Page 81 of No Darker Temptation

“You’re still just a kid. Ten years from now, you’ll understand what I’m telling you. There are eleven other families sitting at this table,” I tell them. “Each one of which is filled with fathers, mothers, children. All of whom would’ve suffered catastrophic losses if Roberto Garcia’s plans with the SVA had come to fruition. On a humane level, I’m sorry you lost your father. But as a businessman, I can tell you I’d do it again and not lose a wink of sleep over it.”

Don Enrique jumps in before a heated Beto can say something he’ll regret. “All the more reason we need to find a permanent solution to this problem.”

“I believe I have one.”

It’s the first time Sandro’s spoken since the meeting commenced.

Despite his injuries, he sits back in his seat with a confidence and self-assuredness that makes me want to break his nose all over again. Regina doesn’t have a seat at the table but like the very rare and very few people whose voice hold wait in a room like this, she stands at a place of honor at his right side, eyes vigilant as they trail across the room. They land on me for a moment before looking away.

“We were at peace before Don Alejandro pulled out of his family’s legitimization. I say we fully legitimize his family’s operation and divide what’s left of his enterprise amongst the rest of us.”

“Over my dead fucking body.”

Sandro’s eyes are cool and black when they look at me. Like the night sky over Antarctica. “Such animosity.”

“Last year I was abundantly clear on why that wasn’t going to happen. No one was satisfied⁠—”

“Perhaps it was because you were giving them what you wanted to give them and not what they were entitled to."

I squeeze my hands into fists and crack each knuckle, counting down the seconds until my temper cools. “What do you suggest?”

“The businesses that cannot be legitimized should either be dissolved or sold off to whatever family places the highest bid. We’ll keep it fair, keep it business centric,” he says diplomatically, while a few families at the table consider his offer with furrowed brows and glasses of bourbon lifted to their lips. “Whatever land cannot be successfully divided between your neighboring families will remain neutral. God knows the city desperately needs some untouched territories.”

“And the ports?” I ask.

At that, he smiles. “I’m willing to accept the ports. In exchange, I’ll forfeit my place at the bidding table as well as any claim to territory straddling my border.”

“You are one stupid son of a bitch if you think I’m going to hand over my family’s port access to you. Why the fuck do you need sea access if your narcotics are getting flown in from Galicia?”

He gives a light shrug. “Planes are so fickle. So much security at airports.”

“Absolutely not⁠—”

Don Alfonso Torres speaks up. “I believe there’s some validity to this offer. We can work from here. After all Don Lisandro had always planned on taking the family legitimate. I don’t see why we can’t work to help his son realize this dream.”

Don Rubin Caceres interrupts. “Have you lost your mind? If Don Alejandro gives up his territory, it won’t remain neutral for long. The Maslovs and Belovs have been trying to establish themselves here for the better part of the last five years. Do we really want a Russian presence in such an important part of the city?”

“Not to mention a bidding war over the remaining enterprises would turn hostile.” Don Cayetano Arroyo rolls his eyes. “And quickly.”

The room descends into chaos, voices traveling back and forth trying to negotiate the fate of a family that belongs to me. Diego comes up behind me and whispers, “We’re going to lose our control over them.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

“Tell them. Tell them what happened last summer.”

I look back at him. “Are you insane? I can’t. I don’t have any proof⁠—”

“Just do it. Trust me. Sandro won’t know what hit him.”

Diego’s clearly planning something—I can see it in his eyes. And since my brother’s counsel has never led me astray before, I take the leap of faith.

“Unfortunately, we aren’t going to reach a peace negotiation today.”

My voice carries across the room and a slow silence descends upon the table. I rise from my seat, wincing internally at the pain in my chest, but doing well to conceal it.

“Instead, I would like to take the opportunity to launch a formal investigation into Don Sandro Sandoval. Seeing as how he tried to kill me twice last summer and both those attempts failed.”

The room bursts into frenzied conversation and debate but I don’t hear a word anyone says. I’m too focused on the horrified expression on Sandro’s face. Relishing in the sight of fury mixed with absolute fear and apprehension. Even Regina standing beside him loses all color in her cheeks.