Page 115 of Massimo

Ivan hikes his brows. "What now? Is that any way to talk to your peer, Dom?"

Dom's nostrils flare, and his fists clench on top of the table. Normally, he's a laid-back, nonchalant guy—one who is cunning and could be plotting your death without you even knowing. But with Ivan, he runs hot.

Ivan finally sits his ass down beside Bill. Zara slips wordlessly into the empty seat between him and Sile. She reaches for the coffee carafe and pours herself a cup.

Ivan nudges a cup toward her. "Two sugars, sweetness."

Zara doesn't miss a beat and shifts the carafe—pouring hot coffee on the table before she continues to pour it on Ivan's lap.

He yelps and stands up. "Fucking bitch!"

"Sit thefuck. Down." I let malice seep into my words.

"Oh, and we're just going to let this disrespect slide?" he snaps.

Ash cracks his knuckles. "The only disrespect to be punished will be yours. With my fists breaking your face."

Ivan eyes Ash's big hands, each finger wearing a silver, thick ring—his version offashionablebrass knuckles.

"What a fucking welcome to the party," Ivan sneers. Ash makes to move to him, and Ivan steps back. "I can't sit in a wet chair."

"Then don't be a misogynistic asshat." Zara sips her coffee and arches a manicured brow.

Sile fights a smile and points to the corner. "There's a dry one there."

It's an office armchair—no wheels and it will sit lower than the others.

Ivan's jaw works as he crosses his arms. "I'll stand. Reigning over you." He chuckles and studies me. "Glad to see that you saw reason to my…uh,encouragementfor your vote, Massimo."

It's a mammoth effort to keep my face unreadable. This fucker is trying to paint me as biased and weak to my colleagues, trying to take a shot at me.

"Your attempt at threatening me"—my colleagues all eye me because I hadn't shared this with them, but my gaze is locked on Ivan—"means nothing.Youmean nothing, Ivan, and you have no power over me, myfamily, or my decisions. Imply or act like you do again, and trust me when I say, I will annihilate you."

I voted for stability and avoiding unnecessary bloodshed within our city, as this maximizes our gains. However, if needed, the Santoros would go to war with the Serpents and do exactly as I threatened.

He likely sees the truth and commitment behind my words, and wisely moves on from me. His gaze slides from me to Dom. "How's my sweet girl Nina?"

Wrath coats Dom's features, and I realize this is why he runs so hot for Ivan. Nina is Dom's younger sister, who he has ensured has no role in or connection to the Saints.

"Speak of her again, and I'll pluck out your eyes and let the rats feast on them and then you."

Sile sighs, shaking his head. "Can we push aside this pissing match, Ivan? Is this really why you wanted a seat on the Chamber?"

Ivan narrows his eyes, scanning the room before breaking into a smile. "Just measuring up my colleagues. No harm, no foul, yeah?" He claps his hands together. "Now, shall we begin? I'd like to table an item for discussion: bringing all our inner circles together. A little meet and greet, if you will. It would give us a chance to get to know each other better and allow our seconds-in-command and heads of security to familiarize themselves since we'll be working so closely together. It's a good way to start things off on the right foot."

His idea isn't terrible, but unease settles in me at the thought of having all my inner circle—Marco, Vito, Gemma, and Gabe—present. That would leave Nova alone with just the guards and Jerome.

"Unless you have a reason why we shouldn't?" Ivan scans the table and ends with me.

Is the fucker testing me? Or am I being overly paranoid?

"It's a good idea," Ash rubs his chin, looking at the rest of us. All agree until I'm the only one who hasn't weighed in.

I finally nod in agreement.

I'm certain Ivan is up to something. I just have no idea what.

Chapter 47

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