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But all I had known in my lifetime was violence, and though I hadn’t been expecting Cosimo to hand over the reins, now that I had them, I didn’t want to turn them loose.
After all, what else would I do with my life if I weren’t a Don? “I don’t get your meaning, Nico.”
He chuckled. “Of course you wouldn’t, because you think you know what you want. But you’re wrong. All I’m asking for you to do, Lucas, is to take a step back and see all you have gained. There’s more to life than this Mafia or titles. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way.”
“While I appreciate your honesty,” I told him, clearing my throat. “I want Adrian’s head on a platter. Nothing else will take the place of that.”
Nico had it all, but he had also made a name as a traitor among the other dons. I knew that he was happy with that, but without the Mafia, without my title, I didn’t have anything else to fall back on. Leda, well, she wasn’t going to be enough for me.
Nico eyed me before drawing a heavy breath. “Fine. You brought me to talk strategy. So let’s talk strategy.”
“I have information on Adrian,” I told Nico. “Information that other parties might be interested in. Right now, the other Dons aren’t willing to go after my properties because Adrian and I aren’t fighting yet. But if a third party, a third neutral party, starts going after Adrian’s properties… he might be willing to negotiate.”
Nico leaned back. He knew what I was talking about. This was why I needed him, because he was the only one that could rat Adrian out to the cops and leave my hands clean. It was the only way I could still take back the Mafia.
“I need him to come to me. I need for him to let his guard down and think that he’s won.” If I could meet him here, on my own terms, then I could take him out and reclaim the title and the Mafia.
“No.”
“No?” I asked. “Why the hell not?” It was a solid plan.
“Because,” Nico growled, his expression growing dark. “That puts my sister in harm’s way, and I will not let anything happen to her because of you.”
Well, hell. I hadn’t thought about Leda if I was able to get Adrian here. I had just assumed I would be able to hide her, to protect her from him, but what if I couldn’t? What if I did indeed put her in harm’s way?
“I can protect her,” I replied. I would rather die than have her hurt.
“With your life.”
It wasn’t a question but a demand, one that I could understand. “With my life.”
“Swear it.”
I stood, walking to the bar. “I swear it. No harm will come to her, not as long as I breathe.” Leda was just as important to me as my title. I had already proven that to her back at the auction house, when I had made the mistake of thinking I could give her up and walk away.
She was like an extension of me, much like the man seated in this study and his wife. I knew that Nico would do all he could to protect his family, and he had already shown that he was willing to give up everything in order to do so.
I wasn’t sure I could do the same, but Leda wouldn’t die because of my decisions. That much I could promise her brother.
***
Nico and Rory stayed half the day, and by the time they piled back into the car, headed for home, I was glad to see them go. “Well,” Leda said as she wrapped her arm around my waist. “That went well.”
I pulled her close, pressing my lips on top of her head. “Yeah, he didn’t shoot me. I would say that it was a success.”
Laughing, Leda turned in my arms, her eyes sparkling with happiness. This visit had been good for her. I had given her something that had made her happy. “Thank you, Lucas. You could have met Nico anywhere else, but bringing him here gave me a chance to show them that I am all right and that you didn’t have me chained to a bed somewhere.”
The image of her tied to the bed popped in my mind, and I pressed my body against hers. “Maybe not chains.”
Heat flared in her gaze. “You don’t know how much this meant to me.”
I bent down and brushed her lips with mine. “You’re welcome.” It made me feel good to know I had given her this day and the chance to reconnect with her brother. “I think we are going to get along.”
Her hand slid up my back, and I felt its heat even through my layers of clothing. “Well, I am going to thank you properly for this.”
“You are?”
She nodded, pulling away before I could do anything else. “Tomorrow night. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
