Page 78 of Malicious Claim

It was him—bound, bloodied, captured.

The leader of the Babros.

The man behind all the rivalry in her life. The one enemy that her family had never managed to defeat to their liking. The one who if her family had been given a longer time before they'd been murdered would have been put in his place.

Salvatore looked at her, eyes glinting.

"You want revenge, don't you?"

Leila's fingers curled into fists. "What do you know about what I want?"

Salvatore chuckled. "I know a lot. I know the Cretes took your family from you. I know this man was your biggest rival in America. I know you lost everything."

Silence, complete and still.

And then he stepped forward, his voice dropping to a conspiring whisper. "And I know the Cretes don't deserve your loyalty. Matteo. Makros. They're playing you. You were better than that."

Leila's body did not move, but her heart hammered against the bones of her ribcage.

He smiled. "I can help you get even with the Cretes. But you must decide."

Then Salvatore pushed a gun into her hand.

"Don't you want justice?" His voice rose slightly. "Kill Stefanos."

The door groaned open.

Stefanos was pulled in, two men shoving him ahead of them.

His shirt was tattered, blood smeared on his shoulder seeping through the white fabric. His jaw was bruised. He looked like he'd barely been able to pull himself out of a beating.

His eyes did not meet Leila's.

Leila was taken aback by his battered appearance.

She stared at the gun, feeling the weight of it in her hands. She wondered if this was the real test of the mission. But what if it wasn't?

What if this wasn't a test?

What if this was her only opportunity?

Stefanos at last turned to regard her.

Leila faltered.

Not because she gave a damn about his life's worth, but because she knew if she made the wrong move it could result in some serious consequences.

Then, with one fluid motion—She pointed the gun at Salvatore.

Pulled the trigger.

Click. Click. Click.

Empty.

Salvatore laughed loudly.

"Well, well." He clapped slowly, deliberately. "You're smarter than the Don gives you credit for."

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