Page 78 of Fall Before Her Throne

OBI

My eyes scanned over ten years’ worth of notes, plans, favors collected, documentation, and blackmail. I organized all of it on my laptop, an entire plan laid out before me.

Phase one was in progress.

We were biting back against Greco—hitting his smuggling operations, fighting back on the streets, disallowing him from getting his claws into the city as much as we could. Sean Porter would hopefully do his job and create other roadblocks for Greco to slow him down.

I had Ciel focused on rebuilding our systems and keeping our location safe from Lucia Greco’s prying eyes and technology. His latest update tonight was promising—he had almost entirely rebuilt our systems, and they were stronger than ever. He was also working on a way to strike back at her using a breadcrumb trail she’d left behind in her attack.

Volpe was, so far, providing extremely helpful information about Greco’s men and organizational processes. We’d fed that to Giulio and our Italian forces. Two of our strikes today had been successful in taking out his men and destroying his resources.

Phase one was proceeding successfully. Phase two would begin shortly.

We were at war, and there would be no end in sight unless we took out Greco.

The problem was that he was as slippery as he was devious. Assassination wasn’t an option. I’d witnessed his extensive personal security detail, and it had likely only increased since I lived in Italy. With his resources in the political sphere, he could also escape the city or easily outmaneuver us. The entire reason I’d cultivated so many contacts was because I’d always known that assassinating him would not be possible.

I drummed my fingers on my desk. I needed to trap him. To catch him off guard and get close without him realizing it. To force him to let down his guard enough that our silent blade could strike.

There was an option. A path where we could spring a trap that he was guaranteed to walk into.

But it was too risky. And I wouldn’t do it.

Not unless there were no other choices.

A knock lifted my eyes to the door of my new study at the back of the house. Leona’s head peeked inside. She smiled when she saw me.

“Hey.” She walked over and leaned her hip against my desk.

I reached for her, dragging her onto my lap. Her legs spread over my thighs while she straddled me. “Did you have fun with Ryuji yesterday?”

I’d been dying to have her to myself since then, but there was never enough time. I had to snatch these precious moments while I could.

A blush colored her cheeks. “He pounced on me in the hallway. It’s not my fault.”

I smiled, leaning forward to capture her lips. “I enjoyed hearing you, though it was incredibly distracting.”

Her arms looped around my neck, and I deepened our kiss, though I didn’t rush it. Didn’t sweep my hand over the desk and spread her out on top of it, despite how much I wanted to. No, right now I wanted to take my time to consume her.

“Max saw us yesterday,” she mumbled. “In the hallway.”

“And? What did he do?”

“Watched.”

My lips paused on the column of her throat. “I’m surprised Ryu didn’t knife him.”

She laughed. “Same. I think Ryu was actually bragging instead. Showing off.”

“I’m not surprised at that.”

Her hand on my cheek paused my kisses while she gave me a shy look. “What about you, Obi? What do you think about Max?”

“Volpe is a tool we’re using.”

Her thumb drew down my lip, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. “Yeah. And is he being useful?”

“Useful enough to leave him alive.”