Page 39 of The One
“Wait,” she calls after me, her tone pleading. “I don’t even know your name. Please, what’s your name?”
But I don’t stop again, rushing through the door.
What have I done?
I revealed things to her I don’t think she was meant to know.
Merda.
The heavy door falls shut behind me, and I hear the locks clicking into place.
I really shouldn’t have talked to her. While I didn’t say it outright, I’m sure she’s pieced her father’s fate together.
What will that do to her? It’s obvious she’s been clinging to the hope that he’d come for her, that he’d save her somehow.
Now what?
I’ve just shattered the only thing keeping her going.
What happens to someone when the last thread of hope dissolves?
And what will happen to me when the Don finds out I was the one who let it slip?
Chapter Fourteen
Mateo
We’ve spent the entire day holed up in our club here in Rome, sitting down with our capos and hammering out strategies to integrate the new territories. Problems are popping up in every corner.
The biggest issue? We’ve got a lot of new people under our control who aren’t exactly thrilled about being absorbed into our operation.
For the most part, the men we’ve brought in are pragmatic. They care more about their paycheck than loyalty and will switch sides without too much fuss. But there are always a few loyalists who stir up trouble. Ironically, I respect them the most.
Sabotage has practically become routine. Figuring out who we can trust, running deep background checks on everyone, it eats up time and resources.
Every day is a gamble, trying to weed out the snakes from the grass before they bite. But no matter how thorough we are, there’s always the sense that something important, somewhere, is slipping through the cracks.
Tiero’s ruthless, take-no-prisoners approach is spreading fear like wildfire among anyone who dares stand against us. And while it’s brutal, fear has a way of getting people in line. It’s a powerful motivator, pushing them to think twice before stepping out of bounds.
But fear alone doesn’t build loyalty, and that’s what we need in the long run. But it takes time.
Since Tiero took over eight years ago, he’s made it his mission to foster a sense of community among our ranks.
It’s simple. Stay loyal, and we protect you. Betray us, and the consequences won’t end with you. Your entire family will bear the weight of it, or the blade.
That’s the message, clear as day. Fear may keep them in line for now, but loyalty is what will hold everything together.
“Why do you keep staring at that waitress?” I ask Rom after the last of our meetings has wrapped up, and Tiero and Santino are deep in conversation.
The club staff arrived about half an hour ago to set up for tonight, and I’ve noticed Romeo’s focus drifting more than once to a cute brunette across the room. She’s not his usual type at all, which makes it even more curious.
“She looks really familiar.”
“Probably because you fucked her.”
“No. I’d remember that. She reminds me of someone I grew up with. But it couldn’t be her, could it? She’d never…” He doesn’t finish the sentence and gets a far-away look on his face.
Fascinated, I watch him as he seems to dissect the girl’s every move. Then my attention shifts to my brother. His eyes are locked on Santino’s phone, and even with his face like stone, I sense the fury rolling off him in waves. Whatever he’s seen has him ready to explode.
