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“Didn’t think you’d come in person,” I say to him. Then it hits me. “You think Black will attack the moment I announce my position formally.”
He shrugs. “It’s important we show unity.”
I nod. Unity is exactly what we need now. A show of strength against anyone who would challenge us.
With that in mind, I walk into the study where my uncle formed the Gianni crime family. Matteo stands to my right and Alex to my left as I inform these deadly and dangerous men that, from this moment on, they are under my order.
“If you have a problem with it, tell me now. Don’t wait to do it behind my back or you’ll be seen as a traitor and killed as one.” I scan the faces of everyone present, searching for any form of dissent. There is none.
One by one, the men give me their oath of allegiance. Swearing their lives to me and to the family. In return, I give them my promise to make us powerful once again. To thrive and let the world know the Giannis are a force to be reckoned with.
Over their heads, the portrait of Uncle Francesco hangs, watching with scrutiny.
I have no idea what he thinks of me. Everything I’ve done has been out of loyalty to him and the Giannis. Even when I killed his son, it was for the preservation of the empire he built.
But it doesn’t matter. Francesco’s ghost no longer has a say in Gianni business, because now, I am king.
The meeting goes on for hours. There’s much to discuss when there’s a transfer of power. Who remains in what position, what new alliances we will create. How we plan to defeat our enemies.
“Joaquin managed to amass a large number of problems. But right now, our biggest threat is Gideon Black,” I say. “Taking him out will be our priority. That means you will be seeing much more of the Sinacores. Any attack against them will be seen as an attack on me.”
“The same goes for my men,” Luca says. “Any previous beef with the Giannis is to be put on hold until the fucker is dead.”
After the meeting, several men remain scattered around the house, using it as their base. It was this way when Francesco was alive and it’s good to see it like this again.
“It’s time for us to go,” Luca tells me. “But I’m leaving a few of my men at different posts surrounding Jersey City for a few days. In case Black gets bold.”
I nod. “I’m sure he will. My soldiers will be on high alert.”
As I’m walking him out, Sylvia pulls under the portico in the red Mercedes SL Roadster I gifted her last year. With the top down, I’m able to get a clear view of her proud smile as she drives in.
She exits the car and comes to me, the scent of vanilla musk preceding her. “Noah. You did it.” She hugs me. “Francesco would approve.”
I offer her a smile. “Why don’t you go inside? I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Glancing between Luca and me, she nods and goes into the house. When she’s out of earshot, I turn to him.
“You have a man who can get information,” I say. “Hacks systems.”
“Kyle,” he says. “Do you need him?”
“Is he good enough to hack a hacker?”
His brows pinch together. “He can.”
“Can he be trusted?”
“Implicitly.”
“I’d like him to access footage that was acquired for me, but I suspect it was tampered with before I received it.” I’m not sure why I tell him. What it is in the back of my mind that suddenly comes to the forefront to make me doubt one of my own.
“You don’t trust your source?”
“No,” I say, finally admitting what I’ve been thinking for weeks. “And I can’t wait any longer for that information.”
“I’ll get you in touch with him.”
“Thank you.”
