“Apologies,” I say, tone flat, “but that will be a deal breaker for me. I trust Stella. I don’t trust your son.”
“Careful,” Vincent seethes.
“I’m not being disrespectful,” I say, head held high. “I won’t work with Marcello. What kind of underboss would I be to put my trust in a man who isn’t even aware he’s spending his free time with an FBI agent.”
“I don’t believe you,” Giovanni snarls, leaping to Marcello’s defense.
“Ask him,” I suggest calmly. “Or better yet, do your own digging. I’m sure you have more than a few feds in your pocket. Ask them if there isn’t a federal agent sniffing around your family.”
Giovanni’s eyes dart to Vincent, alarm flashing across his face.
But theCapo Dei Capi? He doesn’t move a muscle.
“Very well,” Vincent states evenly. “From here on out, I’ll make sure Stella is available for anything you need concerning the casino. Stella will be my proxy in these matters.”
“Thank you.”
I rise from my seat and offer him my hand.
Vincent stays seated for a few seconds, a deliberate reminder of who’s in charge here, before he finally stands and takes my hand.
“I’m going to take you at your word,” he says, voice cool. “That this gift you’ve brought is just that—a gift to fortify our alliance. But if any of my children are ever in danger because of you again…” His eyes harden. “I won’t lose sleep starting a war with theBratva.”
I clasp his hand with my other, leaning in so he sees the truth in my eyes. “None of your children will ever come to harm under my watch. You have my word.”
He studies me for a long, heavy moment, then nods. “Good,” he says, satisfied.
“Gentlemen,” I say in farewell, glancing at a still-pissed Giovanni and a statue-still Dominic.
I’m almost at the door when Dominic finally speaks.
“You chose wrong,” he says simply. “You should have picked Marcello.”
“I’m pretty confident in the choice I made,” I reply with a wolfish grin.
“Then you’re more of a fool than I thought.” His eyes narrow. “Stella will eat you alive when she hears about this.”
I give him a single nod and walk out of the office.
He’s right.
Not about choosing wrong but about the storm waiting for me.
Stella will give me hell when she learns what I’ve been up to. When she learns I’ve been plotting behind her back, making decisions about her future without her input.
Dominic is right. She’s going to eat me alive and spit me up.
I just need to explain myself fast enough…before I end up with a dagger in my ribs.
“Are you out of your God-given mind?!” Stella shouts the moment she storms into my lake house that same afternoon… like it’s hers, like she’s lived here her whole damn life.
“Well, hello to you too,milaya.”
I flip theshashlikon the grill, the scent of marinated meat rising with the heat. “Hungry?”
“I’m supposed to be your lackey now? Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?”
“You’re not my lackey,” I say, calmly turning another skewer. “You’re your father’s proxy.”
