Page 15 of Deception

Unlike me. I’m a lion prowling. I rarely roar, but I don’t have to.

I’ve earned my place and their respect time and again.

Adriano’s a panther—cool, calculating.

“How the fuck do you do that?” I elbow him as we exit the car in the open hangar. He blends in instantly with the people around us. He's almost my height, broader build. Yet, I stand out like a sore thumb everywhere I go.

Mostly because women can't stop looking at me. Curse my father’s good looks.

“How the fuck do I do what?” A hint of a smile plays at the edges of his lips.

“Never mind. Let’s get this over with.”

The flight is a short one. Followed by a drive, another flight.

I hate every second of it. Leaving my people in the trenches, like bait to draw out our enemies.

“Relax. You know we have to do this.” Adriano scans the tarmac, constantly taking notes in his head.

“I don’t have to like it. Looks like I’m running, hiding.” I crack my neck side to side.

“Do I need to remind you what happened at the compound?” Adriano never raises his voice, but he has a way of getting under my skin, making the things he says matter with just the slightest inflection.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You're lucky your decoy was wearing his vest.”

“Send him a bonus check when we get through this,” I snap.

“Will do, but that’s not the point. It’s the optics on everything. Ero tracked down the shooter. Backlash is that too many people know about the threat on your life. Gives us a good excuse for you to take a trip, though.”

“And making an example of anyone who makes a play on my life buys us time. No one will make a move after Ciro and Ero are done with them.” A shiver slips down my spine at the thought. Not for the piece of shit they’ll go to work on. Just the idea of being on the receiving end of their vengeance.

“For those who think he shot you, it also muddies the waters. The more time we buy the better. That’s the goal.”

“Hope they don’t make too much of a show of it.”

Adriano just shrugs. “I blame the asshole who raised them.”

“Not funny. Those boys are a fucking menace.”

“Just keep your head down for a little while, Aless. Next time we might not be so lucky.”

4

ALESSANDRO

“I'm not wearing them.”

“You damn well better!” Adriano shouts from the other room.

“The hat’s bad enough, but the glasses? I look like the fucking nutty professor.”

Adriano glances in, giving me that sly look like he's about to crack a joke, eyeing my waistline.

“Notthatone, you jackass. The old one that Uncle G made us watch.”

“I don't know, Alessandro. I think it makes you look almost intelligent.”

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