Page 24 of Knot Made to Break: Part Two

Gio leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “A big fucking problem.”

I met Emilio’s eyes briefly, then moved my gaze from Leonardo to Giacomo before finally settling on Matteo, letting my Alpha come to the surface, projecting my authority, even in a room full of the men who’d raised me.

“You all know that the Valentinos made their move on our warehouse,” I said. “They knew exactly where to hit us.” My words landed heavily.

“Then they made a move for our Omega, doing their best to cripple our entire family. It’s a miracle any of us walked away that night,” Gio added.

“I’m sure Emilio has shared with you that we have a mole in our midst. Rocco all but confirmed it—taunting us with the information before he blew the warehouse.”

“He did,” Matteo confirmed, nodding toward where Emilio sat. “Do you have your suspicions of who the rat is?”

I exchanged a look with Gio. “We do. But I’d like to be damn sure before making a move.”

“Being sure is better than being quick.” Leonardo nodded, his weathered hands clasped on the table. “The wrong accusation tears families apart faster than any outside enemy.”

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the polished mahogany. The weight of what came next pressed down on my shoulders like concrete. This wasn’t just about finding a traitor. It was about proving I could lead—that I could protect what was mine without burning it all down in the process.

“The Valentinos didn’t just get lucky,” I said. “They knew schedules, security rotations, blind spots in our cameras. They knew we were setting them up and planted the explosives they used to blow the warehouse. They knew Tommy would be home with Kit. And they knew exactly when to hit our penthouse and how to redirect our security detail.” My jaw tightened. “That kind of intel doesn’t come from watching us from afar. It comes from someone who eats at our table.”

Gio’s knuckles turned white as he clenched a fist. “We have a dozen loyal soldiers in the hospital,” he told them. “Three in critical condition. We lost seven men. Tommy took a bullet, trying to protect Kit. Our business is exposed, our family vulnerable, and our enemies are circling like vultures waiting for us to bleed out.”

Giacomo slammed his fist on the table. “Then we hit back. Hard. Make an example of every Valentino we can find.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Gio nodded eagerly. “We light up their safe houses, their compounds. Find Rocco, and make him watch while we dismantle everything he’s built.”

“I’m not in disagreement.” And this is where I knew I’d piss off my brother. “But we’ll never get close enough unless we root out the rat. They’ll always be one step ahead of us. Always hold the advantage of knowing where we’ll be and when.”

“So what’s your play?” Matteo asked, watching me with eyes that had seen generations of blood spilled over territory, respect, and revenge.

I leaned back in my chair, letting my gaze drift from face to face. These men had built an empire with their bare hands. They’d torn down kings and made new ones. And now, I was about to become one of them—ifthey liked my plan.

“We’re going to feed the beast,” I explained, my voice low and dangerous. “But we’re going to choose the meal.”

Emilio’s eyes flashed with understanding. The corner of his mouth twitched—not quite a smile, but something close to approval.

“We have a shipment coming in next week that Rocco would kill to get his hands on,” I continued. “High-grade weapons from a supplier in Belarus. The kind that has the potential to shift the balance of power in this city.”

Gio leaned toward me. “We do?”

My lips quirked. “Supposedly.”

I studied each face around the table, hunting for micro-expressions—trying to get a read on the room.

“We also have a shipment of olive oil coming from Apulia, high-end counterfeits we stand to make a fortune off of. Biggest shipment of the year, thus far.”

Matteo leaned forward, brow furrowed. “Olive oil and weapons all in the same week? That’s a hell of a risk.”

I kept my expression neutral, even as I felt Gio’s leg tense next to mine. He was catching on now; the pieces clicking into place.

“It’s not just that,” I continued smoothly. “We’ve got a potential deal with the Russians coming up, too. They’ve been eyeing our territory for a while, and I’ve been entertaining the idea of a partnership rather than a war.”

Leonardo’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve beenwhat?”

“Strategic alliances,” I remarked with a casual shrug. “We’re hemorrhaging resources fighting the Valentinos. Sometimes you need to make friends to destroy enemies.”

Giacomo slammed his hand on the table. “We don’t deal with Russians. Not after ‘98.”

“Settle,” Emilio quipped. “Think about what my son has said.”

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