Page 103 of Broken Wolf Heart
Lexi looks out at them all, letting her hands rest flat on the podium. “This city deserves protection. Compassion. A future that doesn’t bury its past but learns from it. Franco showed us his way. Now, let me show you mine. Because I will fight for the people of Indigo Hills every damned day you allow me to lead it.”
When she’s finished, there’s no applause. Just stunned quiet.
And then someone near the back stands and places their hand over their heart. A silent pledge of loyalty.
Another follows.
Then another.
Until most of the room is standing and pledging.
Not a cheer. Not a roar. But respect.
22
LEXI
After standing up front to shake hands for what feels like hours, Grey and I are the last ones out of the church. The doors creak closed behind me, a final breath let out by the building like it’s relieved the funeral is over. Me too. My hands still shake a little from the speech I gave—not because I regret it but because the adrenaline hasn’t stopped buzzing through my veins.
People keep coming up to shake my hand, their expressions tight with grief but softened with something else. Approval? Acceptance? A few even give me half-smiles, like they believe what I said about change, about strength, about a future that looks different than what Franco would’ve allowed.
I clutch Grey’s hand tighter as we linger on the steps of the church, away from the crowd gathering around Vincenzo below. Up until now, the questions have all been about how he’s coping with the loss of his longtime friend and leader. Or what he thinks about my proposed changes for healing this city from corruption. I know because Andy has texted me updates and because those are all questions we fed the press through back channels.
I wasn’t here to witness his answers, but I can guess they’ve all been politician-smooth and egotistical. For once, I don’t even care what bullshit he’s fed them. The real show’s about to start. And for once, I’m not the one in the crosshairs.
Anxious, I scan the crowd and spot Andy near the news van parked at the curb. Our eyes meet, and I give the slightest nod. She says something to a guy standing on the outskirts of the crowd gathered. The cameraman from yesterday’s interview.
He responds and then heads over to where Savannah stands with the other reporters surrounding Vincenzo.
Mia appears at my other side. “Is it happening?” she whispers.
“Wait for it,” I murmur.
Off to the side, half a dozen of my pack enforcers, including Donahue and Camila, stand ready and waiting to take Vincenzo into custody. But not before he’s blindsided with exposure.
Savannah shoulders her way to the front. Her cameraman is rounding the fringes, his camera pointed at her and Vincenzo.
“Mr. Diavolo, can you comment on the financial records I received this morning linking you to illegal arms deals, including arming a rogue pack in the northeast for magical warfare last spring?” Savannah asks.
Before the funeral, Andy delivered a thick file to her that contained all the records necessary to expose Vincenzo for who he really is. Bank records. Names of the packs he’s sold to. Dates of the meetings. There’s even a written statement from a hex witch with data on the lethal ingredients in some of his weapons.
At her question, the crowd erupts with shocked demands and urgent questions of their own.
Vincenzo’s surprise is evident on his slack face.
My pulse jumps.
Here we go.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Vincenzo says, but they ignore his denials in favor of more questions.
“Can you tell us where you go for the money to fund production of this magnitude?” Savannah presses. “The bank records we obtained show no trail between your accounts and the production costs themselves. So, who paid for these weapons?”
“Did Franco know about this?” another reporter shouts.
“You hear that?” Dutch says under his breath, the corner of his mouth twitching. “That’s the sound of a man whose empire is falling.”
“Shhh,” I whisper, even as a grin tugs at my lips at the sight of Vincenzo’s obvious floundering. I can’t help it. It’s petty. It’s dangerous. It’s everything I’ve been waiting for.
