Page 159 of Vito

Vito told me that Dom openly admitted he'd be calling in a favor for backing this 'union,' but my stomach is swirling too violently to be curious what that would be.

"Ed and Vito could've snuck around behind all our backs," Ash growls, like his patience for this gathering is ending. "Instead, they took the risk and came forth to the Chamber to discuss appropriate next steps."

Lies and more lies mixed with a dash of some truth.

But do I give a shit?

Not in the least.

"Which is why we gathered you all here," Massimo picks up, like this a well-scripted play. "For your vote, for this one-time exception, for how Gilly's succession occurs."

There's a dull din as the leaders talk.

Succession happens upon death. They aren't just saying yes to bending Gilly's succession rules, but deciding the fate of two lives.

These are criminals. Some are pieces of shit, while others are like Massimo, Ash, and Dom, and have some kind of moral compass.

But some could be power tripping.

I think of Lixin and Amazu. Even before it came to light who they really were, I could see them voting no just because they had the power to kill two people, especially one who is mafia royalty.

Dread and anxiety rise in me.

We're not going to get out of this. We're going to have to run, or we'll die.

Massimo and Gus shift closer to me. Dom steps forward, leaving a clear path behind him to the door that leads to the hallway and my office. Ash positions himself with Dom, like two O-line football players, getting ready to block and protect the path the play is set to take.

If Massimo and Gus intervene to get me to safety, everyone will see and know. It might even be apparent that Ash and Dom played a role in allowing me to get away. And there will be backlash against them.

Why the hell didn't I think of that before?

Instead, I wanted to let Vito and Ohith take care of this part if it came down to it. They hadn't flagged that risk, and I blindly didn't allow myself to think about it.

There will be fallout. There would have to be.

All because of me.

Not everything in the criminal underworld in this city is sunshine, unicorns, and kumbaya. The fact remains that the five strongest criminal factions hold extra power in this city, and it makes sense that not everyone would be happy about that. Add to it that the Santoros and the Chamber had roadblocked human trafficking in the city—to the full extent that they could at least—that wouldn't please everyone because the sad, sick fact is there's a shit ton of money in that revenue source.

Yes, the Chamber has enabled a calm, relatively peaceful environment where profits and success for the majority of criminals can thrive. However, others love anarchy and chaos—for the sake of it, but also to create opportunities to take power from others.

Did the Chamber overplay their hand? Overestimate their power and control here?

I don't know Sile well, but Bill has spent time in Gilly's. Bill, along with Massimo, Ash, and Dom, is strategic and cunning.

They would've thought about this from all angles; the rational part of my brain pushes in, trying to rein in my panic.

There doesn't feel like there's enough air in the bar, and my breath wants to come in small, shallow pants. A low buzzing noise has started in my head and sweat beads down my spine.My resting bitch face mask is still in place, but my hands have a slight tremor.

Vito and I are dead. I'm sure of it.

Massimo won't be able to do anything about it; he won't be able to protect Vito. If the vote is against us, and Massimo tries to intervene to save Vito, the Santoro empire—all their people, businesses, and assets—will be put on the open-hunting market.

I have to stop this. I can't save myself, but I'll be damned if Vito or his family goes down with me.

I close my eyes, about to call a halt to this.

"Ed." A female voice rises above the din. "Who is your father?"

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