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Now, that is one piece of news that I had not heard yet.

"Really?" I lean back in my seat, a little surprised.

"Yes, and I don't know who's the next in line to inherit the business. Allegra has a cousin, but I'm not completely sure of the specifics," she mentions, going a little into detail about the Marchesi scheme and how it had gotten them killed.

I keep to myself that I'd already been aware of Enzo's secret, but I have to say I am impressed that she single-handedly killed her entire family.

"Then that leaves Guerra and DeVille, and knowing their enmity, I wouldn't bet any money thatbothwould sign up for the same thing," I chuckle.

The Guerra and DeVille dilemma is an old one, going back a few generations. Still, the two families are always at each other's throats, looking for ways to bankrupt and destroy the other. And after Benedicto's eldest daughter, Gianna, had eloped with a DeVille, the tensions became higher than ever.

"Yes," Marcello agrees, looking pensive, "it's one or the other. I've gotten a closer look at Benedicto's financials since we were supposed to merge our families," he adds drily, the animosity directed wholly at me, "and I couldn't see anything suspicious. Again, I wasnotlooking for any connection with Miles. But from what I did see, his businesses aremostlyon the side of legal."

"Then that leaves DeVille." I grimly nod.

The thing with DeVille is that they are quite possibly the most insular family in New York. They play by their own rules, and don't really subscribe to the same principles the others do.

"I'm curious how that would have worked, since by all accounts, Mother Superior was close with Guerra," I throw the theory out there.

"Well, isn't that reason enough?" Marcello smiles wolfishly, "Compete with Guerra for resources. It's all they've ever done. Benedicto was sure that it was DeVille behind Sisi's abduction." He raises an eyebrow at me, and I hear the condemnation in his words.

"Then I'll pay more attention to DeVille. It's certainly bound to be interesting," I reply, ignoring Marcello's jibe.

"You're aware Guerra will be out for blood, aren't you? And I'm not helping you with that," Marcello mutters.

"I can take care of myself, bro-in-law. Don't you worry." I wink at him.

"Might be more difficult now that Raf is missing too," Catalina adds worriedly.

"What do you mean?" Sisi is the first to speak and my hand tightens around hers.

I know she's friends with the boy, but I cannot help the rage that forms inside of me at the thought that had I been one more minute late, she would have been lost to me.

Oh, but how I would have killed the boy myself if it weren't for that stupid promise I made to Sisi. I may be a degenerate, but I am a degenerate who keeps his promises, much to my dismay.

"We don't know the particularities," Marcello answers, "but Benedicto's been in touch, thinking whoever kidnapped Sisi also kidnapped his son. Now, I didn't tell him about your prank, because that would have been akin to declaring war," he says, still eyeing me with hostility.

"Well, that's fine by me," I add, lounging in my seat, a little too happy at the turn of events. I don't even have to move a finger because someone else beat me to it.

"Vlad." Sisi elbows me, and I raise an eyebrow at her. I might be at her beck and call, but that doesn't mean I can't be gleeful because a thorn in my side–a thorn I couldn't myself pull–has suddenly disappeared. So I just shrug, a smile on my face.

"It seems that fortune favors the bold, after all." I lean in, lifting her hand to my lips and kissing her knuckles.

"Or the reckless," she mutters under her breath, and my smile widens.

"I never engage in recklessness, hell girl. I prefer to call it organized chaos," I murmur softly, my gaze trained on hers.

"Only you would take pride in something like that," she snorts.

"But of course." I grin at her, "You know I love my oxymorons."

"Hmm." She narrows her eyes at me, leaning into me slowly until I can feel her breath on my cheek, "Maybe because you're one yourself," she notes, her voice husky and seductive and fuck if it doesn't drive me crazy.

Marcello suddenly coughs, curiously looking between the two of us.

"I believe we were discussing something," he interjects, almost amused.

I'm starting to realize how dangerous it is having Sisi with me at times like this. Not only am I unable to concentrate, but it only takes one word from her for me to lose myself in her voice.