Page 102 of Vicious Little Princess

“I know, I just… Milo’s parents died so Leo could take power that he never would have gotten with Enzo Bardi still alive. He was the Underboss you fucking dreamed of. The guy believed hardcore in honor and loyalty. Infamily.And they ripped somebody like that from this world forthis.”

“They didn’t want any opposition to the rash, dangerous, and insane approach they wanted to take with the Syndicate. They got rid of Enzo and they tried to leash you.”

“Milo’s going to be heartsick over this. Even after he lost his parents, he still stayed loyal to the Marchetti Syndicate. Forme.And yet my father had done this? It’s… all these years he’s given up so much of himself for a system that’s been broken longer than we even realized, for a system that was rotten to the fucking core.” I looked out at her, so stricken by it, too. “It wasn’t until you came into our lives that it shifted things, that I decided to fight it. You were the catalyst.”

“The straw that broke the camel’s back?”

“Essentially. But I should’ve done it sooner.”

“You weren’t in a position to do it sooner, Nico. And we didn’t have all the information then. Besides, we were under the impression that keeping our heads down was better for all of us, rather than fighting back and starting our own war that risked all our lives.”

“But it wasn’t,” I seethed.

“And we’re remedying that now. With every move we make, we are. This very meeting today with Carlo Benzino, in fact.” She reached out and stroked my bicep. “Keep your eye on the prize and everything will fall into place. We’ll take those fuckers down. Wewillwin out. You can’t let this brutal revelation knock you off track. What happened can’t be undone. All we can do is control what we do now.”

I stepped into her and brushed my lips over hers. “Thank you.”

I slid my hands down to her hips and breathed her in, taking in that familiar sweet scent from her, and the leather of her turquoise jacket.

It was a strain not to take it further than a brief kiss.

With everything going on, especially Julian’s situation at the Manor, I’d kept my hands off her for days on end.

I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep to that, though.

I’d had to remove my hand from her thigh during the drive because just that touch had threatened to get me too worked up.

I fucking wanted her. I needed her. And I knew the boys were feeling it too.

Julian had started talking about sex like he used to, he’d stopped using the cane, and he seemed to be coming back to himself.

Seemedto. He had another appointment with his therapist right now, so I’d see how that had been once we got back to the Manor, and we’d take it from there.

As for now, I needed to be focused.

So I eased from Caterina and stepped back.

Fortunately, as I did, my attention was redirected from her to the sound of a car approaching.

We watched as Carlo’s striking Ferrari in Blu Scozia rounded the corner into the lot of the abandoned apartment building a few miles outside the city.

It came to a stop a couple of stops over from mine, then Carlo climbed out in a royal blue pinstripe suit.

The passenger door opened, and he was joined by somebody I hadn’t laid eyes on since the last three families meeting months ago.

Remo Caruso, the Underboss of the Benzino Family.

He was in his mid-forties, sporting that maroon bomber jacket that was basically like a second skin to him. Just like the black beanie that always covered his head, come rain or shine. The jacket barely served to contain his bulk and toned muscle, the guy my height. As he closed the door, I caught sight of a holstered Sig strapped to his black jeans. He adjusted his matching t-shirt and hid the piece beneath it.

As Carlo strolled toward us with Remo at his back, swinging his head every which way and scanning the immediate vicinity carefully, he gestured at the apartment building just behind him. “I’m looking at turning this entire thing into a housing complex and building some retail space down the road. For newcomers to the city. Housing prices are cheaper outside here, but the commute’s fair. For young professionals, maybe.” He looked at Caterina. “Maybe I could pick your brain about it sometime?”

She smiled pleasantly. “We’ll set up a call when you’re ready.”

She looked surprised too, given that, aside from my father’s comment at the wedding, this was the first person amongst the three families who’d actually shown respect to her for her business acumen, even asking for her advice. Actually seeing her worth.

Of course, though, Carlo Benzino made it his business to understand his audience, and all those whom he dealt with.

Then again, he could have just as easily blown past that and gotten straight down to business. He already knew we were willing to ally with him. That led me to believe that his comments to her were actually genuine, more than a necessary manipulation.

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