Page 162 of Vito

His reddish-blonde eyebrows pull together as he glares at her.

The rigid tension in Massimo's shoulders has eased somewhat. He glances at me and gives a slight nod. I'm not sure if he hates me for what I made Vito risk, or if he's relieved. No one really knows what he's thinking. The guy is a vault.

Not only did I risk Vito—well, of course, it takes two to tango—but it looks like I opened the door for pressure to expand the Chamber membership.

Dom steps closer to me. "It will work itself out, Ed."

"An eternal optimist, Dom?"

"'Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power,'" he quotes William James.

Ash turns to me. "Ed, as you are no longer Gilly's owner-operator, and keeping with the added condition for you not to be a patron here, I need to ask you to leave."

I swallow, glancing at Gus, who looks pained but relieved that I'm getting out of this alive.

The leaders of the criminal factions split like I'm Moses parting the Red Sea. I walk with my back straight and make a detour to the bar. Reaching over the counter, I pull out the fire whiskey that Gus always keeps chilling.

I tip it back, drinking deeply, my throat working as the whiskey burns down my throat. After four long pulls, I pull the bottle away, my eyes burning—both from the whiskey and emotions—and lift the bottle to the picture of Aiken laughing and smiling behind the bar.

"To you, big brother."

"This round is on me." Money lands on the counter. Zara grabs the bottle from me and drinks deeply. She coughs and shakes her head. "Fucking hell, Aiken."

I choke out a laugh. "It's the shits."

"Give your father my regards." Zara holds up the bottle in salute and saunters back to the group.

When I walk out of Gilly's for the final time, I take a deep breath, not knowing if I want to cry or laugh.

I can't believe we got away with that.

I don't fool myself, though. Vito and I made enemies today, and we'll have to watch our backs. But that'sc'est la viein this life.

Raf waits on the sidewalk beside my parked car. Frank rushes over and pulls me tightly into his chest for a bear hug.

"Take care of Gus," I rasp, blinking back tears, knowing my interactions with him will be limited.

"You have my word," Frank solemnly vows. "Ambrose's, too, once he's back."

I squeeze his forearm and step back.

As I walk down the wide pathway to the sidewalk and street, Raf opens the passenger door for me. I don't even protest and let him drive my car. All I want is Vito, but we can't meet close by because he isn't supposed to be near here. He'll go out the secret passageway, coming out on the other side of the police perimeter.

Raf guns the car and peels away before he glances at me. "You okay?"

"Peachy."

He snorts, but his forehead pinches.

"What?"

He rubs his jaw. "Well, I sort of expected cartwheels or something."

It's my turn to snort. "I strike you as a cheerleader?" I turn to look out the window and watch the police barricade open up for us to drive through. "I'm grateful and excited for Vito and me."

"But?" he prods, turning the corner once we're through the barricade.

"Something shifted in there, Raf. Power. I may have placed the Chamber at risk."

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