Page 26 of Where the Wicked Reign

Nico and I exchanged an incredulous look.

“That’s not the optimal solution,” Nico pointed out.

It was definitely the most aggressive and insane one, though.

“It’ll send a message,” Leo insisted. “We have proof that Carlo knows about our weapons deal in the works and he’s pissed. Little shit is really pissing himself, knowing this will give us a shit-ton of power far beyond his.”

Send a message?What era did the slimy asshole think we were living in?

“It’ll do a whole lot more than that,” Nico argued. “It’ll be a call to war.”

Leo lifted a shoulder.

Nico’s eyes flashed. “But that’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“We’re done being held back by a fucking pussy-ass truce.”

“Your shortsightedness and skewed longing for what you foolishly call theglory dayswill be the end of us all.”

“That,” Leo said, jamming a finger in Nico’s direction. “That’s why you’ll never move up from Capo. It’s why Marco will never hand the reins over to you.”

“Because I’m sane?”

“Because you’re weak. All about the diplomacy. All about toeing the line.”

“Of course you’d misconstrue smarts for weakness. You’re nothing but an uneducated thug.”

“Just because I didn’t go to a fancy private school, then a top college like you—”

“Being educated doesn’t just mean college. There are those who are self-taught, those who keep themselves informed, who learn as they goandgrow. Those who know it’s necessary in order to thrive, to better themselves. But you, you’ve always refused to do that. You’re not only stuck in your ways, you’re moving backward. And you’re also delusional as fuck. Do you not recall what happened last time the three families went to war?”

“There was some collateral damage, sure.”

“Collateral damage?” I sneered. “Is that what my parents were to you?”

The asshole actually grinned at me. “Your mom, yeah. But your dad losing his life too? Now that was fucking ace for me. I finally got what I’d deserved for way too long with him out of the picture.”

I started toward him, rage rushing to the surface so fast I could barely breathe with it.

Nico was there, though, throwing out his arm and holding me off.

Taking a shot at the Underboss would have cost me. Big time.

“I won’t let you do this to the Family,” Nico warned him.

That nasty grin of Leo’s widened. “You’re under the impression that you’ll have a choice? Nah, far from it,nephew.”

“What are you talking about?” Nico questioned, and I saw him clenching and unclenching his fists down at his sides, so fucking close to knocking out the bastard.

He’d just come out of hisferalstate. It had to be taking him a mass amount of control to hold back in light of this major provocation from his snake of an uncle.

“You see, you’re right about one thing. We don’t want outright war. At least not yet. So we’re gonna keep the Leones on our side. The thing is Santino wants a gesture of good faith after hearing about theOsirisdeal. I came up with the perfect solution. As much as you’re pissing me off and threatening to get in the way of what needs to be done here, he’s facing a similar thing with his daughter. He wants her leashed. Now, we’re aware that you’ve been putting her in her place here and there for the last couple of years… and that was when it came to me.Youwill leash her. Andshe’llkeep you busy trying to achieve that.” He laid his hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Congratulations, Nico. You’re getting married.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

6

~Caterina~

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