"Those weren't Baganovs." Pietro's voice cuts through the tension. "We confirmed that. Freelancers trying to make a name. The Baganovs actually helped us identify them."
"How convenient." The words taste bitter on my tongue.
Lorenzo sighs. "Nico, I know you have reason to be suspicious?—"
"Suspicious?" I push off from the window, ignoring the pull in my healing wound. "They held Kristen's debt. They had surveillance on our compound. And now they want to be friends?"
"They released the debt before the shooting," Pietro reminds me. "And they pulled their surveillance when we asked. That's not nothing."
Bruno laughs, but there's no humor in it. "So we're supposed to trust them because they stopped threatening someone we care about? That's a low bar."
For once, Bruno and I agree on something.
"It's not about trust." Lorenzo stands, pacing the way he does when he's working through a problem. "It's about mutual benefit. The Baganovs control the North Side ports. We control the South. Together, we'd have a stranglehold on shipping that no one could challenge."
"And what do they want in return?" I ask.
"Access to our construction contracts. Clean money laundering through legitimate businesses. And..." Lorenzo hesitates.
Pietro's eyes narrow. "And what?"
"Protection. They've got enemies in New York. They need allies."
Ah. There it is.
"So we'd be fighting their wars," Valentino says, voicing what we're all thinking.
"We'd be fighting together." Lorenzo's emphasis lands heavy. "Look, I'm not saying we should trust them blindly. But we haven't had a Bratva organization this close to our ethical standards in Chicago. Ever. They don't traffic people. They don't deal in kids. They protect their own."
"They're still criminals," Bruno says.
Lorenzo laughs. "So are we."
The room falls silent.
Pietro rises from his desk and walks to the window where I stood moments ago. Chicago sprawls beneath us, all steel and ambition and blood.
"What's your read, Nico?"
I hate that he's asking me. Hate that my judgment might be compromised because of what happened. But Pietro values my analysis, even when—especially when—it conflicts with what he wants to hear.
"I don't like it," I admit. "But Lorenzo's not wrong. Having the Baganovs as enemies serves no one. And if they're genuinely offering legitimate partnerships..." I pause, choosing my words carefully. "We should hear them out. But on our terms. Our territory. And we make damn sure we have leverage before we sign anything."
Pietro nods slowly. "Valentino?"
"The old families would approve of an alliance built on shared values." Valentino uncrosses his arms. "But they'd also expect us to verify everything. Trust but verify, as the Americans say."
"Bruno?"
My brother's wheelchair creaks as he shifts his weight.
"If we do this," Bruno says quietly, "we do it right. Full vetting. Background on every Baganov sibling. And we keep our most vulnerable assets out of their reach."
"Agreed." Pietro turns back to face us. "Lorenzo, set up a meeting with Dmitri. Neutral ground. I want to look him in the eye when he tells me what his family wants."
Lorenzo nods, already pulling out his phone.
I should feel relieved. We're not rushing into anything. We're being careful.
