Page 61 of Brando

“You want a seat at this table,” he says, his voice like smooth ice. “You don’t just earn it by loyalty. You earn it every day. Not through some entitled demand, but through proof. Proof that you put this family first—always. Above everything. Above even your own ambitions.”

The Enforcer stiffens at the words, but nods, his eyes flicking toward Brando. He doesn’t argue. “Understood.”

I step back, letting the tension dissipate, at least for now. “We’ll see how things unfold,” I say, dismissing him with a wave of my hand.

Without another word, the Enforcer turns and heads for the door. But as he passes Brando, he pauses just briefly, his dark gaze meeting my brother’s, before he leaves us alone.

Brando pushes off from the doorframe, stepping toward me as we fall into step together.

“He’s ambitious,” Brando comments, voice low but sharp.

“He’s proven his loyalty,” I answer, my eyes fixed ahead as we walk. “And we need every strong hand we can get right now.”

Brando’s lips curl slightly, a trace of approval in his expression. “Looks like you’ve already made up your mind.”

I glance at him briefly, then look away. “I’ve been waiting for him to prove it. I won’t make any decisions without consulting you and the others first. But with the Marone family now in the fold, we can’t keep spreading ourselves too thin.”

Allegra’s marriage to me gave us more than a blood oath—it gave us leverage over the Marone family, and with Don Marone’s health failing, it’s only a matter of time before we have to take the reins. Allegra’s the last heir to their empire, and she’s tied to us now, a part of our future. The union between the two families, as our father’s predicted, makes us untouchable—but it also means more territory, more responsibility. And the Gatti family isn’t the only one gunning for a piece of that pie.

Brando meets my gaze, his voice low but resolute. “He does seem like the most likely candidate.”

I nod, knowing full well how much this choice could shape everything. “He’s an asset. One we’re in desperate need of.”

31

MIA

The black SUV idles near the warehouse, the low hum of its engine vibrating in my chest. I watch as the brothers emerge from within, preparing to leave to intercept the shipment, but my mind isn’t on the containers Frank is sending tonight. I’m thinking of my sisters.

The past few hours have been a blur of fear and desperation. Every breath I took seemed to pull me deeper into a web I didn’t know how to escape. Even though I’ve escaped Frank’s violence, I’ll never really escape him until I retrieve my sisters from him. But tonight, I have a feeling—an instinct I can’t ignore. I know my sisters are somewhere in that shipment, hidden in one of those containers. They must be. The thought of them trapped, at Frank’s mercy, makes my blood boil. But more than that, it makes me feel powerless.

But not tonight.

They wouldn’t let me go with them to the docks. Scar, Brando, and the Enforcer—none of them understand what I’m willing to risk for what’s left of my family. They think I’m fragile, too soft, but I can handle just about anything Frank throws at me, especially when I’m in the company of such powerful men.They don’t know me yet, not really. I could very well be my sisters’ only hope.

The SUV’s door clicks open. The brothers are distracted, moving toward the back of the trucks, talking in low, clipped tones. I don’t hesitate. I slip around the side of the vehicle, fast and silent, my heart racing as I crouch near the boot, waiting for my chance to dart into its dark cabin.

The darkness is my ally tonight. I open the boot quietly, sliding inside like a ghost, pulling the lid down just enough to leave a crack. The interior is cold, the scent of leather and gasoline making my stomach churn. I hold my breath as the engine roars to life again, feeling the weight of my decision settle on my shoulders.

There’s no turning back now.

The ride feels like an eternity, the motion of the SUV sending my stomach lurching with every bump in the road. My mind races, thinking of my sisters, imagining them bound and gagged in one of the containers on the docks. I can’t get the images of them on the screen out of my head – the weight of the fear and terror they must have felt alone in those rooms as Frank activated the bidding on them. I can hear my own pulse in my ears, beating louder than the engine. The air is thick with anticipation—this could be the moment, the one where everything changes.

I’m so focused on my thoughts that I don’t notice the vehicle slowing until the sudden stop jerks me forward, pressing me against the cold metal of the boot. The SUV’s door opens again, and voices flood in from the outside. The Gatti brothers are speaking in urgent tones, the sharp edge of Brando’s voice cutting through the low murmur of several other men.

My heart begins to race again. I’m not sure how I’m going to get out of this once they find me, but I don’t care. I’m here, andthey’ll have no way to send me back home once they realize what I’ve done.

The boot pops open with a sharp metallic sound, and I hold my breath as someone reaches in and removes something. My body is hidden, my eyes peeking through the small crack, waiting for the moment to make my move.

But then the voices grow louder. Footsteps echo as more voices approach the vehicle. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. They’re getting closer. Too close.

“Mia,” Brando’s voice rumbles from above me, low and dangerous. “I know you’re in there.”

My breath catches in my throat. Oh God.

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond. The boot cover is flung open with such force that I’m forced to scramble out, my hands bracing against the car to steady myself. I stand up, facing him, trying to meet his gaze, though my pulse is pounding so hard, I’m sure he can hear it.

His eyes are ice—cold and furious. There’s no mistaking the anger in them, the way his jaw tightens as he takes in the sight of me, breathless and caught, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

---