Page 162 of Traitor

"We'll be ready soon," he says, tilting his head. "Why the rush? It's been almost five years. We agreed to wait to keep suspicion off us. Make sure everything's airtight. First one isn't even out for another year. We could take the low-ranks on the outside."

"We've waited long enough. The trail's cold. We move now, it won't come back on us." I watch him, unblinking. "Figured you'd be happy to clear your fucking life debt."

He smiles, a calculated look in his eyes. "That, I am." He folds his hands together, elbows resting on the desk. "Now why are you really here, Bones? This could've been a phone call."

I smirk. On purpose. I know it pisses him off. It's a game we've played since day one — me baiting him, him throwing back his littledumb bikerremarks. Ten fucking years of this, and I still haven't seen him lose his shit.

But today? Today, I just might.

"Luca's joining the MC." My tone is final. A command. "You need to release him from the Famiglia. He'll be the new connection to us, now that Francesca is not an option anymore."

A sharp puff of laughter escapes him. Short. Clipped. There's a flicker of something in his eyes, something darker. Anger. I fuckingknewthis would get to him.

Come on, fucker. Bring the beast out. Let's see what's under all that ice.

He straightens in his chair, his eyes locking on mine. "Are you drunk? High? Or have you finally lost whatever common sense you had left?" His voice is sharp, controlled, but I hear the bite underneath. "Because that's the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard."

I lean in, lowering my voice, speaking just for him. This is where I find out if he's going to throw the first punch, or tighten that noose of control he wears like a second skin.

"I know it was you," I whisper. "Why he lost Theresa. He doesn't know, does he?"

The air shifts.

"What do you think he'll do when he finds out?" I keep going, watching him like a predator. "He's already looking for an out. Getting desperate. Sloppy. He'll make a mistake, and you'll lose him anyway. Or you'll lose him when he learns the truth. Either way, you're bleeding him out. Let him gomyway, and at least he lives. And it also gives you a way to sell it to your people."

The anger in his face isn't just a flicker now. It's a fire. Real, consuming.

The first time I've ever fucking seen it.

Oh, I've got you now, bastard.

"He's my fucking brother," he grits out, voice dropping. "My twin. He's not going anywhere. He'll get over the woman. She's nothing. And if she keeps being a problem, I'll fucking kill her."

His jaw clenches. His fists tighten.

"I see it in him, Angelo." I sigh deeply, like he's a high school student and I'm his long suffering teacher, about to deliver a hard lesson. "You've never been through this. I have." His eyes flash to the tattoo on my neck. "That woman owns him. He doesn't belong to the Famiglia anymore. He hasn't since the day he met her."

I pause, letting my next words settle like a knife between his ribs.

"You've got a rogue inside your organization." I tilt my head. "He will do anything to get her back, I'd bet my club on it. Let him go, and you save your brother. You kill her, you kill him."

The air is suffocating between us. His control is slipping, cracking apart at the edges.

"Why the fuck do you care what happens to Luca?" His voice is a snarl now.

I shrug, casual. "He found my woman. I owe him. And I don't want to see him completely unleashed. He'll take half of your fucking people with him before you manage to put him down." I adjust my cut, standing. "I'd lose a lot of fucking money."

His shoulders drop, the fight draining from his posture. The fire in his eyes dulls, buried under ice again.

Ah, fuck.So close.

He nods once. "I'll talk to him. See what he wants."

I knock once on his desk. "You do that. Keep me updated on Nemesis."

I make it to the door before stopping, turning back. "When the fuck are you finally going to fight me?"

His smirk returns, slow, amused. "You don't want to fight me, Bones. I fight dirty."

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