Page 42 of Ruthless Oath

Everything my brother said was true. This was a war we didn’t need.

“We’re losing allies,” Milo said. “We need these people to get Dad back. You know that.”

“If we could lose them that easily, maybe they were never on our side. Did you think of that?”

“You’re not thinking rationally.” Milo poured himself another. “Our job is to protect our territory while we clear the way for the old man to return.”

“The mission has changed, Milo.” I gazed out the window. “You need to see the bigger picture.”

“What do you think I’m missing?”

“If Gian and Danny form that alliance, that’s worse for us. As long as I have Lissia, they won’t seal their deal.”

“You don’t know that,” Milo said. “They’re already working together. Can you be sure your hostage isn’t working with them?”

“That thought crossed my mind yesterday.”

When I found Lissia with Danny last night, she didn’t want to go with him. She was too eager to come with me. I may have had a gun on her, but she wasn’t afraid of me when I drove off. She played the part of the spoiled child and pretended to resist, but I saw how she looked at me and responded to my touch.

“What changed your mind?” my brother asked.

The way she gives in when I kiss her. The look in her eyes when I threaten to take out my aggression on her.

“If she were here to spy for her father, she wouldn’t be so drawn to me. She’s not faking that.”

“This is no time for your ego.”

“I’m being serious. She asked for my help for a reason. Now I know what it is. I can work with that.”

“While you’re working with that, how are you going to help Dad get home?”

“They’re going to go hand in hand.” I gave him my glass, indicating I wanted another drink. “We can take out two entities at the same time and prove to the rest of the families that the Accetti family is stronger than ever.”

“Dad’s not going to like any of this.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You know how he feels about distractions, especially the opposite sex kind of distractions.”

Ever since our mother was murdered, our father became more ruthless. He cut himself off from relationships because he never wanted what happened to her to happen to another woman.

In turn, that left Milo and I numb to serious relationships. We didn’t do them.

“He’s not going to approve of your tactics when it comes to Lissia.”

“He’s not here right now,” I said. “I’m in charge, and I have to run this family as I see fit.”

“You’re leading with emotion.” Milo poured another round. “I can see the way you look at her. You’re more vested in her than you should be. That’s bad for business.”

“You’re wrong,” I said. “Taking her hostage was a business move.”

“I thought it was about helping her.”

“Why can’t it be both?” I threw my hands in the air. “Getting her away from Collins while throwing Gian off works to our advantage. You need to give this plan time to play out.”

“We don’t have time.” I slammed my fist against the desk. “The cartel needs their shipments moved. If you want them to trust everything is business as usual with Dad out of the country, we need to stay focused and do what the Accetti family has always done.”

“We are doing that.”

I hated that Milo made sense. I was the one who always stayed centered and in control. He was known for taking risks. Why did it feel like our roles were being reversed?

Lissia. That woman has me off-balance.

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