Page 106 of Vito

"And yet, you kept your mouth shut about all this," Massimo growls. "When you know the Chamber has been trying to solve Aiken's murder."

"Until tonight, they were just loose happenings, Massimo. Even today, I didn't put the pieces together."

The three of them look at me quizzically.

"Lixin. He's the linchpin in all this. My gut is screaming that."

"I think that's jealousy talking," Massimo snarks.

"Iamfucking jealous," I admit with a snarl, hating that it was Lixin saving Eden tonight. "But there's something off about him or the Chamber as a whole. You admitted as much after what happened with the little impromptuLet's Get To Know Edsession."

"That's reaching, brother," he scoffs. "I think you're letting your jealousy cloud your judgment."

"There are the weapons Lixin wants me to get from Adamus Jones—it's like he's preparing for war." That reminder makes Massimo pause, and I forge ahead. "And why was Lixin there tonight at three AM?"

"He came to make sure Amazu wasn't causing trouble."

In my opinion, Amazu is public enemy number two, right up there with Lixin. "And why was Amazu potentially causing problems?"

Massimo frowns and resumes his pacing. "He was drunk at Gilly's. He texted us Chamber heads for a ride. Ash and I were the only ones available."

"Why wouldn't he get one of his men to pick him up?" Raf asks.

"Good question." Massimo's big hand rubs the stubble lining his jaw. "He made comments tonight that sounded like there's an internal war about to break out in the Fire Clan."

That means something is rattling their ranks. Bill—Amazu's second—is steady and stalwart, the complete opposite of Amazu himself, but he isn't one to breed mutiny.

Massimo's next statement chases away my thoughts about inner gang politics. "He asked Ed if she had chosen a successor yet for Gilly's."

"What?" I stiffen. "Did he fucking threaten her?"

Massimo holds up his hand, telling me to calm my shit down. "She said that wasn't the context. But…"

"It's an inappropriate question," Creed muses.

Why would Amazu ask that? I don't even know if Eden has chosen a successor.

Raf flicks a worried glance at me. "What happens if there's no successor named?"

"The Chamber appoints one," Massimo says.

"Would it be by vote?" I ask, and he nods. "So, a three-to-two split would get someone in."

What's at play here? To get a biased leader at Gilly's?

What does that achieve?

Gilly's doesn't control anything in the criminal world. Its power is that it's a neutral zone, safe and private; none of the security cameras captured audio.

My head snaps up. "Aiken's hidden camera recorded audio."

"What?" Massimo looks startled.

"I think he heard something being planned that he shouldn't have. Something bigger than Gilly's."

"Something that three Chamber heads would work together and benefit from the owner-operator of Gilly's being in their pocket?" Creed starts putting possible puzzle pieces together.

"There is no evidence to support this," Massimo objects. "It's far-fetched."

---