Page 97 of Heartless Sinner

He presses his lips together in displeasure, looking me over partly with scrutiny and the other half admiration. “You know what I love about you most?”

“What?”

“You’re definitely your mother’s son with that sharp tongue, and you’re as stubborn as me. You’re not afraid to hand me my ass when you think I’m wrong.”

I cock my head and give him a thin stare, trying to see where he’s going with this. “That sounds like all the things you hate about me.”

“No. It’s not. They’re the qualities you’ll need to rule the empire. You’re born to lead, but tonight, I saw you own it and earn respect and power.”

“Thanks.”

“You chose well. I’m particularly pleased you chose Antionio and Lorenzo for the positions you did. They deserve it. I am curious to know if you’re going to ask Brahm to be underboss.”

“I already have and am waiting for him to get back to me.”

“He’d be good because you’ve always had each other’s backs. But give him all the time he needs if he asks for it. He’s been through hell and needs to find himself.” He pauses for a beat and rests his hands on the table. “Don’t rush and pick the likes of Mario or Gio. Gio is greedy. He won’t care about anyone besides himself. And Mario… He’s Brahms’s father, but his lust for power is greater than his love for his son. I wouldn’t pick him just for that. I also don’t trust him.”

“Don’t you?”

“Do you think he’s working with the hackers?”

Papà shakes his head. “No. He doesn’t need to do things like that. He already has too much. It’s not him, but I think there are other things at work with him. Things to do with the Enclave. Do not be surprised if he had something to do with his family’s murder.”

My blood leaps at the accusation. I’ve never heard my father say anything of the sort against any of his brothers. Especially Mario. “You really think so?”

“Micah, think about it. We’re Delarosas. Very protective of family.” He nods with conviction, and I do too. “If anything had happened to your mother, I would move heaven and earth and everything in between to find the head of the man who harmed her. Yet Mario has hardly done anything to find out what happened to his family. He accepted what he was told—that they don’t know who did it. That would never be enough for me. I also would never allow my son, who’s been through so much, to seek those answers. Ask yourself why Brahm allowed us all to think he was dead for so long.”

Again, I nod. He’s right. “I don’t think Brahm will ever be the same again.”

“Perhaps not, but it’s good he has you. It would be even better if he accepted the position. I think it would help him find himself.”

“We’ll see what happens.”

“I guess we will.” He gives me a reflective smile. “What are we going to do about us, Micah? I don’t want to end my reign as don with us not talking. It’s not good. People may let that slide here, but at the Creed meetings, we’ll look like we’re not united. That’s not good.”

“I agree.” He’s right. Here, people won’t question certain things because we’re family, but at the Creed, they will. Every representative of the Creed and their subordinate has that united front. It’s imperative. “But you still think Eloise would have been a better match for me.”

“I do. But there’s nothing I can do about that now besides fix the shit between us.”

“If you really want to do that, you can stop being pissed at me for not marrying Eloise and respect my wife,” I reply with ease.

To my surprise he smiles and gives me a curt nod. “Idorespect your wife.”

“Then we’re good.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

I gather my things and head out feeling lighter in my heart and slightly better in my mind. I’m sure my mother would have spoken to my father about the situation between us, but that extension of an olive branch was all his doing.

When I turn the corner I find Brahm leaning against the wall, waiting for me.

I should have known to expect him to do this. He looks like he wants to talk to me—most likely about the underboss position.

I stop a few paces away and cock my head toward the elevator. “Do you want to grab a drink?”

“Yeah. I think I need to.”

“Come on, let’s go to my office.”

---