Page 146 of The Beast Who Begged Me

“The Giulianos still have a great deal to answer for,” Luca says.

“We’re in agreement there.”

“They’ll pay. And the Bratva will regroup, of course. King was useful, but he wasn’t indispensable.”

“There’ll be someone waiting for his job.”

“There always is.” He sets a bishop in its place. “The Commission will deal with it together. Speaking of which, I’d like to offer you a seat on the Commission.”

I look up, startled now. This is one outcome I truly didn’t expect. “Don Morelli, I⁠—”

“I’m asking you as Luca. And I still need to speak to Sal and Joe about it. But they usually agree to my proposals.”

A smirk twists my mouth as I try to hide it. “I bet they do,” I say after a moment. “I appreciate the offer, Luca. But I still have a lot to learn.”

“You kept your people together when everyone expected your Family to disappear. I’d like that judgment at the table.” He sits back. “And if you have more to learn, you might as well learn from the best.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Or have my judgment molded to your liking.”

He gives a little shrug. “Would that be so bad?”

Luca D’Amato as mentor? I’d be a fool to turn it down. So of course I’m going to take up the offer. But I want to make sure which strings are attached.

“I need to do what’s best for my people,” I tell him. “Sometimes that means I’ll disagree with you.”

“Sometimes Sal and Joe disagree with me. I expect it. Encourage it, even.”

“And do they ever get you to change your mind?”

He smiles. “Sometimes.”

Sometimes is better than never, I suppose. My grandfather would never change his mind. Saw it as a sign of weakness. He never understood that true strength is the ability to put aside ego and obstinacy when presented with new evidence.

I don’t want to be like my grandfather. I want to be me.

“Alright, Luca,” I say. “If Sal and Joe agree, I’d be honored to join the Commission.”

He looks at me across the newly cleared center of the board. “I’m glad to know I made the right choice about you. Although I have to admit, Finch’s insistence was a large part of it.”

“Then I owe him my thanks.”

“You don’t owe him anything.” He gives me a serious look as he puts the last pawn in place, then sits back to inspect the ranks. “I hope that’s how you see it, too.”

I nod, slowly. “I consider us square.” At some point, the cycle has to stop.

“New game?” Luca asks.

The open squares look tempting. I almost reach out for a pawn. But that can wait. “Next time,” I say.

“Next time,” he agrees.

We head down to the kitchen, where Aidan has a large pile of bills in front of him. “You really are a shark,” Dami grumbles, and Aidan’s cheeks flush with pleasure.

“It all goes to our charity,” he assures Dami.

Finch glances up at me. “You should come for dinner sometime,” he says.

“I’d like that,” I say.