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Ama was innocent, guilty only of her relation to him. As much as I’d miss her when she went back to Costa Rica, I was more relieved she’d be far away when things finally came crumbling down around her brother.

“You can come and visit me anytime.” She kissed my cheek, then leaned back and watched the guys. “Hopefully, Pedro will too.”

I giggled and relaxed. “All you have to do is ask. He’d come running if he knew that’s what you wanted.”

He was clearly smitten with her.

“Oh, Alessio wouldn’t like that.”

“Why not?” Pedro seemed a good man. From the brief time I’d spent with him, I only got good vibes.

“They’re friends, and you know how protective my brother can be. He would rather lock me in a tower and throw away the key than give his blessing for a man to be with me.”

“The fact they’re friends should be all the more reason for him to support you two. He knows Pedro and trusts him. That’s rare.”

She sighed, then slowly grinned. “Maybe now that he’s distracted by his own relationship, he won’t care so much about mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “It will take more than me to keep him from worrying about you, but maybe I can plant the idea.”

“You’d do that?” She latched onto my arm.

“If you want, yes, of course.”

She beamed and did a tiny dance. “Thank you, thank you! That would be amazing.”

All she had to do was ask. I figured she was going to tell me to mind my business. “I’ll butter him up first.”

She scrunched her nose. “Ew, I don’t need to know what you two do in private.”

I burst out laughing. “That’s not what I meant!”

The guys were watching us. Alessio and Pedro smiling, while the others looked amused.

“Almost done,” he mouthed to me, and I nodded.

This was the first time I wasn’t desperate to get away. I was actually enjoying myself. Getting our test done and out of the way turned out to be easier than I expected, and it allowed the rumors to circulate quickly through his men.

While I chatted with Ama and pretended to relax, I was listening to the bits of conversation that floated within range.

His men were split. Some were firmly on the side of obeying the rules and minding their business, while others were pissed and questioning their boss’s mindset.

Mission accomplished. The doubt was spreading, and eventually, they’d all learn of the five men killed so far. I wanted to be there when it happened. I wanted to see the beginning of the end, knowing the full extent of the destruction I would cause.

But Millie? Her heart ached, knowing her role in his demise.

“Ready to head out?” Alessio snapped me back to the present.

“Are you sure you don’t need to stay?” It was early evening, and the party showed no signs of slowing down.

“Nah, I’ll let them enjoy without worrying about the boss hanging around.”

I smiled. “How sweet of you.”

“Isn’t he though?” Ama winked. “I’m going to stay and hang out a little longer.”

She stood and hurried over to Pedro as if Alessio might refuse her, but his eyes locked on me.

He offered his hand. “I’m a big softie.”