Page 158 of Vito

Of course, it burns me that Aiken's murderers won't be publicly outed for the traitorous bastards they are. That they get to be remembered as brave leaders who fought well and hard.

But I know justice has been served, with Vito and Ohith acting as judges, jury, and executioners.

In return, my silence secures Sile's and Bill's votes to keep Vito and me safe.

I turn back to the group staring at me, waiting for me to justify my actions. The secret about Lixin and Amazu has been buried, but Vito and I haven't been.

I take a deep breath. "Aiken believed one hundred percent in Gilly's. It was his life's purpose, and he died for it. He died to protect it."

"And you and Vito bastardized that," someone calls from the crowd. "Isn't that why we're here?"

"Silence," Sile snaps, then nods to me.

"Vito and I had encountered one another before I became Gilly's owner-operator." That is the truth, even if it's stretched. This next part is a lie, but I have no problem telling it because Vito's life is on the line. Mine, too; however, his is the one that matters most. "We met and developed feelings before I accepted to be Aiken's successor. However, once I was in my role at Gilly's, we didn't act on those feelings."

One hundred percent a lie but we're blending truths and lies today.

"Ed and Vito brought this conflict of interest to the Chamber's attention as soon as Ed became Gilly's owner-operator," Ash states in his low, gravelly voice. "Dom, Lixin, Amazu, and myself investigated, and oversight was put in place so we could closely monitored the situation. At no point has Vito, or the Santoro family, had an advantage,"

Man alive, this man is a smooth liar.

"And we all owe Ed a debt of gratitude," Dom adds. "For exposing a plot that would've undermined the sanctity of Gilly's operations. Plus, it would've put usallat risk because it would've caused federal and international authorities to turn their eyes to our city."

No details about the death ring or Lixin and Amazu's plans and intentions are being shared. But if a local site for the heinous ring was set up in San Francisco, then all the city's criminal activities could have come under a microscope by local, state, federal, and international authorities. Which would increase the risk of incarceration, loss of profits, territory, and more.

"All at the risk to her person," Sile adds. He follows it up by making a small bow to me. I'm unsure if it's all for show or at least partially in respect.

Bill clears his throat as he regards the leaders. "Ed helped ensure the continued operation of several, if not all, of us here in this room."

There's a buzz of quiet chatter.

I shift to stand ahead of the Chamber leaders. "Gilly's is about being an impartial and unbiased place, and that needs to continue. Because of what I learned about my brother's murder," I keep it vague, "and feelings that have grown between Vito and me, even with us trying to ignore each other, I can no longer remain impartial and unbiased as Gilly's owner-operator."

"Have you and Vito fucked?" Sean Finley, who leads a branch of the Irish mob here, outright asks.

Dom speaks before I have to lie.

"Did you ever see Vito act inappropriately toward Ed?" he demands. "Or her to him? Ed hardly fucking looked at him or gave him the time of day."

"I saw her talk to you more, Sean." Amir, the Prez of the Electric Reapers, a smaller MC, smirks. "You were always trying to make goo-goo eyes at Ed."

"Was not," Sean huffs, his face turning red.

"They steered clear of each other," Ash outright lies again with a straight face.

"And Massimo? What do you have to say?" Ivan challenges.

Massimo clears his throat. "You've all known Vito for years. His loyalty is to our family—it always has been and will be. Ed…" He glances at me. "Eden is now someone who he views as his family.

"She is someone he met before she became Gilly's owner-operator. There's no evidence of inappropriate conduct on either of their behalf. If there is, now is the time to speak and present that."

The barroom is silent as Massimo waits for anyone to step forth. Tension and anxiety swell within me, threatening to wash over me with panic.

"And the attack on Ed a few nights ago?" Amir asks.

"That was to stop Ed from finding Aiken's murderer and uncovering the plot against the Chamber," Sile answers. "Now that we've dealt with the usurpers," his jaw shifts, but his expression remains flat, "and have recovered Ed after they grabbed her, this is our effort to be transparent with you and close the chapter on this."

"As Ed said," Dom continues, "after what was discovered about Aiken's murder, she was forthright with us that she couldn't remain impartial and unbiased." There's ripe curiosity about all the details being left out, but no one presses that. "And like Ash said, we have been closely monitoring the situation to ensure no bias toward the Santoros occurred after Ed and Vito disclosed their previous relationship. They kept their distance, following Gilly's rules." He turns to me, a slight glint of humor in his eye. "To the letter."

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