Page 87 of Wicked Rivals

“I'll stand,” I said flatly. “This won’t be a long conversation. And I’m not your boy. Now tell me why I’m here.”

His lip curled in some deformed version of a sneer. Then he addressed his companions.

“He not only looks like his father, but he behaves like him too, doesn't he, boys? Same arrogance in his walk. Same cocksure attitude.”

The other men chuckled. I ignored them.

My focus centered only on the threat in front of me.

“You should be careful, boy. That arrogance is what got your father killed,” Lordi added.

“I disagree. It was his inability to identify a rat,” I said.

Although I presented them with an outwardly calm demeanor, my patience crumbled second by second. Before Lordi could respond, I went on.

“He trusted you. But you should know that I do not make the mistakes my father made. So what’s this about?”

Lordi put down his glass, sat back in his chair, and moved his gaze up and down, inspecting me from head to toe before speaking again.

“You know, boy, I've known you for your entire life. I've got to admit, I never thought much of you. Neither did your father if you want to know the truth. He always said you would have made a better girl. Because you were too weak to lead, on your own or at your brother's side.”

I forced out a dry fucking laugh.

“Funny, he always said you were a loyal friend. My father was a poor judge of character, and we all know that now. I’m still waiting for you to make your point.”

“My point is, yes, you proved him wrong. Your father and I both underestimated you. From the moment he bled out in the street, you started showing the families you were stronger than we thought. Certainly stronger than I imagined. I respect that.

“You pulled it together and kept your family's legacy intact with no outside guidance. I admired that in you, boy, for a time. But now your strength and intelligence have drawn more than admiration. It’s drawing attention and making waves.

“One might even say you’ve become a threat to us all, and I think it's time the Commission deals with you.”

CHAPTER 18

VAL

The front door closed softly behind Stefano as he left the house with his second-in-command and his lead enforcer.

I would give it fifteen minutes.

It seemed like the longest fifteen minutes of my life, standing around in the kitchen, my arms braced on the island countertop while I stared at the clock.

When the small hand finally landed on roman numeral three, the silence around the house and outside in the front courtyard convinced me he’d cleared the property.

My opportunity had arrived.

A pain struck me in the stomach.

Still, after all my planning, I had doubts. Because whoever had come after my son remained at large, free as a bird.

I suspected if not Benedetta, then it had to be the Commission. Stefano’s marriage to the Capaldo princess would have shifted the power balance in the city, and the Commission would want to stop that before it became a reality.

No other explanation made sense to me.

Even if there was someone else, they got what they wanted…

Stefano did indeed call off the wedding.

Enzo should be safe now, at least long enough for me to get him out of the state.

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