"I was already a target." I met his eyes. "At least now I'm useful."
Luca laughed. Sharp and surprised. "He's got balls. I'll give him that."
"Balls without brains get you killed," Sandro said. But his expression had shifted. Less skeptical. More considering. "We need to verify all of this before we act. If it's legitimate—"
"It's legitimate," I said. "Every email. Every document. Every piece of evidence. I watched my father make those deals. I know they're real."
"Then we've got a problem. A massive one." Sandro looked at Elio. "Call a meeting. All four partners. One hour. Julian attends—it's his information."
Elio nodded and pulled out his phone.
I stood there clutching the strap of the now-empty bag and tried not to shake.
I'd done it. Actually done it.
I'd just handed over evidence that could start a war. That could destroy my father. That could change everything.
There was no going back now.
An hour later I sat in Inferno's main conference room and tried not to feel overwhelmed.
All four partners were here. Sandro at the head of the table, documents spread in front of him. Matteo to his right, looking dangerous and coiled like violence waiting to happen. Luca to his left, charming smile replaced by cold calculation. Eliostanding by the wall behind me, close enough that I could feel his presence like a shield.
"Rebecca Watson has been investigating us for three years," Sandro said without preamble. "Building a RICO case using information provided by Winston Bianchi. The case fell apart during our trial, but she's not giving up. She's expanding scope. Planning to bring down all four major New York families simultaneously."
"How?" Matteo's voice was gravel. Dangerous.
"Coordinated indictments. Multiple jurisdictions. Federal and state charges all filed at once to prevent anyone from running or making deals. Winston feeds her intelligence on everyone's operations in exchange for immunity and protection for the Bianchi family." Sandro looked at me. "When it's done, the Bianchis will be the only major family left standing in the region."
"That's a death sentence for everyone in this room," Luca said calmly. "We need to eliminate Winston immediately. Cut off Watson's intelligence source."
"Killing him brings federal heat we can't handle," Sandro countered. "Watson will know we're responsible. She'll come after us harder."
"Then what do we do?" Matteo asked. "Wait for her to build her case and destroy us all?"
"We neutralize the threat without starting a war." Sandro looked at each of them. "Suggestions?"
"We go after Watson," Elio said from behind me. "She's the real threat. Winston's just a source. Without her, the case falls apart."
"Federal agents can't just disappear," Luca said. "Too many people watching. Too much oversight."
They talked strategy. Debated approaches. Analyzed risks.
I sat there watching and realized this was my fault. My information had created this crisis. Had put all of them in danger.
If I'd just kept my head down. Just married Dante like my father wanted. Just accepted my fate—
No.
That was victim thinking. The kind of thinking that had kept me trapped for years.
I'd made the right choice. The only choice I could live with.
And maybe I could help fix the problem I'd created.
I waited for a pause in the conversation. Then spoke up before I could lose my courage.
"My father has a weakness."
