Page 103

A popular move of the Syndicate was to leak information to law enforcement and let them do the cleanup, especially when it came to human trafficking. I had no love lost for Gian, but illegal gambling was a revenue source Sandro was keeping. I needed to have a chat with Matteo, who was the current head Archer, but this conversation had to happen without Divina and Tommy present.

A commotion outside captured our attention.

“That’s as far as you go, Rossi!” someone shouted.

My heart leapt to my throat.Sandro is here.

I got out of the booth, but Nico stood in my way.

“What the hell?” My blood boiled. “Move!”

“He’ll need to face us first,” Matteo said.

I tried to sidestep my brother, but he stepped in sync with me. Exasperated, I glanced at my mother. “Mom.”

She looked resigned. For a moment, I forgot that this was not a sibling squabble where she had the power to settle our arguments. For a moment, I felt powerless. That I was out of my depth dealing with a situation like this.

“Bianca,” Tommy called my name.

I glanced at him. There was encouragement on his bruised face. He still believed in me.

“You’ve come this far, girl,” Sloane whispered.

Divina pursed her lips and nodded.

Dad and Matteo had already exited the premises.

“You can’t keep me from my husband!” I gritted into Nico’s face.

His expression remained unbending. “Watch us.”

Trevor took his place to keep me contained as Nico followed Matteo and Dad. Tommy tried to get up, but one of the soldiers who brought him in pointed a gun at him.

“Is that necessary?” I hissed at Dom.

He nodded for his soldier to lower his weapon. “Then stay in here and letyourfamily do what they gotta do.”

“Fine,” I growled. “It’s probably a good idea that those stubborn asses are distracted.” I mentally asked God's forgiveness for calling Dad a stubborn ass.

Dom looked amused. “What’s on your mind, cuz?”

I crossed my arms. “Reopen negotiations.”

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Sandro

The De Luccis were ready for us.

I told Arnie to stop at a street corner and I hoofed it to the café. The place was crawling with De Lucci soldiers as well as their paramilitary security, but I had Sticks and the club bouncers flanking me.

“Don’t interfere,” I told them. “Let’s not escalate tensions.”

“They’re going to beat the shit out of you if they don’t shoot you first.”

I clenched my jaw in determination. Bianca was worth it. “I deserve it.” But each step closer to the café was like marching to the gallows. The De Luccis wouldn’t let me talk to Bianca and had quit responding after they confirmed she was with them. Luca had served as the middleman, cautioning both sides to keep their temper.