Page 60 of Yours

Seamus nodded, his face grim. “It’s a frame job, boss. Someone’s playing both sides, trying to start a war between us and the Benedettis.”

“And we’re supposed to sit back and let it happen?” Bradan growled from across the table, his fists planted on the wood like he was ready to break something. “Because that’s bullshit. We don’t just sit on our hands when someone comes for us.”

“We’re not going to sit,” I dictated, my voice cutting through the room. “But we’re not going to move blindly, either. I want to know who did this and why. If someone wants to pit me against the Benedettis, they’re about to find out just how bad of an idea that is.”

Declan, seated at the far end of the table with his tablet in hand, looked up. “I’ve been combing through feeds and chatter all morning. There’s no solid evidence pointing anywhere, but there’s buzz. People are talking, saying it feels like a power move.”

“Whose move?” I asked, my jaw tight.

Declan shrugged. “That’s the question, isn’t it? Could be one of the smaller families looking to stir the pot. Maybe someone inside Lorenzo’s own house making a grab for power.”

Seamus frowned, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Or maybe it’s Marco.”

The room went silent for half a beat.

“Marco?” Finn scoffed. “He’s too much of a reckless shit to pull off something like this.”

“Or maybe that’s what he wants us to think,” Seamus countered. “Maybe this is him trying to prove something—to us, to whoever. We already know he’s been pushing boundaries. This could be him taking it too far.”

“Or someone’s setting Marco up to take the fall, too,” Declan added. “Either way, we don’t know enough yet to make a move on anyone.”

I pushed off the table, pacing slowly to the far end of the room before turning back to face them. “Then we find out. I want eyes everywhere. On the Benedettis, on Marco, on anyone else who’s so much as breathed in our direction in the last month. If there’s someone trying to light this fire, I want to know who it is before we’re all engulfed in it.”

I met each man’s gaze in turn, making sure they understood.

“We don’t make a move until I say so. We don’t fire a shot, we don’t speak a word, and we sure as hell don’t start a war that isn’t ours to fight. But if they bring it to our doorstep…” I let the words hang in the air, my meaning clear.

Bradan nodded, his fists relaxing slightly. “We’ll be ready.”

“Good.” I glanced back at Declan. “I want every rumor, every whisper. If there’s someone trying to pull strings behind the scenes, I want to know exactly who’s holding them. Get it done.”

Declan nodded, already tapping at his tablet.

The room stayed quiet as I straightened, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt before speaking again. “Anyone have anything else they want to add?”

No one did.

“Then get to work,” I said simply, and the men started to file out, murmuring quietly to one another. Seamus lingered by the door, waiting until the others had gone before speaking.

“You alright, boss?” he asked.

I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I let my mind flick back to Kiera—to the way she’d looked at me this morning, doubt clouding her eyes, suspicion in every word she said. She thought I was reckless enough to pull something this messy, this dangerous. And even though I’d told her otherwise, part of me couldn’t shake the way it felt to have her see me like that.

“I’m fine,” I said finally, though the words tasted hollow.

I turned to Finn, who was still slouched in his chair like he wasn’t sitting in the middle of a hornet’s nest. “Finn.”

He straightened instantly, sensing the shift in my tone. “Yeah, boss?”

“Get my sister,” I said, my voice hard and leaving no room for argument. “Right now. Bring her back here and make sure she’s safe.”

Finn blinked once, then twice, his usual cocky expression faltering. “Leena?”

“Who else?” I snapped. “If Lorenzo’s dead, the Benedettis are going to lash out. It’s not going to take much for someone to figure out where Leena lives, or worse, who she’s close to. I’m not taking that risk. You understand me?”

Finn’s casual demeanor fell away as he stood, all business now. “Understood. I’ll bring her back.”

“Take Bradan with you,” I added, nodding toward my enforcer, who was already on his feet. “I don’t want any screw-ups.”

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