Page 157 of Vito

And he's it for me. But dread brews inside me that I'll be the cause of him losing his family, just like I caused Aiken to lose what was left of his.

But the alternative of leaving Vito… That I know I won't be able to do.

"You're mine, Eden. You were from the moment I heard your voice over the phone. You're the other half of me," he rasps, not caring that Ohith is hearing his declaration. "I'll burn the world down for you if I have to."

I turn my face into his palm and kiss it. He wraps me tight to his chest. His strong and steady heartbeat settles my anxiety.

"I love you, Eden Dallas Fallen. Soon-to-be Eden Dallas Santoro."

"Who says I'll take your name?" I joke, making the dangerous man I love stiffen.

Vito accuses Massimo of being conventional and traditional, but he's no different in many ways.

Ohith chuckles, and I can feel Vito's scowl.

"She doesn't need any influence from you, Ohith; not about this."

I push him back so I can see him. "You're such a fucking cunt."

His tension eases, and he grins—devastatingly devilish and filled with future promise of sin.

Chapter 42

Eden

Gilly'sisn'tfullofpeople, but the tension and powerful egos in the room make it feel packed.

The Chamber is convening this gathering. Massimo, Ash, Dom, Sile, and Bill all stand together, facing the leaders of the other criminal factions in San Francisco. Usually, Massimo would be the Chamber's convenor, but given the conflict of interest with Vito at the heart of this, Ash stepped forward, and he calls for quiet now.

Gus and I are the only staff inside. Frank and the rest of the security team are stationed outside, guarding the perimeter.

The local police force has cordoned off a three-block perimeter. This contains the violence if anything goes south during this meeting and ensures no collateral damage. It also prevents anyone from striking at the power base in this city with all the leaders in one location.

I feel the weight of their stares as they regard me. The fingertip bruises on my throat from Amazu are visible. My bruised and stitched up face is impassive. I defiantly stare down the room—maybe not the best play, considering I need these people to vote in my favor—however, I won't cringe or cower.

"Shut the fuck up," Ash barks to those still talking, and the room goes silent. "Let's get this rolling and wrapped up."

Ivan, the head of the Serpents, a gang that's deep into the drug trade, openly checks me out. His eyes roll up and down my body. "I'd like to get her rolling and wrapped up."

My jaw flexes, but I remain silent.

"Shut the fuck up, Ivan," Dom snaps.

He glares at Dom, then me, but shuts his mouth.

"You all know how Gilly's operates and how succession happens," Ash begins. "We're here to vote on this one-time exception of that. Ed, I'll give you the floor."

I feel Gus's worried stare at my back, ready to get me to the office where Vito waits, just in case.

I turn my head and look at Sile Chen and Bill Ibrahim—both had been Lixin's and Amazu's seconds-in-command. Both now know of their former leaders' treachery to the Chamber. They oppose the human trafficking that their former leaders tried to reinstate underhandedly.

We're keeping Lixin and Amazu's betrayal under wraps.

No one outside the Chamber leaders and their inner circles knows the damning evidence on the USB and what Lixin, Amazu, Novak, and Mancini revealed at the factory. This serves two purposes.

One, it ensures Bill and Sile's cooperation so the Chamber is unanimous and unified. And two, it keeps any potential blowback on their criminal organizations for retribution for Lixin and Amazu's treachery.

As far as any of the others in this room know, Lixin and Amazu had been killed when the Chamber mounted the attack to remove the threat against it.

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