Page 69 of One of Them

“Am I mistaken?” he pressed, his voice low and steady, like he already knew the answer.

“No,” I admitted. It wasn’t a secret. I didn’t hold power, at least not the kind he was used to. That didn’t mean I couldn’t make an impact.

“How it gets done is solely up to me. All you need to do is agree,” I added, my voice unwavering despite the storm of thoughts brewing in my head.

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “What is it you’re proposing?”

“A change, for starters,” I said, indirectly implying my intentions. “But most importantly, a chance to add names to the List of Angels. Of your own choosing, of course.”

He didn’t flinch, but his gaze sharpened. “We’re already on good terms with the Bratva. Why would I risk the alliance for an outsider?”

“I think it’s time we step out from under our parents’ shadows. Wouldn’t you agree? A new legacy,” I proposed, my voice steady.

“Ambitions are often short-lived. As are the people who carry them,” he countered.

“It’s not the ambition I seek. It’s protection,” I clarified, leaning forward slightly.

Dario smoothly deflected. “The peace treaty we signed ensures that.”

“A treaty formed years ago, barely hanging by a thread?” I let out a quiet laugh. “Do you honestly think that when someone screws the Russians over again, they’ll honor it? That Ilya will? Or perhaps Malek. Is he more trustworthy?”

Don didn’t move, his gaze locked on mine as he calmly replied, “Let them come if they think they stand a chance.”

“What about Lorenzo?”

He didn’t waste a second before responding. “What about him?”

“You care about him, but so do I. He believes in what I’m trying to achieve. Are you prepared to go against him?”

His reply came without hesitation. “We all make choices and live with the consequences.”

“Don’t you have something to protect?” I pressed, trying to break through.

I knew better than to expect an answer. Only a fool would reveal their hand.

“No one’s untouchable,” I muttered, mostly to myself.

“No one’s trustworthy,” he responded, his voice harder now, the weight of his words settling between us.

I sat up straighter in my chair, feeling the shift. Now we were finally getting to the heart of it.

“That’s exactly what I’m getting at,” I confirmed. “What if we created a world where the chosen few didn’t use loved ones as leverage? Where they stood together. No more revenge fantasies or retaliation plans.”

His expression hardened, and he scanned the edge of the property, eyes lingering on the cliff hidden behind the cypress trees.

“I’ve been a Don for twenty years now, Ms. Taya.” He turned his vacant stare back to me. “That’s almost your entire life, I hear. People always find a way to disappoint me,” he paused, letting the weight of the words land.

“Forgive me if I don’t believe in your vision. I know Lorenzo, and I know you. The one he vouched for.” He eyed me cautiously before continuing, “It’s the rest I don’t trust to keep their word. It’s all just a promise. Words.”

I crossed one leg over the other, leaning on my arm. “That’s exactly the type of mindset I’m trying to change. Take Lorenzo or Enzo as I call him. Him and I? If the world wasn’t changing, would we really be such good friends? Not once have we betrayed each other.”

Unlike other people, who I considered friends, I thought.

“There’s hope,” I assured him. “It just takes the right kind of people.”

“It also takes someone willing to step out of line.”

This time, I reacted swiftly. “Then I guess I’ll just have to hope the rest will carry on the promise and do better next time.”

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