Page 11 of A War Around Us

I wasa prisoner of my own mind. Endless scenarios, thoughts, and echoes played in the constant rhythm of puzzles. Each piece held a purpose, and all carried power. A daring labyrinth without gateways and peace. Only turns and moves to stay alive and ahead of those who posed threats to me and the expanding empire I've built.

No room for hesitation.

No room for unthoughtful deals.

But I had taken a counter move. One driven by retribution and emotion. Feelings that were buried in a time of memories that left me confused. It was disturbing to have committed myself to a marriage I had no clear vision of. Even while I tried to justify it as the most effective way to keep my younger brother, Ilias, alive, my motives were far from innocent.

The Vitellis had taken something from me. Now, I was takingher.

And she had been offered as a peace treaty. Enzo was clueless as to who he had entrusted his sister’s future with. It was laughable.

He thought he was one step ahead of me, but I’d heard rumors of her father’s deal with California. Enzo’s motives to act at such lengths to defy his father had to be deeper than his sister’s, and New York’s, interests. I had to find out what they were.

Meanwhile, I would parade my prize in front of Mario Vitelli.

“This could start a war, Lucca.” Salvatore Mancini, Miami’s former Boss, coughed out his reasoning.

“It’s done. I accepted the deal.”

My eyes followed the swirling bourbon in the glass I held. It whirled restlessly, as did my mind pondering this countermove. The pieces I needed to move to keep Miami safe, and her as mine.

But what sweeter vengeance could I achieve than by having her in my bed, and her father submitting to the arrangement? Handing over his only daughter tome.

Nothing.

Now, I will see through it.

“Yourmothe—”

“Do not,” I snapped.

With my attention fixed on Sal’s frail features, I shook my head. If anyone knew the truth, it was him. I didn’t have to explain myself to Sal or any man. Not when I was now the head of our organization. He may be Miami’s consigliere, but he answered to me.

We both knew this as we stared at one another from across my desk, but Sal was more than that. He was the only man who shared my blood, and the only piece I had left of my mother. The one who took me in and groomed me for what was my birthright.

Sal’s body trembled at the painful cough he let out. I watched as cancer masked his lungs, slowly dwindling his strength. The fit stopped, and he lowered his fedora over his head until his thinning hair was hidden beneath. He took a long-labored breath and met my eyes again.

He didn’t try to explain his reasoning. He just sat patiently.

For the respect I held for myzio,I said, “I won’t back out on my word. That's all we have.”

Honor.

“I know.” He breathed tiredly.

“You have said it yourself. I need to marry soon.”

“Not her, and not for the reason you’ve agreed to.”

“That’s where we disagree.” My lips twitched. “It’s the perfect reason.Her.”

Sal remained quiet. Nothing he could say or do would change the outcome of my decision. Even if it led to a war. I wasn’t blind. I saw the danger it opposed, the tension that could expand within our syndicate. While I continued to be watched carefully as the new Boss, cowardice was not a word that would be whispered near my name. And I wasn’t one to fail.

“It’s late. You should be resting.”

“I’ll rest soon enough.” I didn’t miss the underlying meaning of his words. I ignored them, and he asked, “Who will you take with you tomorrow?”

Arlo was out of the question as my right hand and underboss. His duty was thefamigliawhen I wasn’t around. As my brother, he was the only one I trusted with such a task with Sal by his side.

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