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“I don’t pretend, Dominic,” Lucca told him, deadly serious. “I meant what I said.”

“What is your game here, Lucca?” Giving him a stern look, his hazel depths searched the blue-green ones for answers to make sense of this. There was a reason why he was putting all this into motion when the underboss already had everything he could ever want—the city, the money, the throne, and Dominic on his knees, trying to save his family, thanks to his father, so … “What is it you want?”

“You’re right. I do know everything about you, Dominic … I know the things you went through in that house, how you were raised, and what you’re capable of.” Lucca stood, walking slowly around the desk. He stepped right in front of Dominic. “You and me will burn this fucking city to the ground if we don’t see eye to eye.”

“So”—Dominic gave him a strange look, his heart accelerating—“what are you saying?”

“We work together,” Lucca said simply, “and when I get my father to step down, we run this city together … fifty-fifty.”

Dom laughed then suddenly stopped. “You’re fucking serious, aren’t you?” When the underboss nodded, he asked, “Why?”

“I have my reasons. Now”— was all he would give him before Lucca held out a hand—“do we have a deal … or not?”

Staring at the boogieman’s outstretched hand, it were as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. Everything felt ominous as the crystal ball he had always seen his future in violently shook. The wind began to change, and not only did he get to decide which way it blew, but he could finally choose his own destiny. However, if he shook the boogieman’s hand, it could be worse than shaking his hand with the devil and, from personal experience, that never went well. Then, suddenly, he came to a decision.

“Call off my sister’s wedding, and we will.”

Lucca only stared at him a moment then turned. “No.”

“You said fifty-fifty,” he told him, wondering if he should have shaken his hand first before fighting for his sister, but then he thought no, he had done the right thing. You never strike a deal until you’ve won, or at the very least was fair. “And you’ve taken everything from me. Kat is the only thing I’m asking to get back. My profits and Angel, you get to keep. You don’t even need her anyway.”

“But I do.” He stuck another cigarette between his tilted lips. “Making Katarina a Caruso ensures our deal and that you will never betray me.”

Fucking sick bastard wasn’t only smart, he was right.

“What about me, though? I’ve taken loss after loss. What ensures my deal with you? You have to give me something that proves your deal is in good faith and that you won’t stab me in the back one day.”

“Unfortunately, the terms you agreed to are off the table until I replace my father, but besides those”—Lucca flipped his Zippo open, the glow from the small flame illuminating his face as he lit the end of his cigarette—“what do you want?”

It was a scenario he thought he’d never in a million years be in, so when the question was asked, his mind nearly went blank. Only a whisper of an impossible thought echoed in his mind …

“Think carefully, Dominic.” Lucca’s voice held a knowing warning. “You only get one choice.”

Staring at the underboss, he wondered if he knew what it was Dom was going to choose before he himself knew.

Swallowing hard, he thought, if he asked what he secretly wanted, it was going to make it real. Dominic wasn’t going to be able to take it back, and until he shook Lucca’s hand, he was the enemy, which made this a very dangerous game. The only thing he wanted could cause the whole deal to fall through. It was a scenario of high stakes, high rewards, and the reward could be oh so sweet while simultaneously making him and Lucca even.

Taking one deep breath, he chose. With the second, he staked his claim. “Maria.”

It was an eye for an eye.

Lucca took a hard hit as he stared him in the eyes. Then he stood, leaned forward, and put out his hand again. “Deal.”

Confused, Dom furrowed his brows at how quickly Lucca had agreed to it.

Just like that? Holy shit, he’s even more of a cold bastard than I already thought.

Dominic stepped in front of Lucca’s desk and took the boogieman’s hand. “Deal.”

Lucca stood as they shook hands. Looking Dom in the eyes, he sealed the deal, making them go from sworn enemies since birth to … equal partners.

Nineteen

The Last Thing His Name Would Take

The second Dominic pulled his hand away from Lucca’s, his heart dropped at Lucca’s next words.

“Good luck with my sister.” Lucca smirked. “You’re going to need it.”