Page 59 of Where the Wicked Reign

I hated that I’d needed to do it, that I’d had to do his friend, Mason Hall, a favor and help him in a way that had meant infiltrating Levi’s network, if just briefly. I was being pushed into making a lot of difficult choices and decisions that I wasn’t comfortable with lately.

And I fucking hated it.

Caterina:Apologies, bello.

Levi:Why did you help him? Especially over me?

Caterina:Not by preference, believe me. Necessary, unfortunately. Required an introduction to Peter Hall.

Levi:Are you in trouble?

Caterina:Aww, even though I hurt you, you’re still so caring.

Levi:Our bond can weather this easily. Just give me a heads-up next time.

Caterina:Again, sorry. I was distracted when he contacted me.

Levi:By this trouble you’re in?

Caterina:Not trouble, merely being prepared.

Levi:You need me, I’m here.

Caterina:I never doubted it. You too, bello.

Levi:Later, Rina.

Caterina:A presto!

I blew out a breath. He’d been so understanding. He really was the best.

It still didn’t make me feel better about what I’d done, though.

I shoved my hand through my hair.

I was feeling the weight of it all, of every fucking twisted thing, and being embroiled in this despicable situation.

I closed down the storage unit and secured it.

Then I sank against it, tapping my phone anxiously as I stood there gazing aimlessly out at the space.

Something needed to give.

11

~Julian~

I poured myself another glass of vodka as Milo continued to drive me crazy—and not in a good way.

He was pacing up and down my office atNocturne, close to tearing a hole in the lush zebra-patterned carpet. Every now and then, he’d look at my laptop that was facing out toward the room at his request. It had one of the concealed security cameras up on the screen.

I rarely ever activated them. They were only there for extreme circumstances.

That basically meant whenever the Marchetti Syndicate demanded footage of a high-ranking official or politician that they wanted to blackmail. It was distasteful to me, especially because confidentiality was a key factor for a club like this. But I couldn’t refuse without major reprisal and also putting Nico and Milo in a bad position, given our known friendship.

At least they only thought it was a friendship and nothing more. They didn’t know we were bound to one another and had pledged our loyalty to each otherabovethe family.

This time, though, I’d activated the camera in one of the viewing rooms. The one I’d set aside for Nico tonight.

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