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Everyone seemed surprised by that information, including myself.
The door to the study opened again and Louie strolled in. “Don’t mind me,” he said with a charming grin as he took note of everyone, even Nicoli’s goons. He walked all the way across the room to stand behind me up against the wall.
“Tell me why you asked for this alliance, Maura?” Nicoli asked, even though he knew the answer. He just wanted me to admit the vulnerability out loud.
I took another pull from my joint before I answered. “Because I could use your help. Not everyone is going to support me in power and others will underestimate me all because I am a woman. I would prefer to not have to kill a shit ton of people and having your support would help with that, but I will if I have to. Just by looking at me you can see that I’ve already started.”
Nicoli was quiet as he pondered. “An alliance formed by trust and friendship.”
“Normally, alliances are secured by marriage,” Ivano said.
I understood his need for more reassurance when it came to this alliance, but baby De Luca was poking at a topic I did not care for. “I can’t marry Nicky. For one, there isn’t enough room in my bed. And two, I can’t have children.” I made my voice as nonchalant as possible. “Nicky wouldn’t be able to have little heirs to take over for him one day, and if he stepped out on me…well, I do have the nickname The Castrator for a reason.”
Ivano’s eyes flicked to Brenna. She noticed and went completely still.
Before Ivano could even suggest it, I spoke. “No.” With one word, I made myself very clear that I would not even consider it.
Ivano raised his hands up slightly in surrender.
“Out of friendship and because I trust you, I’ll agree to the alliance,” Nicoli finally said. “But under the condition that you won’t step down if you find Stefan and he doesn’t agree to honor the alliance.”
That was a lot of faith he was granting me. As his friend, I wouldn’t let him regret it. “I give you my word as a Quinn,” I said, and thus, our alliance was formed.
“We should discuss terms,” Ivano suggested.
I gave him a dry look. “You don’t have any friends, huh?”
Brenna coughed to cover up her need to laugh.
I sighed and opened one of the desk’s drawers. I found a pen and paper. “Rule number one,” I said out loud as I wrote. “Don’t be a dick. I feel like if this alliance is going to work, that’s really important.” I looked up at Nicoli, who was grinning. “Would you like to add anything?”
“No killing each other,” he suggested.
“That sort of falls under the ‘don’t be a dick’ clause, but I’ll add it anyway,” I said and wrote it down.
We spent a good hour discussing the terms. Some were serious and some were funny, especially when I had Brenna help me hand out drinks. About halfway through our discussion, Conor and Rourke showed up. Conor was tense at first, but after we poured him a drink, he relaxed a little.
“To make sure news of the alliance spreads quickly, Nicoli should join you when you visit the Underground,” Conor suggested.
“I’ve heard of the Underground. It’s run by the Bratva, isn’t it?” Nicoli asked.
I nodded. “I was planning on going tomorrow night.”
“I have business to attend to tomorrow night. Why don’t we go tonight?” Nicoli suggested.
My eyes traveled to Brenna. She was already staring at me. “It’s fine, Maura.”
Nicoli looked from me to her and back. “Did you have something planned?”
“Today is my birthday,” Brenna told him.
Nicoli’s brows rose. “Happy birthday.”
“The baby in the family isn’t a baby anymore,” Rourke said, teasing Brenna.
After we filled a whole page of terms, Nicoli and I signed it. “Would you like me to make you a laminated copy?” I asked him.
He smiled. “Sure,” he replied as he, Dario, and Ivano stood to leave. We had made a plan to meet back here tonight before heading to the Underground together.
