it step by step, contact by contact. They make legal matters vanish, people disappear and all the while you are fighting amongst yourselves while they pick you apart." Damn, she makes one hell of a closing argument. I'd never want to be on the other side of a courtroom from her.

"How do we even start?" Finnegan asked, running his hand down his face. "They're everywhere, and you yourself said it, they are poaching our own contacts and sources right under our noses." Victor laughed, making every eye turn his way. "You find that funny?"

"Actually, I do," Victor said. He met the Irishman's glare and grinned, "You all are so used to shooting it out that you've never thought to hit them where it really hurts - in the wallet. If we can stop the flow of funding, then the Academy loses a lot of sway. We've already seen the major players are often political in nature now. Poaching your contacts and sources also costs them. That takes money - lots and lots of money."

"Just what are you suggesting?" Leonardo asked.

Victor looked at Corey and they grinned, "We are suggesting we rob the Academy. We take every last damn penny they have. They will get desperate for help and that, gentlemen, is where you come in."

"Offer your services, purchase from them, build relationships with them, then cut them apart all at once when we have identified enough of the big rollers to make an impact," Corey added.

"It has to be perfectly timed," Marissa added, "When we strike, it must be in a single swift motion - no prisoners, no survivors, no trace."

"And you just get to sit back and let us do all the work," Anton scoffed. Before anyone could react, Marissa grabbed a table knife and hurled it at him. The knife landed, blade deep in the headrest of the chair he was sitting in, a few centimeters from his head. "Perra! You could have killed me," he roared.

She chuckled, "Yes Anton, I could have, but I didn't. Now, imagine me being forced to work for the Academy. Who do you think they're going to send me after - average people, or world leaders and anyone they deem as competition - say perhaps the mafia leaders?" His eyes went wide as the realization of her words sank in. "Make no mistake, I am not someone you want hunting you, especially if they use my daughter as leverage because I will do anything to protect her."

Aleski grinned and raised his glass, "Molodets, malen'kiy voin. Well gentlemen, shall we agree to help destroy the Academy?" Glasses raised around the table as one by one they agreed. "Now son, you and your friend need to show us what to do about the money," he said to Corey who grinned and placed his laptop next to Victor's.

Marissa excused herself from the table and I followed her into the kitchen. She was leaning against the counter and I could see her hands shaking. Pressing my body against her back, I wrapped my arms tightly around her, "You're okay, Angel." She turned and fell against me, sobbing silently. I held her only looking up when I heard footsteps from behind us.

"Mia bella regina, may I speak with you?" Owen asked.

"Should I go?" I asked them both.

Owen shook his head, "No need. I just want to know what you need from us, Marissa? How can we help you with all of this?"

I felt her body relax against me. "You're not mad?" she whispered.

He laughed softly, "Mad - no. Surprised, definitely, maybe even a little turned on, but never mad." He stepped forward and caressed her cheek, "Mia bella regina you never once asked us about our Academy training. We've all done things we are not proud of but we did them believing we were helping the greater good. How could we fault you for your skill set especially when you never wanted it?" He gave her a mischievous grin, "Although I will fully admit, I'm tempted to see you put North in his place now." Marissa let out a musical laugh and wiped at her tears. "We love you, Marissa and we accept you no matter what."

I moved my arms as she stepped forward to hug him. "Thank you, Owen," she whispered.  

Author's Notes: war is coming...

Thanks to the impending snowmageddon, my term break started a day early.  Hopefully, I'll get some serious writing done.  For tonight, I'm preparing for some Yule activities.  Solstice blessings!