Page 40 of Where the Wicked Reign

“Understandable,” I said.

“Difficult to achieve, though,” Milo pointed out.

“Not if something binds us together.”

“Marriage isn’t enough?” Nico questioned.

“That’s a fake, arranged thing.”

He tensed at her words, clearly not liking it one bit.

“This,” she said, turning her laptop screen so the three of us could see it. “It’s something substantial. Go ahead. Look through all the windows,” she told us.

We took a few minutes to do just that.

Jesus Christ.

Was she… was it actually what I thought it was?

Before I could think past my shock, Nico absorbed it in that swift, analytical way of his and said, “Santino is involved in human trafficking?”

“That was supposed to be just a rumor, and something he disproved when he was questioned at the meeting of the three families a few weeks ago,” Milo said.

“Disproved with a whole lot of bullshit and fakery,” she muttered. “I already stopped the beginning of this a while back and he retreated. But he’s grown bolder. Now I see why.” She looked at Nico. “His intention to partner with your family. Santino must have found out about Marco’s desire to trade in military-grade weapons and he’s looking at it as an opportunity rather than a threat, unlike the Benzinos. That’s what happened tonight, right? The Benzinos struck against you in some way?”

“Goddammit,” Milo exclaimed. “How the fuck do you know all of that?”

“I keep my ear to the ground.”

Realization shone in Nico’s eyes. “You’re watching everyone. You infiltrated Milo’s phone earlier to send him that text message, because you sure as shit wouldn’t have his number by conventional means. And that’s also how you managed to gain access into my highly secure mansion and vandalize my Norse warrior statues a few months ago.”

She grinned. “Yes. Let me guess, you thought I’d had help. Lev, maybe?”

“Something like that,” he admitted.

“Knowledge is power, gentlemen. Especially for someone like me who’s on the periphery and been at the mercy of men who think they’re my betters just because I’m a woman.” She grabbed the laptop and settled it on her lap. “As you can see from my research, it’s a complicated job. The bottom line is that I can’t take the house alone. At least not without harming the hostages in the process with an explosion that decimates everything and everyone. I need an assist. Andthatwill be my proof that I can trust you.” She stared between us, then told us, “And just to be clear, if you double cross me or betray me to my father or Marco, I will disappear into the ozone. Believe me, you’ll never be able to find me either. The marriage will be off. You’ll be fucked, Nico. And the Leones will be up and running with a fucking human trafficking ring. This is the optimal time to stop it before it gets off the ground. If your plan to decimate the three families is the truth, then you’ll recognize this as the first major step on the road of that dangerous and long-term journey.”

Jesus,she was good. Really fucking good.

As fucked as I was, my cock was growing hard from it all.

Knowing what she’d done, what she was really capable of, it meant she was on our down and dirty level.

And that was hotter than the fires of hell.

“All right,” Nico said. “We’ll devise an op together.”

“How long do you think we have beforeI’mclued into this whole marriage deal?”

“According to my sources and Milo’s technical savvy, we believe Santino is going to push for a public proposal during the Tolhurst Annual Business Forum.”

“A bitch move, basically, to undercut your achievements and the award,” I uttered.

She gritted her teeth. “Sounds like my father. Right on point for him. Well, at least it gives us enough time to see to this and be ready. A few weeks at least.” She put her laptop on the coffee table again, then sank back exhaustedly against the couch. “I would offer you guys a drink to take the edge off, but I don’t have anything alcoholic.”

“You don’t drink at all?” I asked.

She shook her head.

---