Page 22 of Massimo

Vito and Eden are safe—for now. At least two potential foes have been identified as possible future retaliators against them and as threats to the Chamber and the status quo for how we've operated.

Ivan Everhart, leader of the Serpents, and Sean Finley, leader of a small arm of the Irish mob.

Both are power-hungry, which isn't abnormal in our world. Both want a seat at the table with the Chamber and could use underhanded means to get it.

I'm at the Tower, where the Chamber leaders convene to discuss essential items. Since we're the five strongest factions in the city, and someone could strike a power blow by trying to take us five leaders out. The Tower is the safest place for us to meet because it is excessively guarded and monitored, including aerial monitoring and weaponized drones if needed.

Sile Chen, Lixin's replacement to lead the Triads, and Bill Ibrahim, Amazu's replacement with the Fire Clan, scan the boardroom as we sit down. We've been here several times over the past few days, discussing how to handle the situation with Lixin and Amazu's treachery.

Their treachery doesn't seem to involve anyone else in the Triads and Fire Clan, but we're all cautious of each other. Dom, Ash, and I agreed to keep their previous leaders' deceit and betrayal a secret so there's no potential blowback to their groups—this is part of the deal to keep Vito and Eden safe. It galls me that Lixin and Amazu won't be publicly exposed and denounced, but this is the ugly part of business.

What Vito did to those two bastards will have to be enough retribution.

Dom, the leader of the Saints, paces along the back wall. "Ivan and Sean arenotjoining the Chamber." He fists his hands. "They're both fucking cunts."

Ash, Prez of the Havoc Guardian MC, crosses his arms over his leather cut. "We said we'd entertain the idea of expanding the Chamber membership."

"There. Entertained." Dom cocks his scarred brow at Ash with a smirk. "Next item on the docket."

Ash barks a laugh as my phone buzzes with a message from Gabe, who's waiting for me in the lobby with the other Chamber leaders' heads of security. I'm eager for more updates on the princess, even if all Gabe says is that nothing's changed.

Just spoke with Jerome. She still hasn't eaten

Otherwise, she's 'fine'

But cold

Jerome asked if he could give her a blanket

My jaw clenches. She's slithering under Jerome's skin just like she had Gemma's. I type my response, then pocket my phone.

No

If the princess wants to go on a hunger strike, fine. If what Jerome makes for her isn't good enough for her entitled, spoiled, pampered bitch-self, then that's fine, too.

I won't be the one to cave. I'm not under her control. She's not the one in power here.

I fucking am.

And I'll break her yet. She'll show me who she truly is soon.

There's fire and fight in her, no matter how well she tries to hide it—I've seen it with my own goddamn eyes.

I don't want her meek and mild. I don't want her perfect little princess self. I want her fangs and claws to come out. I want her fire and fight.

Proving that I'm right that she's hiding what she is: a cunning, conniving snake, just like her father.

Proving that my sixth sense of being able to tell when people are lying isn't completely broken. So I can redeem myself for missing any and all cues that Lixin and Amazu were fucking playing us all.

"Everything alright, Massimo?" Bill looks at me warily.

My emotions are displayed on my face like a billboard. I pride myself on being unreadable, just as I pride myself on being calm and controlled.

My stoic mask falls back into place, but inside, I'm a roiling, tumultuous, dark, stormy sea.

What will it take to break the princess?

I try to force my thoughts away from her. She's consumed too much of my headspace all day, while I should have been focused on the threat against Vito and our family.

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