Page 102 of Savage Enemy

I scrambled to get dressed for my meeting with the Commission and opened the door. Tony waited for me, offering a giant sandwich on a plate.

“Why didn’t you wake me hours ago?”

He sucked in a heavy breath, and I already knew I wouldn’t like what he said next.

“I couldn’t get the other lieutenants here, boss. Most of them aren’t willing to work with a man they haven’t met. They made it clear they’re not withdrawing their positions or their allegiance, but you’re not their boss until the contracts have been properly executed.”

“Benedetta was supposed to send them to the lawyer.”

“She did. Yesterday. The lawyer wasn’t in the office yesterday. I called his personal line, and he said it would take atleast a week for the transfer of businesses to go through. I think we’re on our own for this one, boss.”

I leveled him with a glare.

“You shouldn’t have let me sleep that long. We need a plan to go in with a smaller team.”

“That’s why I let you sleep. I laid everything out. You just need to go over the details and approve. We can deal with the Commission’s shit, then leave first thing in the morning. Daylight invasion. A quick in-and-out for the girl. They’ll never see it coming. But if you aren’t rested, it might not go as well.”

Good call.

Still, I didn’t like him making the decisions on his own.

I bit into the sandwich, my stomach grumbling in appreciation as I chewed and swallowed.

“All right, Tony. Commission meeting first. And when this is all over, if I’m still alive, you and I will chat about you going rogue.”

He nodded. “Yes, boss.”

“Listen. If I don’t make it out of the meeting, see that Benedetta marries someone worthy enough to lead my empire until my son is ready. Benedetta should raise Enzo as my heir. You be there for him, Tony. Understand?”

My second seemed to stop breathing as he contemplated my wishes and their massive weight.

“And make sure Marco fucking Moscatelli stays away from them both,” I added. “Kill him if necessary.”

CHAPTER 20

VAL

Wearing another expensive dress—bright pink, less formal, and not so revealing—I waited for a knock on my door.

I hated the fucking dress, with its high neckline, fitted bodice, and full skirt. It made me feel like a fifties barbie doll. Like some empty, plastic thing chosen for its beauty, bent, and moved to the will of someone else.

I needed to push beyond all my thoughts because thinking literally hurt. That kind of pain was worse than any headache or bruise or even the aching set deep in my bones.

My last bit of hope had died, leaving me with unbearable nothingness.

Thinking up a plan would only be a waste of time. Even Marco had said he didn’t know how to save me anymore.

Thoughts of Enzo and Stefano hurt the most. Thoughts of Marco and his look of defeat when he left my room earlier that day made it impossible not to cry.

Oh, he’d tried to give me a sliver of hope, saying Stefano might come up with something else. Stefano wouldcome back—I had no doubt. If I knew nothing else, he would never give up anything he wanted so easily.

I didn’t want him to come back, though. I wanted him to stay in New York and focus on raising our son.

Finally, the knock came from the other side of the door. I stood, the door opened, and Saul stepped inside, followed by another large blond man and my three brothers.

The man had cold eyes and nicotine-stained teeth. The sour stench of stale vodka and sweat followed him into the room.

Mother of Christ, I had to steel my gag reflex.

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