Page 80 of All the Dangerous Things

“Desolation is evolving, altering. The Ruin doesn’t have the power it once did, not with how things have already changed ever since the Russians took control after they slaughtered their father. But we need a new order that understands the importance of expansion and wants to stick to the way it was back in the day. We need to bring back tradition.” I leaned forward and grinned. “We are the future.”

Elias smirked, setting his glass down. “Control. Influence. And the chance to mold Desolation into ahub that serves both our interests is what I want. It’s what we both want.”

I nodded and finished off my drink.

“Πρ?πει να φ?με αυτο?ς στην κορυφ?. Μετα θα μπουν ?λοι στη θ?ση τους.”We need to take out the ones at the top. After that, they’ll all fall into line.

I nodded again after Elias spoke.

“Anyone in our way is expendable. We’ll take them all out and rebuild with the perfect army that no one and nothing can stop. We’ll be a fucking superpower.”

Elias nodded slowly, considering my words. “You've thought this through. I’ll give you that. But you know the Bratva will retaliate, and when Dmitry and Nikolai find out what’s going on and who’s behind it, they’ll bring the hammer down.”

I shrugged. “They will, no doubt. But by the time they realize the extent of our plans, it will be too late for them to do any real damage. Once it’s all said and done, we’ll be untouchable.”

“They’ll have no choice but to give in or fall like the rest of them.”

“Esatto.”Exactly.

A silence settled over the table. Finally, he nodded and grinned. “Let’s tear down Desolation and rebuild that motherfucker.”

We both knew this was just the beginning. Desolation was about to undergo an even bigger change than what it’d been going through the past several years, and we were the ones who were going to fuck it all up.

“Μη με απογοητε?εις, Κ?ρμαιν. Μια συμμαχ?α μεταξ? μας θα μας κ?νει και τους δ?ο πολ? ισχυρο?ς ?νδρες.”Don’t let me down, Carmine. An alliance together will make both of us very powerful men.

I never let anyone talk to me like that, to act like they had more dominion than I did. But Elias needed to think he had a semblance of control. It would be easier for him to fall into line and obey at the end of this.

Because the truth was, when my plan finally came to fruition, I would be the only one at the top.

“?ρθε η ?ρα να δουμε τον κ?σμο να κ?ιγεται γ?ρω μας.”It’s time to watch the world burn down around us.

I grinned and replied back in Greek, “Και μετ? θα το ξαναχτ?σουμε ?πως ακριβ?ς γαμημ?να θ?λουμε.”And then we’ll rebuild it exactly how we fucking want.

33

TATIANA

It had been two weeks since everything had gone down in the locker room at Butcher and Son, and to say I was surprised things had been normal… was an understatement.

I didn’t know what Gio and my brothers talked about after the blowout, but they hadn’t killed each other, so whatever understanding they’d come to had definitely made my life easier.

I didn’t have to worry about sneaking around behind their backs. I didn't have to lie to them anymore. They might not accept—probably never would, if I were being honest—me being with Gio, but the fact of the matter was, they didn’t have a choice.

Because I was with him—in love with Gio—and nothing and no one would change that.

I glanced over at the man in question, who sat right beside me in his private plane.

The hum of the jet engines was a soothing rumble that filled my ears. I shifted on the buttery-soft leather seat, inhaling deeply and catching the dark, spicy undertones of Gio’s cologne.

He glanced at me, his bright blue eyes a stark contrast to his tan skin and black hair. “So beautiful,” he murmured under his breath and cupped my jaw, his thumb brushing along my bottom lip a second before he dipped in and kissed me.

Long and slow. So thoroughly that I felt my toes curl and my heart race.

But he pulled back far too soon, and I leaned forward, wanting more. He chuckled, low and deep.

“Your neediness is maddening, sweetheart,” he said, and I almost felt hurt until he continued, “I love ittoo much. But I hope you always crave me this way.”

I loved how his voice became gruff, like he was trying to control himself.

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