Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
This wasn’t about a single hit or loss. This was about pressure and forcing movement. It was about backing us into a corner where every response came with a cost.
“They’re pushing for war,” Viktor said.
“They’re preparing for it,” Father corrected. “That’s not the same thing.”
“It becomes the same thing if we respond the wrong way,” I added.
My father’s gaze flicked between us before settling back on me. “And what would you consider the wrong way?”
“Retaliation without control,” I said without hesitation. “If we strike back immediately, we give them exactly what they want. Escalation followed by justification. They’ll have a reason to turn this into something bigger.”
“And if we don’t respond?” Viktor asked, the bloodlust thick in my uncle’s voice.
“They keep pushing,” Father said.
“Yes,” I said. “They do, and then it’s an all-out fucking bloodbath.”
That was the problem because every option moved us closer to the same place. War.
My father quieted for a moment, his fingers tapping once against the table before going still again. When he spoke, his voice was calm, measured, and decisive.
“We can’t afford a war with the ‘Ndrangheta,” he said.
A murmur of agreement filled the room.
My father’s gaze moved to me again, sharp and deliberate, and I knew before he even said it what direction he was taking… how to diffuse this before too many ended up dead with no real solution.
“We don’t escalate,” he said. “We control the situation before it forces our hand.”
“And what the hell does that mean?” Viktor asked, frustration creeping into his tone.
I exhaled slowly, working through it, already seeing where this was going before he put words to it. “You want proximity,” I said.
His attention sharpened, and he nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“Not peace,” I stated. “Access.”
“Control,” he corrected.
“Through them,” I said.
“Through us,” he replied with a smirk.
The distinction didn’t matter because the outcome was what mattered.
Viktor leaned forward slightly, his expression hard. “You’re talking about aligning with the same family that just tried to cripple one of our primary operations?”
My father’s gaze sharpened on his brother, silently reminding him who was in charge. “I’m talking about preventing this from turning into something that costs us more than our supply and distribution,” he said.
“And how exactly do you expect to secure that kind of alignment?” Viktor asked, though there was already a shift in his tone, like he was starting to see it, too.
My father didn’t hesitate in his response. “We bind the families together.”
The words settled heavily in the room. They carried weight that couldn’t be ignored once they were spoken.
Viktor let out a low curse under his breath, and the other men in the room shifted under the weight of that proclamation.
My father leaned back in his seat, his expression unreadable now, but there was tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there before.
“You’re serious,” Viktor finally said.
“I don’t speak lightly about things like this.”
“No,” Viktor said. “I know you don’t. I’m just shocked this is the route you’re going, even if I can see the benefit.” He ran a hand over his jaw, contemplating. “But if they suspect we are trying to gain the upper hand, if they see this as some kind of setup?” He continued, “They could use this to get closer and finish what they started.”
“Then we’ll be close enough to see it before it happens,” my father said. “And close enough to end it.” His gaze shifted to me. “I don’t have to ask your thoughts. I know you’re on board.”
I nodded. “Always. Do you think they’ll agree to it?”
“They will,” my father responded and went back to tapping his fingers on the tabletop. “They know they’re not ready for full-scale war. This benefits both families.”
This gave us time to watch and see, and allowed us time to decide whether this would become something contained or something that burned everything down with it.
“And who exactly do you plan on offering?” Viktor asked, though the answer was already sitting in the room.
My father didn’t look away from me when he spoke. “Alexei. Anyone else would be an insult.”
I held his gaze, letting the weight of it settle without letting it show on my face.
“What makes you think they’ll offer someone worth that kind of exchange?” Viktor asked.
“They will,” my father said. “They understand exactly what this is. A deal that benefits both sides.”
“Who are you thinking?” I asked finally.
My father didn’t hesitate. “Lucia Rossi.”
Her name settled in the room. The daughter of the head of the ‘Ndrangheta crime family was a valuable asset.
I held his gaze, letting that reality sit where it needed to. This wasn’t about whether I agreed or not. It never was when it came to decisions like this. This was about leverage and control.
“A marriage won’t stop what they’ve already started,” I said, my voice even, not challenging, just stating the truth of it.