Page 201 of Salvatore

He squares his shoulders. “She was the gauge to tell me when, or if, you were ready to take over this family.”

I recoil. “You were letting her be the judge?—”

“No.” He adds steel to his tone. “I was waiting to see if you would be bold enough to take matters into your own hands. A worthy leader doesn’t wait for permission on issues of Adena’s magnitude. They claim what they’re owed.”

“You kept her alive as afucking test?”

He levels me with a sad smile. “I would’ve preferred a less chaotic catalyst, without anyone else getting hurt, but yes, keeping my sister alive was a gauge on your ability to claim my role.”

“Bullshit.” I step back, not believing him. “You were livid when you found out.”

“I admit, I was caught off-guard. The complications that surrounded Ivy’s involvement and the guilt associated with her injuries didn’t sit well with me?—”

Didn’t sit well? Didn’t fucking sit well?

“—But the issue that dictated my unjust actions was due to something else entirely.” His forehead creases. “I hadn’t anticipated the loss I would feel when my time at the helm was up. Despite being ready to step down for years, it was a shock to learn I’d grown desperate to cling to the lifestyle I’d built with you and Remy. So yes, I handled the situation poorly, and for that, I ask your forgiveness.” He glances to Ivy. “Yours, too.”

I clench my fists, struggling to understand what the fuck he’s saying. “You threatened her life.”

“I did.” He nods. “But are you that surprised,figlio? Don’t you remember I placed Remy in a similar situation to determine if he was invested in the woman he wanted to bring into this family?”

My nostrils flare as I bite out through gritted teeth, “Are you now aware of the level of my investment, old man?”

A gentle hand presses against my waist, Ivy’s softly spoken “Salvatore” pulling me back from the brink.

“You scared the shit out of her,” I seethe.

He inclines his head. “But she is a woman of strength. I didn’t attack with more than she could handle.”

Ivy doesn’t say a word—doesn’t react to his admission with anything other than patient consideration.

“You’re okay with this?” I ask of her.

“I’m not okay. I’m just…” Her eyes lift to mine, a sadness buried in the dark depths. “He’s standing down, Salvatore. He’s handing over his entire family and entrusting them with you. I can’t think of a more acceptable excuse for his reaction.”

I temper my anger. My shock.

Is that what he’s doing?

“You’re ready,” Lorenzo’s Italian accent thickens.

No. This is a trap. Some form of manipulation.

He would nevergivehis position to me. Not willingly. I’d prepared myself to take it when the time came. To steal it, because despite being promised the role I knew the assurance of power was merely bait to force me into compliance, just like my parents had always done.

“This comes as a surprise, I know.” The solemn sincerity staring back at me feels wrong. Fucking brutal. “You’ve always struggled to trust me, Salvatore. And I’ve never pushed the issue because skepticism is a good trait to have in this lifestyle. Buteverything I’ve done during our time together has been to make you stronger. To turn you into the leader you’ve become.”

“You don’t trust my judgment. You always question my motives.”

His expression remains somber. “I always questioned your conviction to see if you wavered under pressure. And you never did. You are a man who owns his decisions and is prepared to live with the consequences of his choices no matter the stakes.”

“You think I’m too violent. Too fucking cavalier with the lives of our enemies.”

He gives a sly smile. “You are just as bloodthirsty as I was when I inherited this position. And if I would’ve been encouraged back then, the world would’ve crumpled under my tyranny. I kept you in check to ensure the balance of the ecosystem we live in. We need enemies to fuel our ambition and keep us sharp.”

I still don’t fucking believe it.

“Understand this, Salvatore,” he continues. “I’m not handing you a legacy. I’m passing you the mantle of your own making. You wanted to come to Baltimore. It was your suggestion to make a bigger mark here. Now it’s your time to bring your vision to life.”

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