Page 81 of Forbidden Vengeance

Through the feed, we watch a revolution unfold. The next generation replacing brute force with precision strikes, fear with calculated strategy.

Elena pulls up new files while the younger Irish leaders convene through Siobhan’s feed. “Anthony’s been playing both sides,” she explains, sending documents to Siobhan. “Using the old guard’s shipping routes while secretly building his own digital infrastructure.”

“Show them,” I say, already mapping implications. “Show them how he’s been undercutting both factions.”

Pride swells in my chest as I watch Elena’s months of intelligence gathering deployed through Siobhan’s presentation. Every double cross, every manipulation, every way Anthony played both sides while building his own power base laid bare before the Irish heirs.

“The trafficking operation was just the beginning,” Siobhan tells her allies. “While we fought amongst ourselves, Anthony built a parallel infrastructure. Using our internal warfare as cover to steal what’s ours.”

Elena feeds Siobhan more ammunition. My little planner, dismantling empires with keystrokes instead of bullets. Giuseppe would never understand this kind of power—would call it weakness to fight without blood.

But watching understanding dawn on those young faces as they realize how thoroughly they’ve been played? This is power of a different kind.

“Perfect,” I murmur, rubbing Elena’s back as we watch our carefully laid trap spring shut. “Now Anthony loses support from both factions.”

“We have a proposal,” Siobhan announces, and I feel tension coil through me as our plan enters its most crucial phase. “A way to deal with both the old guard and the Calabrese problem.”

Michael O’Brien leans forward. “We’re listening.”

Siobhan presents the strategy Elena spent many hours crafting—using Anthony’s own methods against him. Every digital trail he created while modernizing his operation now becomes a vulnerability. Every alliance he built while playing both sides now becomes a weapon.

“He won’t see it coming,” I say quietly, unable to hide my pride as we watch Elena’s plan unfold. “He’ll be so focused on hunting us directly that he won’t notice his support system crumbling.”

But Elena keeps typing, feeding Siobhan more ammunition:Show them the shipping manifests from Singapore. The ones that prove he’s been circumventing their ports entirely.

The reaction is immediate—angry murmurs from the Irish heirs as they realize how thoroughly Anthony has been undermining their control of the waterfront.

My smile is lethal as we watch the Irish heirs begin coordinating their response. We watch the next generation of Irish leadership disperse with new purpose—each one carrying pieces of Elena’s strategy to dismantle Anthony’s power base.

Siobhan’s final message makes Elena smile:Let the games begin, sister.

But I keep my eyes on Elena, knowing the real war is just beginning. Because Anthony Calabrese isn’t just going to roll over and die. When he realizes how thoroughly he’s been outplayed…

Well, Giuseppe taught me what cornered animals do.

“He’ll retaliate hard,” I say as Elena shuts down the laptop. “When he realizes what’s happening…”

“He’ll come straight for us,” she finishes. “Too angry to see the larger trap until it’s too late.” She turns to face me fully, and I see my own dangerous satisfaction reflected in those clever eyes. “That’s what makes it perfect.”

I can’t help but stare at her—this fierce, calculating woman who turns everyone’s assumptions into weapons. The supposed society planner who just orchestrated a revolution. Carrying another man’s child but fighting with a savage grace that matches my own.

The urge to claim her overwhelms me. I sweep her into my arms and carry her into our bedroom as my mouth finds hers. The kiss is equal parts pride and possession—celebrating not just our victory, but everything she is. Everything we’ve become together.

The exile and the party planner, underestimated by everyone until it’s too late.

Perfect for each other in all the wrong ways.

I place her onto the mattress but before I can lower myself onto her, she grins and flips us so she’s on top. “I like to one up you sometimes,” she says, her hair tickling my face as she leans over me.

But I have other things on my mind. I bring my hand up to cup the back of her head and bring her lips to mine. She sighs and I let my tongue sweep into her mouth. She gasps as she feels the hard length of my cock against her and I feel my skin break into goosebumps.

My fingers slip back under her hair and in between one kiss and the next, my hand curls into a fist and her head is pulled back in her grip. Elena gasps before I kiss down her neck, nipping and sucking at the delicate skin there. A contorted, breathy moan escapes her and I growl in approval.

I fucking love that she likes this.

I roll us over so I’m on top, my erection pressed in between her legs. She moans at the sensation and twists. The skin of her stomach is hot against mine as my lips move to her jaw. To her neck, to the hollow in her throat.

“God, Mario, I love you,” Elena moans. I roll my hips into hers and her back arches into it.

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