Page 57 of Betrayed By Sin
Bria grins at me like I just handed her ammunition. “Exactly. But let’s be real, he doesn’t want my brother in the room because he knows Sin would eat him alive.”
Cameron’s glare sharpens. “Your brother doesn’t scare me.”
“He should,” Bria fires back without hesitation.
“Stop,” my mother says softly, setting her coffee down. “Please. This isn’t about who can shout the loudest.” She looks at me, her expression warm but firm. “Magnolia, things are fragile. We’ve rebuilt so much, but one wrong move could undo it all. Tensions…” she adds gently.
A polished word forwe’re standing on a fault line.
Cameron leans forward, elbows on the desk. “The alliances we make now, who we trust, who we don’t, will shape everything going forward. And whether I like it or not, the Donati’s are part of that equation.”
I glance at Bria, who leans into my space like she’s ready to fight for me if she has to. Her presence steadies me.
“So, you’re admitting you need them,” I say.
“I’m admitting,” Cameron replies tightly, “that if we fail, we’ll be alone. And alone means vulnerable. Bria is here so we can talk about the future.”
Bria scoffs. “The future, huh? You keep circling that word like it means something. What are you actually hiding?”
“Pieces are moving,” Cameron says, evasive. “Things have come to light. I’m not ready to say more.”
“Not ready,” Bria repeats, mocking. “Or you just don’t trust me.”
Cameron leans back, unflinching. “I don’t trust anyone.”
Bria’s shoulders tighten, but I lay a hand over hers under the table. She glances at me, her anger softening for just a second.
I face Cameron. “If you brought us here to dance around the truth, then don’t expect loyalty. Not from me. Not from her.”
Cameron studies me, like he doesn’t know whether to be impressed or frustrated.
“You both know the history,” Mom says, looking at me, then Bria, then Cameron. She’s demanding our attention, and I hope she gives more answers than Cam. “The death’s we’ve endured at each other’s hands. We’ve been at war ever since. A blood feud, each scarred by the other’s loss.”
Bria’s jaw tightens. “And you invited me here to remind me that you murdered my mother?”
I reach for her hand, squeeze it lightly. “Bria-”
“Should we cancel tomorrows party?” Mom ask Cameron.
“No,” he shakes his head, “We need the unity, the togetherness, now more than ever.”
Cameron steps towards us, voice low and sharp. “You’re here because things are changing.”
Maria raises a hand, stilling him. She looks at Bria with something I can’t name, a mixture of pleading and protection. “Because something worse is coming. A third power. A gang that doesn’t care about Donati or Rusco. They only care about taking what we’ve bled to keep.”
I swallow hard. “Who?”
Maria shakes her head. “The Nero Syndicate. They’ve been buying men, businesses, corners of this city we thought were untouchable. If they grow, if we stay divided, they’ll crush us both.”
Bria laughs, bitter and sharp. “So suddenly we’re supposed to play nice? After decades of war?”
Cameron pushes off the desk, voice like stone. “It’s not about nice. It’s about survival. If the Syndicate takes this city, neither of our families will have a name left.”
Bria glares at him. “Or maybe you just want to use us. Put Donati blood in front of your enemies while you stay comfortable.”
I glance at Cameron, warning in my eyes. “Cam. Don’t.”
Bria doesn’t back down. “And why drag me here first? Why not Sin?”
