Not yet.
But I can work with this. I can stroke that spark until it’s an ember. Because Saint is just as angry as I am.
"Interesting."
"I studied art history, but my real focus was art preservation, specifically, how to protect valuable pieces. Security systems. Climate control. Surveillance. Bianca saw value in that. She had me help design the security for some of the Nero properties including the gallery."
"The gallery?"
I nod. "Art is how we clean money from the other things…" The illegal things.
"Adrian never mentioned?—"
I laugh sardonically. "Adrian doesn't know. Bianca was grooming me to help manage the legitimate side of the business." I bite my lip so hard I nearly pierce it. "Obviously, she changed her mind."
"Guess she saw more value in what exists between your legs than between your ears."
I wring my hands and take a deep breath, ignoring him. This is what Saint does. He pushes people until they snap.
But I’ve already snapped. He just doesn’t know me well enough to realize it.
Saint leans forward, elbows on the desk. "Why should I care about any of this?"
"Because I want to fuck with my brother, badly, and so do you." I meet his eyes. I want him to see my anger. "He sold me. Traded me like I was nothing. I want him to suffer for that,” I lean back.
His expression doesn't change.
"Don't pretend you don't hate him too. You resent being beholden to the Neros. This marriage was forced on you because Antonio was worried about the Marini’s standing once my brother took over. He didn’t trust you enough to slot into his place without the bonds of matrimony.”
"Watch it," he says, but there's no real heat.
"It's true. And we both know it. So, here's what I'm proposing: I give you intel. You use it to destabilize Adrian's operations. Make him desperate. Make him need to offer concessions to keep the alliance strong. There's got to be something you want from him.”
I hate that I can't read Saint. It makes this whole thing more challenging. I'm taking a risk here, and I have no idea if it will pay off.
"Adrian isn't the bargaining type. You should have seen him negotiating the contracts for our marriage. He was more ruthless than your mother. He was fine with you being Antonio’s broodmare as long as he kept control of the shipping routes we’d given him.”
I swallow. "That was before he was a father. Sera and Angelo are your leverage.” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I feel immense guilt at what I'm suggesting. "Family has made Adrian weaker. If he thinks there's a threat he can't control, he'll cave to make sure that the alliance stands.”
Saint chuckles. "That's cold, little Nero."
He's not wrong. "It's no different than what Adrian did to me."
His brow raises. "You are willing to put your nephew in danger."
I shake my head emphatically. "No," my voice is breathy, and I hate it. I'm trying not to shake. "Angelo isn't in any danger. No one is."
"Really?"
I nod. "That's part of our deal. No putting Angelo or Sera in harm's way."
"What about Adrian or Luciano?" Saint asks. "What would you do if I put a bullet in their heads?"
I roll my eyes. "You aren't going to do that. We are still allies. Once Antonio dies, you take over his seat. You wouldn’t jeopardize that.”
"I’m impulsive,” Saint says, with a shrug. "Sometimes I don’t know what I’ll do.”
"Don't be ridiculous,” my mother has gone a bit dry. “This…this intel…it's a game. I just want to scare Adrian, make him feel the way I have.”
