Page 301 of Legacy
Adriana shifts beside me, clearing her throat.
“You want to sendallof you?” she asks. “Including my husband?AndSanto?”
Maksim’s eyes snap to her, the softness gone. My hand grips the edge of the chair. He better choose his next words carefully.
“Your husband’s the Don. Why would he sit at home? To babysit you?” he smirks, but there’s a flicker in his gaze, a hesitation.
“Heisthe Don,” she says coolly, “which is exactly why he’s important. Not to babysit me, Korsakov, but because if he, his consigliere,” she gestures to Nico against the wall, “and his underboss all walk into a half-cocked ambush and die—then what?”
This is what they don’t get. She’s not just a lawyer or a pawn in some alliance, she’s a queen. And they’re lucky she’s on our side.
Maksim’s jaw ticks, knuckles whitening on the table, and for a breath, he looks like he might explode.
“You don’t have much faith in your husband, Castillo,” he spits.
“It’s Amato,” she corrects, voice a whip. “And I have all the faith in the world. But we’re not willing to risk Cosa Nostra the way you’re willing to gamble the Bratva.”
For a moment, silence stretches. Maksim’s eyes flick to her, and for just a heartbeat, something like reluctant respect flickers there.
“She’s right,” Vaska mutters, breaking the tension. “We need to be smart, not sloppy.”
Maksim’s jaw flexes, but he leans back, drumming his fingers against the table, eyes narrowing at Adriana.
“Alliance or not,” Adriana says, steady and sharp, “the preservation of Cosa Nostra comes first. We need a better plan; or we’re out.”
Maksim smirks. “Or you’reout?”
“Yes,” she says firmly. “You’re underestimating the Armenians. Everyone has a failsafe; and I guarantee they have theirs.”
Santo hums, brushing crumbs from Vasilisa’s lap as she adds calmly, “She’s right. We don’t need all our forces. We need the right ones. Diversion. Containment. Eyes first. Then fire.”
Maksim’s smirk falters.
“So the women speak for us now?” he scoffs.
A voice cuts through the room as the doors swing open.
“Women tend to be right. At least in my household.”
Luciano Castillo.
Adriana’s head snaps toward him. “Hermano,” she startles.
He grins. “Hermanita. Good to see you at the helm—right where you belong.”
Maksim curses under his breath. His men shift, tension spiking.
“What the hell are you doing here, Castillo?” Maksim snarl.
Luciano chuckles, low and dark. “I was settling business. But I’m part of this alliance, aren’t I?”
“Thought you didn’t want in on the war,” I say, eyes narrowing.
Luciano meets my gaze, unblinking. “I didn’t. But when it comes to my bloodline…” His eyes drift to Adriana, softening for a moment. “If my sister needs me—I’m here.”
Good.
When I called the bastard about sending men to guard Adriana while I go into this war, he hung up on me. Glad the fucker changed his mind.
