"Sandro." Richard's voice dropped. "I don't know what's happening between you and Emilio. Personally or professionally. But he's a good attorney. One of the best I've seen. Don't destroy him."
"I'm not destroying him. I'm giving him the career he deserves." I kept my voice neutral. "He'll come out of this case stronger than he went in."
"Or he'll come out of it compromised and unemployable. Make sure it's the former." Richard hung up before I could respond.
I set down the phone and found three sets of eyes watching me.
"He stayed," I said simply. "Emilio fought to stay on the case and won."
"Of course he did," Luca said with a slight smile. "You've trained him well. Turned an idealistic attorney into someone who'll fight for what he wants."
"I didn't train him. I just showed him what he was capable of." I stood. "Matteo, handle the information leak to Costello senior about Antonio's gambling. Make it look like it came from one of Antonio's bookies, not from us. Elio, keep tracking that unknown surveillance target. Luca, I need you to reach out to your contacts at the other families. Find out who Antonio's been talking to and what he's offering."
They all nodded and stood to leave.
"And gentlemen?" I stopped them at the door. "Emilio Rossi is under our collective protection now. Not just mine. Anyone who threatens him threatens all of us. Make sure that message is clear to everyone watching this situation."
"Understood," Elio said.
After they left, I stood at the windows looking out over the city. Somewhere out there, Emilio was probably being congratulated by colleagues. Or warned by Richard. Or processing what he'd just done—chosen his mob boss client over his firm's recommendations.
Chosen me over safety.
My phone buzzed. Text from Emilio:I won. I'm staying on the case. Richard's furious but the board backed me.
I smiled and typed back:Of course you won. I never doubted it. Come back to Inferno when you're done there. We should celebrate properly.
Define properly.
You. Me. My bed. Several hours of reminding you why fighting for this was the right choice.
That's very tempting.
That's a promise. Get back here.
On my way.
I pocketed my phone and made one more call. Vincent answered immediately.
"I need everything you can find on Antonio Costello's gambling habits. Every bet. Every bookie. Every debt. I want documentation that would make his father disown him."
"How fast do you need it?"
"By tomorrow morning. We're sending a message that doesn't involve broken bones."
"Understood. I'll have it compiled by midnight tonight."
I hung up and poured myself another coffee. The trial was in four weeks. Four weeks to prepare the defense. Four weeks to neutralize the Costello threat. Four weeks to make sure Emilio emerged from this with his career enhanced instead of destroyed.
Four weeks to win on every front that mattered.
The elevator chimed forty minutes later. Emilio walked in looking flushed and triumphant and absolutely beautiful in his victory.
"Tell me everything," I said, pulling him into my arms.
"Richard presented all the safety concerns. The managing partners looked nervous. They started discussing reassignment protocols." He was talking fast, adrenaline still flowing. "Then I stood up and said I wasn't withdrawing. That forcing me off the case would set a precedent that threats work. That Sterling & Associates doesn't cave to intimidation."
"What did Richard say?"
