Page 158 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

I kiss her forehead, then guide her to follow me and Jace to the car. Blake won’t get to give Riccardo any messages, we’re about to deliver them personally.

Chapter 70

Trap

Don Marcello Ferrari

Standing here in this warehouse with my hands clasped in front of me, I have a smile on my face. I’ve waited so long for this day. This is for my brother and sister.

This man has sat in my face, untouchable for years. Now all his ambition, all his scheming, all his lack of attention to detail are about to swallow him whole.

Untouchable, he is not. I wanted to be here to see his face before he meets his maker, so I was more than happy to help Gio intercept Riccardo’s next meeting. By the time the Kelleys arrive, he’ll already be dead at the hand of my great nephew, Don Gio.

The kid pulled it off and with a power and grace I didn’t see coming. He was made for this. My brother, his grandfather, would be proud. He covered his brothers and took control of the families. Proud isn’t the word for what I feel.

“Ah, Don Ferrari,” Riccardo says as he comes into view. My cheek twitches as I try not to grimace. “It’s so good to see you. I’ve been trying to get to you for months.”

He comes to kiss my ring and I refrain from bashing his head in. I promised this to Gio. I’ll allow the right to be his.

“You were looking in all the wrong places. It was bold of you to go back to Italy to search,” I say.

“I didn’t think I had much to worry about while there.”

“Um.”

“Don Ferrari, I haven’t failed you yet—”

I hold up my hand. “Riccardo, what did I tell you when you came to me?”

“I had until a strong, suitable male successor was named. Then my goal would be forbidden. But—”

“You failed, and now, just as you were untouchable to me, my great nephews are untouchable to you.Capisci?”

The blood drains from his face and his eyes widen. I nearly laugh in his face. I do sneer at him.

“I told you to find out who was in the Di Lorenzo bloodline. You ignored my advice. Maybe if you had paid attention to detail from the beginning, you wouldn’t have sent someone to take my sister’s life.

“Or you would have known your father betrayedmytwin brother. Or you would have found out I was Ava’s godfather. You ran in the circles to prevent your mistakes. Yet you made one mistake after another. Your family has been a shit stain I’ve been waiting to wash out for decades.

“You came to me to ask to take the life ofmygoddaughter and her children. You askedmefor permission to overthrowmygreat-nephew. You fucking piece of shit.”

* * *

Gio

I walk out as I sense my great-uncle on the verge of killing Riccardo himself. Riccardo’s face is white as a sheet. He has gone from looking confused to looking surprised, and now he looks like he’s going to be sick.

I give a slow clap as I walk over and stand beside Don Ferrari, making sure not to block Ny’s shot. Looking Riccardo in the eyes, I smile.

“How you doing, Riccardo? What? You’re not going to kiss the ring? The lack of respect.” I tsk.

“This thing has become shit. This is who Giuseppe made Don?” he snarls. “I’m going to take pleasure in watching you fall. The shortest succession in history.”

I grab him by his collar and tug him from his feet as I lean into his ear. “The only thing around here that will fall will be your body, motherfucker. My mother sent the last of your reject family to the grave and your ass is next,” I say in his ear before shoving him away.

“What… what did you say?”

“You really thought you had the power to take down my family. My mother did what she promised you. She erased your entire fucking bloodline.”

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