“Do you think I gave him a choice?” I don’t remember getting an invite. I heard Luca and Ashton were jetting to Vegas, and I joined them.
Rhys chuckles and steps aside, letting me pass him to head back to my seat. I glance at the empty leather chair beside Ashton, and while I consider stealing Rhys’s seat, I instead opt to sit by Ashton.
My bodyguard whispers to me as he walks back to his seat, “Your funeral.”
Rhy appears surprised I chose to sit beside Ashton.
We have history, and deep down, as much as I’m angry with Ashton for wanting this life, I still have feelings for him.
Dare I admit, I’m still in love with him.
Ten
Dante
I’m drowning, unable to come up for air, knowing my second, Moreno, is at death’s door. I want to be at his side, assure Paige that the doctors are doing everything in their power to save him, but my place is as leader.
Commanding my men.
The problem is, I still don’t know who I can trust.
I interrogated Matteo, who showed loyalty only to me, but that doesn’t prove he isn’t also loyal to the DeLuca family.
I could break knuckles, make a man bleed, but then he’d only tell me what I want to hear. Strapping him down and running a current of electricity through a man makes one talk, but all I get is babbling.
Matteo only has proven himself to work for me.
He didn’t so much as sweat at my interrogation. Like he either knew how to beat it or had nothing to fear. The problem is, which is the correct answer?
My methods are sound.
I’ve terrorized grown men, but Matteo, he is my interrogator. He knows my playbook, which makes my methods problematic. He’s not scared because he knows what he’s capable of enduring.
And he’s hiding something.
I can feel it like an itch under my skin that won’t go away, but he swears he hasn’t spoken to the DeLucas and had no idea of Nico’s involvement.
There’s not so much as a drop of sweat beading his forehead.
He’s calm.
Too calm, if you ask me.
Does he show no fear because he’s loyal, or because he doesn’t fear me?
I can’t tell.
I’ve either grown weak or everything that’s happened is clouding my judgment. And the last thing I need is for my men to recognize weakness for what it is and threaten my throne or my family.
Lifting the barrel of the gun, I see no other choice and pull the trigger.
He’s hiding something, and that’s enough of a guilty verdict for me today.
The men I know I can trust are limited to one hand: Moreno, who is fighting for his life, Rhys, who is guarding Nova, Luca, and Ashton.
Liam and Sophia may soon be added to that list, but it’s far too short when I have dozens of men on my payroll.
Cleaning house is in order.
