Page 205 of Fall Before Her Throne

“He won’t find out,” she said. “I’ve created a block between our Family’s communications. Once everything is in motion, our forces in the States won’t even be able to contact Italia, or vice versa. Each side will experience radio silence until I bring everything back online again.”

“Good,” I said. We didn’t have any other choice but to trust that she would come through. For a moment, I tried to put myself in her shoes. If it came down to my family or my computers, would I choose my computers? Or would I kill my family?

Fuck, there was absolutely no question. I’d choose my family every single time. I’d choose Leona and Wynn and my brothers, no matter what. Even if my parents were still alive, I’d still choose them over any of my systems.

My hand ached from where Lucia had stabbed it previously, but it was much less painful than the idea of losing them.

“Are you sure you can go through with this?” I asked quietly. “You’re killing your family.”

The line went quiet. I pulled the phone from my face to check if she’d hung up, but no. She was just silent.

“I’ve never had a family,” she eventually responded. Her voice wasn’t sad or angry. Just emotionless. It reminded me of the way Max spoke sometimes. “Not a real one. Only a job. Only someone telling me what to do. Only a legacy to live up to.”

With my free hand, I rubbed my eyes. I could understand that feeling of loneliness. Thank God Obi had found me and brought me into the Shadows. Without them, I’d be empty. I got the impression that was how Lucia felt.

Even though we’d been enemies for a long time, a part of me felt sad for her.

“What are you going to do once there is no Camorra for you to work for?”

Her voice went contemplative. “Whatever I want. Finalmente.”

For a second, I thought of Leona. She wanted to lead. She wanted more than what her life had told her she could have. She wanted her own version of freedom and purpose. She stayed in New York instead of running away because she wanted to create something new—something that gave her a place to belong and thrive. We were fucking lucky she’d chosen us to help her do it.

But what did Lucia want? Did she want more than what life had told her she could have?

“You know, Lucia, if you were in charge of your family’s organization, you could do whatever you wanted.” I leaned back against the wall. “You could take your grandfather’s place. Assuming, of course, you agree to never come after us.”

We were killing all of Greco’s heirs so that no one could pursue revenge. Obi had wanted to take Greco’s place, but…something about that didn’t ring right with me. I didn’t think Leona wanted that either. If it came down to it, would Obi let Lucia take over instead?

“Bah, the men here would not serve me,” she explained. “There is no respect for women within my grandfather’s organization.”

“It wouldn’t be his anymore. It would be yours. There would be respect, or there would be death. That is how Leona handles men who don’t take her seriously.”

“Non lo so,” she said quietly. I don’t know.

“Think about it,” I offered. “Maybe the world you live in has been designed from the beginning to keep you out of it. Just like Leona. But she carved her own place. If you were in charge of the design, you could build a different world.”

“But don’t the Shadows want to take control?” she asked. “I thought the deal was that I do this, you step into my grandfather’s power. I just thought you’d let me live.”

Maybe I was fucking up Obi’s plans, but he’d also been changing. The version of him from a year ago would have wanted complete domination and control. Now, I wasn’t so sure. I didn’t think Leona wanted that for him or for us.

“The Shadows want our peace in our world, not yours,” I said carefully. “But when we win this war, we will be on the lookout for powerful allies that could help us keep that peace. If you had the opportunity, would you take it?”

It took five seconds before she spoke. “Yes.”

I smiled. “Give us proof tonight, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“I’ll call you on this number in eight hours.”

“Done.”

When the line went dead, I dropped the phone onto the cot. She had eight hours to come through for us. I pounded my fist on the wall behind me. A simple beat. Easily recognizable. When Obi heard the signal, he’d know we could proceed.

Eight hours, and everything would be over.

67

LEONA