Page 15 of Bound to the Enforcer

A flash of determination moves across his eyes. "I can and I will. I will lay my life down for you, for this organization, and my men. I gave your father my word that you will live a long and happy life and intend to see that promise through."

"So for now I am merely a figurehead?"

He takes me by surprise as he grabs both my shoulders and forces my attention on him. "No, you are our queen on this big chess board we are playing on. And as the queen, you are themost powerful piece we have. But if we lose you, then we are left vulnerable and on the brink of collapse. So I will keep you safe and make all the necessary moves so you don't have to until the last minute."

The candor in his eyes throws me for a moment before I catch myself from tripping over my heartbeat.

"That's not good enough." I step out of his hold. "I need to do more than just survive. I need to fight, Alessio."

"You'll fight when the time is right," he says, his tone sharp, and the stiffness returns to his eyes. "And when you can actually win."

The tension between us crackles like a live wire, but before I can respond, there's another knock at the door. Alessio and I jump apart like we have both been shocked. The mix of frustration in both the sexual and mental sense riddles the air. He moves first to open the door, revealing Matteo on the other side.

"Sorry to interrupt," Matteo says, his pupils flicking between us with slight suspicion. "But we've got a situation."

There has not been one morning since I laid my father to rest that I have woken up to a mundane and dull morning.

"Another murder?" I draw out. "Or let me guess, more contraband has been stolen."

Alessio does not appreciate my sarcasm, and I guess for six in the morning, it is a little early. I will need to dial that back.

I shrug, and he just glares at me.

"Actually yes," Matteo quips. "Just minus the murder part."

Oh, I was joking. Just a normal day in the Romano household, I guess.

The situation, as it turns out, is Domenico's latest power play. One of the Romano warehouses was raided overnight, and another shipment is missing. The implications are clear:Domenico's testing my limits, pushing to see how far he can go before I snap.

The meeting takes place in my father's study—a room I've avoided as much as possible since the funeral. The heavy oak desk, the leather armchairs, the walls lined with books—it all feels like a museum to the man who once commanded this empire. But now, it's my space, whether I like it or not.

Alessio, Matteo, and a few other key players are already gathered when I arrive. Domenico, of course, is absent, but his influence is everywhere.

"Let's get started," I say, taking my place at the head of the table. The weight of the chair's high back feels suffocating, but I square my shoulders and force myself to meet the eyes of each of the men around me. I meet every pair of eyes around the table. Friend or foe, that is what my mind is trying to make up as I commit every face to memory.

Matteo is the first to speak, laying out the details of the raid. "The warehouse on Fifth was hit sometime after midnight. No security footage, no witnesses. They took another shipment, this time, weapons."

The room erupts with low murmurs, but Alessio cuts through it with a sharp command. "Quiet."

Stillness falls, and Alessio turns to me. "This isn't just about the shipments. Domenico's sending a message."

"Like he did with Trevor," I state.

Matteo and Alessio look at each other. Something passes between them.

"What is it?" I demand in a stern tone.

Matteo looks to Alessio for permission, and this annoys me. I slam my hand on the table, causing every pair of eyes to move to me.

"Matteo, I am your boss. The person you are looking for permission from answers to me. I already told Alessio that I nolonger want to be hidden in the dark, so everything you know comes out now. So when I ask you a direct question, you answer it. Now, what is it?"

Matteo looks uneasy, but he settles back into his chair and addresses me. "We are unsure if what happened to Trevor was your uncle's doing."

"Excuse me? It has to be. Who else could it be?" If it isn't Domenico, that means I have more than one serpent in my grass.

"That remains to be determined." This time, Alessio speaks up. "My guess is that he is still the number one suspect, but we cannot rule out the possibility that there are more parties at play here."

I try to keep my emotions from showing at the table. The last thing I want is to seem weak or volatile in front of these men. My leadership is already being called into question because I am a woman. I cannot give them more ammunition.

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