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My heart started thundering again. Of course, he would have imposed conditions.
“He ensures my daughter, Isabelle Leone, is suitably cared for and protected. My brother, Elio Barbieri, will continue to hold the position of consigliere. Alessio has one year from the date of my death to become King of Italy, gaining allegiance of all families under the Barbieri name. In the event of his death or if he fails to do so, he shall be stripped of his position and the empire shall fall to the underboss, Dante Barbieri.”
Dante’s twisted grin widened as he stared at my blank expression. FUCK! My gaze moved to Fabi in an attempt to stay calm. He held it with understanding. They had backed me into a corner. Again. I was now in control, but really it was just a facade. Until I had the North, I had no real power. And now, Elio and Dante would do everything they could to stop me from being successful. And let’s face it… we all knew what stripped really meant.
I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my stubbled chin, the Barbieri ring brushing against my skin, as Pietro placed the will down in front of me with a pen. My brain was frantically trying to think of a way around this. A loophole or any plan to stop the inevitable from happening. But until I officially became Boss, there was nothing I could do.
I picked up the pen as I glanced over at Elio and then Dante. They were both watching me with interest, wondering how I was going to handle this. So, I did what I knew they weren’t expecting. I signed the document without saying a word.
The room remained silent, all eyes on me as the lawyers talked me through the transfer documents and contracts to sign over all of my papi’s empire to my name. I read through them all diligently, taking in every clause and fine print to check for any surprises, but it was all as expected. Once again, I signed them all without a word or objection. When it was done, I stood up and shook the lawyer’s hands before walking them out to the door of the board room.
As soon as they were gone, I turned back to the three men remaining. Dante couldn’t hide the malicious smirk as I approached the table and placed my hands on the back of one of the chairs. Elio was studying me more cautiously and Fabi was scowling at them with his arms folded over his chest.
“So that was the plan all along?” I lifted my head to stare between Elio and Dante.
“Dante is rightfully next in line. As it was stated in the will, that decision is out of your hands,” Elio said calmly as I looked across at Fabi and smiled, shaking my head in disbelief.
“I guess that is true,” I glanced back at them, my eyes sparkling with excitement as the realisation dawned on me that there was a fucking loophole. “How is your arm, Dante?”
His eyes narrowed as Elio’s widened.
“There is nothing wrong with my arm,” he growled.
“Really? I would have thought after being shot you would at least have a scar?”
His nostrils flared as he stared into my eyes, realising I somehow knew everything.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he gritted through his teeth.
“I thought you might have trouble remembering. Let me jog your memory… Giovanni Buccini shot you. In the arm. Outside the warehouse where you had instructed Isabelle to hold Elenora hostage so you could kidnap her and take her to Galiz. Two of your own men were inside with her. Which means… Not only did you order the unjust murder of one of our men, Stefano, but you also went behind the Boss’ back and created an alliance with an enemy of the family in order to support you. All of which is punishable by death. Let me guess. Galiz was going to take me out for you? Keep your hands clean so you could take over as Boss without any suspicion?”
His jaw ticked as his hands clasped into fists on the table. Elio leaned forward, sudden panic on his face as he stared up at me.
“Alessio, you have no idea what you are talking about here. Yes, Dante was going to take Elenora to Galiz, but he was only following the orders of Diego. Diego made an alliance with Galiz after the fuck up in Greece.”
I smiled. If I hadn’t already thought ahead and made sure I had the entire story, I may have believed that. But only a few hours ago, I had spoken to Galiz himself. I apologised to him through clenched teeth for my behaviour in Greece, pinning it all on my Papi’s expectations of me. I told him I would love to be in partnership with him now my Papi had died. Of course, it was all bullshit. Under no circumstances would I ever work with that fucker and Elle would never be anywhere near him again. But that was a problem to deal with later. I sent him my investments while I was on the phone with him to gain his trust and he told me that Dante and Elio had reached out to him behind Diego’s back.
“For a very intelligent man, Elio, you made two very stupid mistakes,” I smirked as he frowned. “The first was underestimating me. And the second was believing a man like Galiz has any loyalty to anyone.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Dante snapped, losing his patience. He didn’t have the brain capacity for riddles.
“You are looking at Galiz’s new business partner.”
Dante and Elio stared at each other as Elio gulped. Fabi chuckled from next to me.
“Since when?”
“Since this morning. When he told me all about your double-crossing. Not really the loyalty we look for in an underboss, no?”
Dante stood up abruptly, shoving his finger across the table in my direction. “You want to talk about loyalty? You put a Buccini whore before Barbieri blood! How’s that for loyalty? Oh but wait, why would you when you aren’t even a fucking BARBIERI!”
Fabi frowned and looked up at me in confusion as I stared Dante down. I could no longer smile. No longer hide my intolerance for him. My cold, callous mask appeared on my face as I stepped around the table towards him.
“Are you going to deny it?” Dante roared as Elio stood up, grabbing his shoulder to calm him.
“I think you’re a little confused, Dante. Or maybe you have finally lost it. It was only a matter of time,” I spoke with icy calmness as I passed Fabi’s chair and came face to face with his furious expression. He shook Elio off his shoulder and stepped up to me, our noses touching. I could see all the pure hate and jealousy in his eyes as he glared into mine.
“You think you are so much better than me, don’t you?” he hissed.
