My phone buzzes. Unknown number.
I should ignore it. Should throw the phone across the room.
Instead, I open the message.
Heard about the doctor. My condolences. If you need anything, you know where to find me. - A
Alexei.
My blood runs cold.
How does he know? We went to a private office. Told no one. Dr. Reeves would never...
Which means he's watching. Has people watching. Knows our movements, our appointments, our private medical information.
I look at the window, suddenly paranoid. Is someone watching now?
My hands are shaking as I stare at the message. It's on my actual phone. Not the burner.
This was on purpose. He wants me to know he can reach me.
He's always there. Always watching. A shadow I can't escape.
I should delete it. Block the number.
But I don't.
Instead, I sit there, phone in hand, staring at those words.
If you need anything, you know where to find me.
No.
I delete the message. Block the number.
I made a deal with the devil once already. Look where it got me.
If I'm going to fix this, if there's anything left to fix, I need to do it myself.
I just have no idea how.
CHAPTER 18
Saint
The vote was closer than it should have been.
Fifteen captains in total. Eight voted to keep me. Seven voted for Marcello.
One vote.
That's all that stood between me and losing everything I'd been built to inherit.
I sit in my study, Antonio's study, staring at the list of names. The seven who voted against me. I'll remember every one.
And one day, they'll regret betraying me.
I've spent my life working for the family, preparing for this takeover, and now, these fuckers don't trust me. Simply because they think I'm too trigger-happy. Something that they all benefited from.
