Page 97 of Deception

“I need time to think, and I need a shower. Reconvene here in a few hours.”

“Yes sir!”

I wander off towards my study, wanting some time to myself. More than anything, I just need to sleep. But that’s not happening any time soon.

Adriano follows me half the way back, his room on the way to my suite. “You okay?”

“No.” I shrug.

“I can handle the menial stuff if you need time.

“Fuck that. There’s too much on the line. Hearing it from the twins is fine, but I want to hear reports from every captain. Same with security. Set up meetings, calls with everyone. Stagger the ones that need to come in to talk. No patterns.”

“Smart. Talking to every family member is going to take time. You up for it?”

“I need to be seen, be heard. I need my people to know I’m involved.”

“I'll set it up.” He slips away, heading to his room.

“Thanks, Adriano.”

“Anything you need, let me know.”

The walk back to my bedroom is lonely, desolate. What I really need is something to occupy me. Keep me busy.

So I don’t have time to think about her.

Part of me wishes I could just see Isabella for a moment. Have her one more time to clear my head. But I know that's dangerous, making myself vulnerable before making commands.

So I drive her from my thoughts.

A few hours later, after several dozen meetings and phone calls, I’m back in the war room, deep in the trenches of planning an assault. Parleying doesn’t sound like it’s going to work.

At least, not without a chess move of our own to show that we mean business, that we won’t be toyed with.

“Three locations. Three hits. Assign Ciro and Ero to lead two of them, another captain on the third, since I can’t join in…” I glare at Adriano.

He grimaces and shakes his head. I know better than to argue. The man is absolutely obstinate when it comes to certain things. “Prisoners?”

“No. Kill the threats, let the others go. We need to make a statement, but I don’t want to escalate things yet.” It also gives us the opportunity to see who else is on his side.

Rumors of the Bratva and the Greeks working for him have been filtering in.

A knock at the door interrupts us. It’s Tomas.

“Sir, you wanted to see me?”

“Yes, come in. How is our guest doing?”

“She’s fine. Hasn’t said anything.”

“Good. She is to remain under lock and key. Tell the staff not to speak to her.”

“Understood, Don Alessandro.” Tomas takes everything in stride. He’s halfway out the door when he turns back, “And sir? It’s good to have you back.”

“Thanks. Good to be back,” I lie, wishing it were true. Being in the thick of everything again reminds me who I really am, who I used to be.

A stark clash to who I started to become with Isabella.

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