"I know." I meet his eyes steadily. "I need to give her a reason. A real one that has nothing to do with business or alliances."
He studies me for a long moment, and then slowly, he smiles. "Now you're thinking like a Marcello."
"What do I do then?"
"You want her back?" He leans forward intently. "You need to prove you're worth having back. You need to show her—and her father—that you understand what you did wrong. That you know who she really is now. And that you're willing to protect her. Always. No matter what the cost."
"How do I do that?"
"That's for you to figure out." He stands and walks around the desk, putting a hand on my shoulder. "But I'll tell you this. If you're going to fight for her, you need to fight smart. This is the mafia, Santino. Everything is a negotiation. Everything has leverage points."
"What leverage do I have? Dominic hates me right now."
"Then find leverage he can't refuse." His eyes gleam with the kind of cunning that's kept our family powerful for generations. "And when you do, you don't ask for her back. You don't beg. You negotiate. Like the Don you're supposed to be."
He heads toward the door, then pauses with his hand on the frame.
"And Santino? When you get her back—if you get her back—you make damn sure you never fail her again. Because she won't give you a third chance. Women like Liana don't forgive the same mistake twice." He leaves, closing the door softly behind him.
I'm alone in the study now, the silence pressing in from all sides. I stare at my phone, at that photo of Liana tied to the chair, her eyes filled with fear. Then I open a new screen and start making notes, my mind working through possibilities.
What do I know about Liana Costa? What does she want? What does her father want? What leverage do I have?
The Benedettis are still out there. Still angry. Still dangerous after tonight's failure.
Dominic called off the alliance, which means he called off the protection that came with it. The Costas are vulnerable now, exposed in ways they weren't before. And so are the Marcellos without the Costa connections.
But maybe... maybe that's not a weakness.
Maybe that's exactly the leverage I need. I start making calls, one after another.
First to Bruno. "I need everything we have on the Benedetti family. Operations. Weaknesses. Who they owe money to. Who wants them gone. Every piece of intelligence we can gather."
Then to Tommy. "I need to know what the Costas are planning for security. How they're protecting their operations now that the alliance is off."
Then to Sal. "I need eyes on Liana. Not close—I don't want to scare her or make things worse. But I need to know she's safe at all times."
By morning, I have a plan.
It's risky. It's insane. It might not work at all. But it's the only chance I have to make this right.
I'm going to take down the Benedettis. Completely. Permanently. Eliminate them as a threat.
I'm going to eliminate the danger to Liana and her family.
And then I'm going to go to Dominic Costa with proof that I can protect his daughter. That I will protect his daughter.
Always. No matter what it costs me.
And maybe—maybe—he'll give me another chance.
If not? If he still refuses?
At least Liana will be safe from the Benedettis.
And that's all that matters now.
I grab my jacket and head for the door, purpose driving my steps.
