He doesn’t challenge me, only nods and switches the subject. “The Triads are causing more shit at the port.”
“I’m aware.”
“They need to be put in their place. What’s our retaliation plan?”
“Nothing.” I steeple my fingers under my chin and watch my best friend’s anger flare.
“Nothing?” he asks incredulously. “T, they set a fucking fire that destroyed four containers of product.”
This was on top of them blowing up a whole cargo ship previously, which we had retaliated for just as brutally.
“They set that fire because we killed six of their top men,” I remind him.
This course only pushed us closer to full-out war.
“Yeah, so?”
My office door opens, and Marco slips back in, and I nod at my brother. I’m taking his advice and following a suggestion Gina had made when she asked me if peace wouldn’t be more profitable.
“I’ve reached out to Kai Xhang for a meeting,” I tell Silvio as Marco sits in his regular chair on the other side of my desk. “I’ve already spoken with Zeus of the Havoc Guardians andTomas Jude of the Saints; they’re open to discussing what I’m proposing.”
Silvio looks between Marco and me. “Which is what, exactly?”
“That we form a partnership and work toward peace because that’s more profitable and beneficial for us all, rather than warring and killing each other.”
He’s aware that I’ve been loosely considering this with us five strongest criminal factions in the city. We could become a collective powerhouse if we could manage to put our egos and murderous pasts aside.
Silvio shakes his head. “Kai will never go for it.”
“Wei Chen disagrees,” Marco says, speaking of the Triad’s second-in-command and Kai’s brother-in-law.
Silvio narrows his eyes. “This is a ploy to lure Tommaso out into a public meeting where they can ambush and attack.”
“We’ll be meeting at Gilly’s. No bloodshed is allowed.”
Gilly’s is a bar that’s a neutral, conflict-free zone where criminal factions can meet to settle differences or make plans together.
“What about when you’re traveling there or afterward?” Silvio grits, and I can see my best friend trying to control his worry and anger. As he regards me and sees that my mind is made up, he sighs. “When?”
“In a week. Until then, there’s a ceasefire. Ensure every one of our men is aware and knows if they retaliate and act against my orders, they’ll be brought before me.” My hand slips into my suit jacket pocket, and I rub my fingers over the bullet on the leather strap. I don’t take a life lightly, but I will, and brutally, if needed. “They won’t survive that meeting.”
They both nod, and Marco regards me. “The men need to see more of you.”
“I know.”
“Gina is stronger than anyone gives her credit for,” Silvo says, then smirks. “You told her who and what you are, and she didn’t run screaming.” He tilts his head back when I stand up from my chair. “Let her in more, Tommaso. She’s your queen. She’s meant to rule by your side, not in the shadows.”
“She’s still healing.”
“Yet you’re trying to breed her,” he retorts.
I fist my hands. “She’s not a fucking broodmare.”
He holds his hands up. “Just saying, T.”
Marco’s lips thin before he says to me, “The Alteras are pushing to move up the date of the wedding. Father told Arturo you’re fine with that.”
“Riccardo told you that?” I grit, trying to keep my anger in check.
