I could appreciate that kind of strategic thinking.
Hero vibrated with righteous anger—the kind I recognized from my own experiences defending the younger kids in the ring. But it was Vince’s controlled stillness that drew my attention. The way he positioned himself, ready to intervene if Hero lost control completely, spoke of years of watching over his family.
Maybe the Paraskia was right to want his cooperation.
I watched as Hero and Vince asked Alfredo Salvini where he’d taken his daughters and Salvini’s bride.
Now this would be interesting.
It took Alfredo a moment to rein in his surprise, but then he leaned back in his chair, appearing all relaxed, and smirked.
Smirked.
This asshole didn’t even care that his own daughters had been kidnapped and instead tried to pawn it off as his own doing, just to keep the upperhand?
What a fucking asshole. But it only confirmed everything I already knew about the man. He viewed his children as assets, nothing more. No love, no loyalty, not even respect.
Having been in his presence, it still made my skin crawl.
The feed showed Vince leaning forward, his voice dropping low. “I’ll step back. Give you full control again, leave the Salvini family, organization, and business completely. In exchange, you make sure the women return safely, right now.”
Interesting.
I hadn’t expected him to show his hand so clearly. His love for Jemma Donnelly made him vulnerable—and played directly into our hands.
I checked my watch. The timing was perfect. Soon Alfredo would make his final mistake, driven by his ego and hunger for power. And I would be here to witness it, to use it. One more nail in the coffin of Vince Salvini’s resistance.
The raised voices inside drew my attention back to the feed. Hero had snapped, slamming his hands on Alfredo’s desk. I straightened and prepared to enter.
Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan.
It was scary how easily people could be manipulated. How their motivations, their human instincts could be used against them.
And I was aware that it was the same for me. My brothers and sisters, my family, the path we were on, the things we did—the Paraskia had used my loyalty to make me into the high-functioning monster they needed me to be.
But not for long.
I just needed to play my part well and keep my cards close to my chest for a while longer.
A ghost of a smile touched my lips as I watched the scene unfold. Alfredo had no idea he was performing his final act. The old guard was about to fall, making way for the new. And I would ensure the pieces landed exactly where I needed them.
The timing was perfect. I pushed off from the wall and approached the office, opened the door, then paused in the doorway, assessing the scene.
Alfredo sat behind his desk, radiating smug authority while his sons stood before him.
Vince’s dismissive voice cut through the air. “You’re pathetic, and I pity you,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of years of disappointment. He turned away from his father but stopped as his gaze met mine.
He narrowed his eyes slightly as I entered. Good. Let him see me as a potential wild card in this game.
I kept my expression neutral as I positioned myself strategically—close enough to appear involved but maintaining enough distance to observe.
The tension in the room shifted with my presence. I could feel Vince reassessing the situation, factoring me into his calculations. Perfect. The first step in positioning myself as a potential ally was ensuring he saw me as someone worth considering.
My mind raced through contingencies. If Vince walked away now, my carefully orchestrated plan would need significant adjustments. But watching him handle this confrontation had only reinforced my initial assessment—he’d be valuable to the syndicate. His controlled rage, strategic mind, and ability to prioritize family over power were all useful traits.
The slight movement behind Vince caught my eye. Alfredo reached for his desk drawer where I knew he kept a Beretta. Shit.
My muscles tensed instinctively, but I forced myself to remain still.
