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“Something wrong?” I ask mildly as he tugs at his collar.

“It’s … rather warm in here, isn’t it?” His voice is strained.

I smile, cold and sharp as a blade. “You wanted a war, Alessandro. Congratulations—you just lost.”

His eyes widen as understanding dawns. He tries to stand but his legs give out, sending him crashing back into his chair. One hand clutches at his chest while the other scrabbles uselessly at his throat.

“The thing about fear,” I say, standing to look down at him, “is that it makes people sloppy. Makes them forget to check theirdrinks, forget to watch their backs. Makes them think they’re untouchable.”

He’s gasping now, face turning an interesting shade of purple. I lean down close to his ear.

“You threatened my family,” I whisper. “Tried to use an innocent child as leverage. Did you really think I would let you live after that?”

His only response is a choked gurgle. Down in the main room, my men will take care of the security Alessandro brought. No man will leave here alive.

Eli and my other guards will handle the cleanup, transfer the bodies to the warehouse and make it look like an attack on the mafia. Clean, but deadly. Tragic, really.

I stand, straightening my cuffs as Alessandro Costa takes his last rattling breath. When he finally goes still, I pull out my phone.

I dial Eli’s number, ready to give him instructions. It rings once before he picks up.

“Eli,” I say into the phone, watching Alessandro’s lifeless body slump in the chair. “Get a cleanup crew in here. I want this place spotless.”

“On it, boss. What about the others?”

I check my watch. By now, my men will have neutralized Alessandro’s security detail downstairs. “Load the bodies into the vans. Take them to the warehouse—the one by the river. Stage it to look like they were attacked there.”

“And Costa?”

“Same place. Make it look like they were all ambushed during a meeting. Leave evidence pointing to the Barone family.” I pause, considering. “And Eli? Make sure Marcus Barone’s signature weapon turns up at the scene. He pays for this too.”

“Consider it done.” There’s a pause. “What about Leo?”

“Eve and Rissa already had plans for the warehouse, we’ll come in as back up. I want this to be her win. Once you’re finished at the warehouse, gather everyone at the usual spot. No mistakes. We take down what’s left of the Columbus families.”

“All of them?”

“Every last one.” I study Alessandro’s body, feeling nothing but cold satisfaction. “They chose their side. Now they’ll face the consequences.”

“Understood. Anything else?”

“Yeah. Tell Seb to start those server uploads we discussed. I want every dirty deal, every criminal enterprise, every piece of evidence in the hands of the Columbus PD.” I allow myself a grim smile. “Let’s give Eve and her partner something to work with.”

“Copy that. We’ll have it done within the hour.”

I end the call, then send a quick text to Micah.

Zeke

Clear for extraction. Meet me at the warehouse in twenty.

It’s time to win back my city. And get Leo back.

Chapter 25

In the Heart of Darkness

Evelyn