"Is it?" Julian challenges. "Because from where we're standing, you're about to inherit a shitstorm with no clear successor and everyone questioning your authority."
"Then everyone can fuck off." I glare. "Including you three."
"That's not a strategy," Marcello says. "That's pride."
I turn on him. "You want to tell me how to run this family? You, who've spent your whole life pretending you're not part of it?"
He doesn't flinch. "I'm just saying you might need help. Support. We're family, Saint. Let us help you."
I'm sure he does want to help.
"You can help by being here for your father. Leave the rest to me."
The doorbell rang before anyone can respond.
One of the guards appears. "Boss. Adrian Nero is here. Says it's urgent."
Of course he is.
"Send him to my office. I'll be there in a minute."
I turn back to my cousins. "Make yourselves at home."
We all ignore the weight of my words. When Antonio passes, this is no longer theirs. Better fucking get used to it.
Adrian's pacing in my office when I enter. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. Good.
I still remember what Gemma told me at the beach. He fucking stole from her, even if he didn't really know what he was doing.
Her motives make a hell of a lot more sense these days.
"Saint. Thanks for seeing me." I raise a brow. Adrian Nero isn't known for gratitude. "I know Antonio is…"
"What do you want, Adrian?" I don't sit. Don't offer him a drink. Don't pretend this is social.
"We need to talk about the attacks."
"I thought they stopped."
His jaw tightens. "They did. For about two weeks. Then they started again, worse than before."
Something cold settles in my stomach. "What do you mean, worse?"
"I mean someone is systematically dismantling my operation from the inside." He pulls out his phone, shows me photos. "Three warehouses hit in the last ten days. Two shipments intercepted. Five of my men dead."
"Sounds like you have a security problem."
"It's more than that." He's wound tight, barely containing his rage. "One of Alexei's men was caught on camera at a warehouse. He knew exactly which shipment to hit, exactly when security would be light, exactly where the cameras had blind spots."
Fuck.
"So, it's the Russians."
"Yes. But that's not all." Adrian leans forward. "He had access codes. Internal schedules. Information that doesn't leave the family. Someone gave it to him. Someone on the inside."
"You're sure?"
"We captured the Russian." His smile is cold. "He confirmed it before he died. Someone has been feeding Alexei everything. Routes, schedules, vulnerabilities. Everything, Saint. Someone inside the Nero family is working with the Morozovs."
