“You shouldn’t make promises lightly, Chiara,” he said softly.
My stomach flipped violently. When he called me by my name, I could barely control myself. It sounded so different coming from his lips. Like I was some kind of prized dog he couldn’t wait to show off.
Before I could answer, Sergio pulled out another chair with a dramatic sigh. “Sit. Eat. Before foreplay turns into a hostage negotiation.”
I sat mostly because my legs felt weak. Leo remained at the head of the table while Sergio took the seat across from me. The two of them fell into conversation easily after that, speaking with the familiarity of men who had survived ugly things together.
But I noticed Sergio still never fully relaxed around Leo. Not fear exactly. Respect. The dangerous kind, the kind that knew what his boss was capable of if he disobeyed.
“Santino called again this morning,” Sergio said, reaching for coffee. “Third time since yesterday.”
Leo cut into his food without interest. “Ignore him.”
“That’s getting harder now that Angelo’s backing him publicly,” Sergio sighed. At the mention of another name, Leo’s expression cooled further. I stayed quiet, listening.
“Santino and Angelo?” I asked eventually. Leo looked at me once, measuring whether to answer.
“My cousins,” he said finally.
“Twins,” Sergio added. “Unfortunately. Would be easier with just one traitor.”
“They want my father’s territory, I presume,” Leo spoke again, addressing his friend.
“They think they deserve it,” Sergio corrected dryly. “Because they share DNA with the Moretti name.”
“And because my father’s dead,” Leo said flatly. “And they think they can get away with anything now.”
I stared at the table in front of me, realizing I barely knew anything about Leo. I didn’t even know his father was dead. Papa often talked about business, but rarely about the Morettis. It seemed everyone in my world was terrified of that family. I knew there were a couple of players involved, but the most Ifound out was there was one heir - Leo. That made him the most dangerous one of all, because it meant he controlled everything.
I looked between them carefully. “So your cousins are trying to challenge you?”
Sergio snorted. “Sweetheart, they’ve been trying since the funeral.”
“They’re causing problems with our packages,” Leo said. “Pushing into shipments. Leaning on businesses that already belong to me.”
“Mostly near the docks,” Sergio added. “Which have become a fucking headache.”
Leo’s jaw tightened slightly. “The east waterfront isn’t worth the trouble anymore.”
I frowned slightly, thinking. Papa used to talk business at dinner constantly, assuming I wasn’t paying attention. But I had. Every word.
“The old warehouse district?” I asked slowly. Both men looked at me now.
“Yes,” Leo said carefully.
“That area’s dead,” I shrugged. “Papa always said that.”
Sergio raised a brow. “We know.”
“No.” I leaned forward slightly. “I mean truly dead. The city’s been planning redevelopment there for over a year. They’re going to take over soon, and then you won’t have a business there anymore.”
Leo’s attention sharpened.
I continued before I lost my nerve. “Luxury condos. New zoning permits. Property taxes will skyrocket the second construction starts.”
Sergio stopped eating, swirling his coffee in the cup while giving me a curious look.
“And?” Leo asked quietly.
