His calm breathing drew closer, and a slight shuffling followed, indicating that he had probably picked up the phone.
“Are you calmer now?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I know how this looks and how hard you haveworked to get this far, but you cannot break now. That’s not what we do, remember?”
“Yes.”
“Now, more than ever, I need you to trust me. There might be nothing we can do about it since the money has already been paid, and your brother has already been sponsored. But I will talk to Elio and try to get him off your back. If you attack, I guarantee you’re the only one who will get hurt.”
“I can’t just let this slide. If he wants to play a game, he must know I am happy to play too.”
I sighed. “He knows that, and that is exactly why you will lose. Let it go, Vitale. Let the position go.”
He shot out a laugh that was born from withheld anger. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No. I am saying you can get something even better.” I allowed my words to sink in. “Do you want to be the one that’s voted in? Or the person who approves and makes the final verdict on who gets voted in?”
Silence, and I knew I had caught his interest.
“What do you mean?”
“If we get that flash drive, we hold the power over your family name; we hold every secret the current Serpent head has tried to keep from the public eye. With your power, my power, and your impending inheritance, we can take him out and put you higher than your enemies, and then you could even choose to do whatever you want with your brother.”
“That sounds too good to be possible.”
“It’s not impossible. Not impossible for me, or you. I need you to trust me, Vitale.”
“For how long?”
“As long as it takes. If you want something this good—this far-fetched—you have to be patient and observe. I know you hate to hear this, but you could learn a thing or two from Elio. Study your enemies, know exactly where to hit them, andmake them bend to your will. It is not time to let your emotions take over. It is time to watch and bid.”
He sighed. “Okay… I hear you.” I could almost see him running a gloved hand down his face.
“Listen, I know I’m not there, and I know I’m in a relationship with the one guy I should probably not be in a relationship with. I know how this looks, but you know me, Vitale, you know where my priorities lie. Stopping the trafficking ring, bringing down that organization, making sure no other Plants are created, and getting you to a high-standing position in the Society. I haven’t forgotten. I am still with you in this, regardless of whoever I’m with, or whoever I have feelings for. I will never forget where I come from, why I’m here, and what I left behind, okay?”
“Okay,” he responded with a breath, one that sounded like it was from a place of relief. “Okay, Faizan.”
“Good.”
He groaned. “Fuck, my room is a mess.”
“Your seven minutes of madness is to blame. Deal with it.”
“I was going to,” he gritted out. “I didn’t say that so you could comment.”
“Whatever, I’ll call you if I have any news. Call me if something happens.”
“Yeah.”
I ended the call and immediately found Elio’s number and placed a call to him. It rang and rang and rang, with no answer, until the line disconnected. I tried again—the same thing, and then I tried a third time—it rang twice before he declined it.
“Motherfucker.”
I made my way out of the room to check on Street—upon reaching the rooms where I had been sure they’d been last night, each one was empty.
“What the fuck?”
