"Here's what's going to happen," he begins, leaning back in his chair. "The Benedetti family gets full access to port operations. Twenty percent of all shipping revenue. Complete protection from Costa family interference. And you back off our operations in the north district. Completely and permanently."
"That's insane. You're asking for half our business."
"That's the deal on the table."
"The Costas will never agree to that. Never."
"Then convince them." He leans back, utterly confident. "Or we start sending pieces of Liana back to her father. Starting with her fingers, moving up to more essential parts."
"Santino!" Liana cries out, her voice high and panicked. "Please! Just give them what they want! Please!"
She's sobbing now, hysterical, her whole body shaking violently.
The man holding her looks annoyed, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Shut up—"
"I can't—I can't breathe—" Liana gasps, her breathing becoming rapid and shallow. "I can't—"
"I said shut up!" He shakes her roughly.
"Please—I need—I can't—"
Her eyes roll back in her head. Her knees give out completely. She drops like a stone, becoming dead weight in his arms.
He wasn't expecting it, wasn't prepared for her full weight. His grip loosens for just a second as he tries to keep her from hitting the floor.
Just one second.
But it's enough.
Liana's eyes snap open, suddenly clear and focused. She's not fainting. She was never fainting. Her body twists with fluid grace, fast and controlled. Like she's done this exact move a thousand times in training.
Her hands shoot up and grab his wrist—the one holding the gun. She yanks it down sharply, toward her body, away from her head. At the same time, she steps into him, where he can'tleverage his size advantage. Drives her elbow up with vicious precision into his throat.
He chokes, staggers backward, his grip on the gun loosening.
The weapon comes free in her hands.
And suddenly—impossibly—Liana has the weapon.
She spins him around, puts him between her and Roberto's men as a human shield. Presses the barrel against his temple.
Exactly where his gun was pressed against hers thirty seconds ago.
"Nobody fucking move," she says.
Her voice isn't scared anymore. It's not hysterical or broken.
It's cold. Steady. Deadly calm.
Everyone freezes, shocked into immobility. The entire room goes silent except for the man’s labored breathing.
Liana—crying, terrified, helpless Liana—now has a gun to his head.
And she looks like she knows exactly how to use it. Looks like she's done this before.
"Liana—" Roberto starts, his confidence cracking.
"I said don't move." She tightens her grip on the man. He's taller than her, bigger, but she has him completely controlled. "Hands where I can see them. All of you. Now."
