Page 84 of Vicious Little Princess

“Wharton Transportation Services,” I told Julian. “They fly under the radar using unmarked trucks and various other vehicles to move illicit goods for their clients.”

“Black market goods,” Dante added in. He eyed me pointedly as he said, “Including people.”

Always one to get down to the meat of business and push things along, Matteo said as bluntly as ever, “We know they’re the company that Angelo used the night he kidnapped the two of you. We’re also aware that you know.”

“That’s the intel you came to pass onto me? I’ve already tracked them to a specific owner. However, the guy is a ghost.” For now, at least.

“Youhave?” Matteo questioned.

“What?”

“Well, we assumed it was a team effort and that Julian and Nico were combining their resources.”

Dante grinned at him. “We were right. Good. This is really good.”

I exchanged a discreet look with Julian.

“Good? How?” I asked, trying to hide my concern.

“Those around you here pulling on their resources was the only other explanation outside of the one we’d hoped for,” Dante said. “Thatyouwere behind it.”

“That you’d actually been behind more than that,” Matteo continued.

“Dodging Angelo’s surveillance on you over the years, even somehow reworking that tracking device he planted on you to send him on a wild goose chase. The same with his car’s GPS that time. Surveillance he’d been about to show your father on you being mysteriously wiped out. Even him trailing you once and the bridge over the river on the east side of the city being raised out of the blue and cutting him off in his tracks.”

Yeah, that bridge thing had been no small feat.

Ensuring there’d been no collateral damage with the timing had been the hardest part.

“Why is any of this important to you?” Julian asked them. “Why would you like it to be the truth so badly?”

“Because,” Matteo said, stepping up to me. “It’s known that Caterina possesses the business acumen, and she’s respected throughout the city for that, established now. But that wouldn’t have been enough. A harder edge is also required.”

“Required for what?” Julian demanded, getting to his feet with his cane.

“To take power.”

I stared between the two of them.

I couldn’t believe it.

That fucking suggestion was coming up again.

First from Carlo Benzino, of all people.

Then Nico seeming like he was actually getting on board with it.

Now this.

“If we take power, we’d be trapped in this life forever. In this fucked-up world.”

“The nature of it would be different with us at the helm.”

“What’s the full extent of the Wharton lead you came here today to discuss?” I asked them.

Matteo frowned. “You’re not going to even consider it?”

“How about you allow her to absorb the shock of it first?” Julian bit back. “And, as if she’s going to agree to this insanity without the two of you throwing some major trustworthiness her way.” He eyed Matteo. “You’ve barely shown her any care in her entire life.” He pointed at Dante accusingly. “Andyoubasically abandoned her when she left the Family, even though she’s told us how close you were with her as her guard, almost like a second father.” He moved closer, the aggression from him ramping up in a very uncharacteristic way. “She was out on her own, fighting on her own, dealing with abuse from the Family recently too—a fuckload of abuse—and you did nothing to—”

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