Page 161 of Vito

"The Sirens are," Zara says.

Ash looks amongst all his colleagues, his jaw tight. "We'll consider it, but that's tabled for now. Give your vote, Ivan and Sean."

Ivan's blue eyes swing to me, and he pushes his hand through his dirty blonde hair. "If you're freed from Gilly's role, you'll be with Vito."

"What's your play here, Ivan?" Dom demands. "Ed has already admitted they want to be together."

Ivan crosses his arms over his chest and waits for me to answer.

Gus moves closer to me. He's been silent, so I hope no one is paying much attention to him.

I hold Ivan's stare, unwavering. "Yes."

He hooks his thumbs in his belt loops. "So, why not just keep it under wraps? No one here suspected anything. Or why not just fake your death, like Daddy Ohith, and be done with it and leave this city?"

"This is my brother's legacy, and I won't make Vito lose his family."

"But you could die," he challenges without tact. "Your life is in our hands, Ed. You've openly admitted to the offense of not being impartial and unbiased."

"I did the right thing by Aiken to come back here and get him justice. I'm asking you to do the same."

His mouth presses together. He still looks like he wants to wield his power; if not through the Chamber, then with me. "Aiken's legacy." He rocks back on his heels, scanning around the barroom. "Your beloved brother's legacy."

I stay silent because there isn't much I can say. Massimo is tense, poised, and ready to act.

"You get my vote." Ivan looks at me slyly. "But you're never to set foot in yourbrother's legacy. Neither you nor Vito." He's watching me carefully. He wants to inflict pain. "And all Aiken's personal possessions he left to you are forfeited."

"To you, I suppose?" I ask tightly.

I'm shocked by how much this demand kicks me in the gut. I'll lose everything of Aiken's.

His apartment—that still feels like he lingers there—where I can spend time and get a sense of who he was all these years that we've been apart.

His clothes are still all there. I still smell them.

I don't care about the money or the property. It's about being where he lived and laughed, about being in this bar every day, where I felt my brother's presence and had a connection with him.

But if I'm dead, I lose that, anyway.

And I'll give up this and anything else for Vito.

There's glee in Ivan's eyes as he sees my pain. "Nah, Ed. I'm not a greedy man. We'll spread the wealth around, yeah?"

I lift my chin. "You have my word. Vito's as well."

"Oh, you speak for him?" Sean raises his eyebrow. "Fucking pussy-whipped fucker," he mutters.

"I dare you to say that to his face, Sean," Amir challenges.

Sean's cocky smirk fades, remembering that Vito is still Vito Santoro, unhinged protector of his family.

"I agree to your condition," I say with a dry throat.

"Then you have my vote."

"Mine as well," Sean adds quickly.

"Good puppy," Zara taunts Sean. "Follow your master."

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