Page 27 of Mafia Kingdom

She shouldn’t matter this much.

But she does.

I shake the thoughts off like rain. Focus. I have bigger problems than the way Sasha gets under my skin.

I call my men in. "Lock everything down. No one in or out unless I say so. Triple the guards. If you even think someone is where they shouldn’t be, kill first, ask later."

No hesitation. No mercy.

The estate turns into a fortress overnight. Armed men at every entrance, security sweeps every hour, my inner circlemoving with their hands on their guns like they’re expecting war. They should be. Because that’s exactly what’s coming.

The phone rings twice before my father answers.

“What happened?” His voice is sharp, cutting straight to the point.

“There was another shooting; Baz was shot,” I say, gripping the phone tighter. “But it can’t be Lucas. That wouldn’t make sense.”

Silence. Then, a measured inhale. “Or it’s his way of throwing us off the scent.”

I rub my temple. This whole Lucas conspiracy is out of control. “He was at the pub, Father.”

“I’m sure his northern men could take the shot for him.”

I clench my jaw. I don’t want to argue about this, but I don’t see my brother betraying us. Not like this. Not ever. “Any news about Danny?”

My father is slow to answer. Too slow. “No.”

The weight of that single word settles in my chest like a brick. I want to ask when the funeral will be, but burying my brother will make this too real. I haven’t even gone to see his body. It’s easier to focus on revenge.

“I’ll call you if I have any updates.”

The line goes dead. I place the phone on the counter. Buddy dances around my feet, clearly hungry. One of the security guys outside the kitchen door comes in when I call him.

“Feed the dog, cook him some steak.”

His brows rise. He isn’t a chef, and I can see that statement clearly on his face, but when I don’t speak, he takes off his suit jacket and gets to work.

I have another problem to take care of, Sasha.

I find her in the room I had locked her in. Her arms crossed, back straight, her dark eyes already burning withdefiance before I even open my mouth. She knows what’s coming. She knows me.

Sasha crosses her arms, eyes flashing. "The agreement was that I go to the charity event with you. That was it."

I'm already fuming, but her defiance makes my blood boil. "That was before everything went down. The situation has changed. You stay with me until I get this mess cleaned up."

She glares at me, unflinching. "I asked you if you killed the men at my home, and you said no. But clearly, that was a lie. So how do I know you're telling the truth now?"

I sneer. "I wasn’t lying. I killed Dave after that."

She swallows hard, her bravado faltering for a split second before she masks it with anger. I see the fear, though. The way her breath hitches, the way her fingers curl slightly like she’s preparing to fight or flee.

"You’re not leaving this house," I tell her. I’ve already said this, but I need to reinforce it.

Her jaw tightens. "You don’t get to decide that."

I step closer, invading her space. She doesn’t back down, not even an inch. It would be easier if she did. If she stopped acting brave, if she gave me some excuse to pretend she’s just another pawn in this game. But she isn’t. And that’s the problem.

"You want to test me?" My voice is quiet, but she hears the threat beneath it. "Try walking out that front door. See what happens."

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