Page 57 of Angel of Light (Lords of The Commission: New York #5)
MAX
The bass from the club’s sound system thrummed through the floor, vibrating up through the soles of my leather shoes as I stalked past the bouncer.
The red velvet rope that separated the VIP area from the masses felt like crossing into enemy territory.
Which, considering who was waiting for me, it fucking was.
Dea Tacita’s exclusive section was dimly lit, all black leather and crystal, designed to make the wealthy feel untouchable. Tonight, it reeked of an expensive cologne I was all too familiar with, aged whiskey, and the metallic scent of barely contained violence.
Vincenzo sat sprawled in a corner booth like he owned the place. The amber liquid in his glass caught the low lighting as he swirled it lazily, his dark eyes tracking my approach with the predatory focus of a snake sizing up its prey.
“What are you doing here, Vincenzo?” I barked as soon as I passed that velvet rope into the VIP area of Dea Tacita, my voice cutting through the muted music like a blade.
He didn’t even look up from his drink, just lifted it to his lips with deliberate calmness before responding. “Keeping an eye on you and reminding you not to try to be a hero.”
“A hero?” I laughed, the sarcasm drenching it in acid. My chest rose and fell with barely controlled rage. “Did my cape give my intentions away? How the fuck am I supposed to be a hero when you’ve made sure I had no way out of this?”
Vincenzo finally looked up, setting his glass down slowly. His eyes glittered with malicious satisfaction, and when he spoke, his voice was like a razor blade dipped in venom.
“You had your chance and you threw it away. If you think about it, I’m just enjoying your sloppy seconds.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. Fury radiated through my body, setting every nerve ending on fire.
The rational part of my brain screamed warnings, but it was drowned out by the roar of rage in my ears.
Before I could stop myself, my hand was wrapped around his neck, my fingers digging into his throat, eager to squeeze the last breath out of him.
His skin was warm under my palm, his pulse jumping frantically against my thumb even though his expression remained calm and unaffected.
In an instant, Fabio had his gun pressing into my kidney, the cold metal a stark reminder of how quickly things could go sideways.
The distinctive click of a safety being released echoed behind, louder than the thumping music that drowned out most of the noise in the club.
Without hesitation, Jimmy pushed his Glock into Fabio’s back, creating a deadly chain of weapons that could turn this VIP section into a slaughterhouse.
If only pulling these triggers wouldn’t create a ripple effect on others, I could free Alison even if I didn’t live to reap the benefits.
I tightened my grip on Vincenzo’s throat, feeling the rapid flutter of his pulse beneath my fingers. “Watch your fucking mouth,” I growled, leaning in close enough that my breath slithered across his face. “Remind me again why I can’t kill you right here and now.”
Vincenzo smiled, the gesture of satisfaction on his face grating on my nerves. Even with my hand around his throat, death breathing down his neck, the fucker looked like he was enjoying himself.
He reached up slowly, his movements deliberate and taunting, and wrapped his fingers around my wrist. He didn’t pull away, yet, at least.
“There’s this thing that comes with having nothing to lose, Gabriel,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse but steady as a rock.
His grey eyes bored into mine with that intensity that had always made my skin crawl.
“It’s called unwavering power to do whatever the fuck I want, consequences be damned.
I don’t cherish my life all that much, and that’s the only thing I have left.
While you, my little bastard brother,” he spat the endearment like it was poison, “you have so many weaknesses. So many people I can make bleed just to get my revenge on you.”
Vincenzo yanked on my arm with surprising strength and set himself free from my hold, his fingers leaving red marks on my wrist as a matching pair to the ones I left on his neck.
He straightened his tie with an unfitted serenity, as if we’d been discussing the weather instead of dancing on the edge of murder.
“That’s the issue with love. It makes you vulnerable. That was your mistake.”
“You wouldn’t dare. You don’t have the numbers to survive a war with the Battaglias.” I was fishing for his secrets, and my vain brother was too damn proud of himself not to let me see right through his plan.
“I don’t need to have the numbers.” His voice carried that smug satisfaction that made me want to put my fist through his face.
“Once the Commission is involved, I have the law of the unlawful behind me. Even if Matteo Battaglia has two seats, there are two more to control. Besides, if you weren’t so busy fucking my fiancé during a mafia meeting, you’d know the power is diluting, and because it suited me, I made it happen quicker.
More families are about to hold a vote and gain power in the Commission, which means that the Battaglia and Amato control is over.
Anything you do to sabotage this arrangement will end in bloodshed.
Is that what you want for your new famiglia ?
For them to watch their loved ones pay for your sins? ”
Each word was a calculated blow, designed to hit where it would hurt most. I could see the chess master at work, several moves ahead, while I was still trying to figure out the rules of the game.
I’d forgotten how much of a tactical fucking genius my brother was. He didn’t need physical strength to overpower his enemies. He just needed to be one fucking step ahead.
My jaw clenched so hard I thought I might crack a tooth. The music from the main floor seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of my own ragged breathing and the whispered conversations of the other VIP patrons who were pretending not to notice the drama unfolding in our corner.
Unfortunately, I was too busy with my obsession with a mafia princess to see it coming. Vincenzo had too much leverage, too much damn advantage, too much time to plan for the fallout he was already expecting.
But there was one thing love brought aside from weak spots and vulnerability – unwavering will.
I straightened my shoulders, feeling something cold and deadly settle in my chest. The fear was still there, but it was overshadowed by something darker and much more dangerous.
There was one variable Vincenzo didn’t control, and that was where I needed to strike.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that made Fabio shift nervously behind me.
“Is this what you want for your family? Even if broken, even if your son doesn’t know who his father is, is this what you want him to find out when he comes looking for answers? ”
For the first time since I’d walked into this VIP section, Vincenzo’s composure cracked. Just a fragile fracture, but I caught it. His knuckles went white around his glass, the slight tightening around his eyes, the barely perceptible intake of breath.
“My son is none of your goddamn business,” he snarled, all pretense of calm evaporating as he took a step forward.
I smiled, feeling the shift in power like it was tangible. “You dragged my loved ones into this game, and you, better than anyone, know that all is fair in love and war. Right, Brother?”
The endearment came out twisted, mocking, and I watched with satisfaction as his face darkened with rage.
“If you hurt him,” his voice dropped to a deadly hiss that made the temperature in the room seem to plummet, “she dies.”
“I would never dream of hurting a child. I’m not the sick one here. But there are other ways.”
Vincenzo’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, and when he spoke, his voice carried the promise of death. “Careful, Gabriel. You never know when a new bomb might go off.”
“I’m vigilant, Vincenzo,” I replied, straightening my cuffs with a deliberate calmness.
“Just as you should be.” I turned to Jimmy, who was still holding his gun to Fabio’s back, disguised in the dim lightning, his finger resting on the trigger with professional ease.
“Jimmy, escort these men out of the club. They’ve overstayed their welcome. ”
The dismissal hung in the air like a challenge. Vincenzo stared at me for a long moment, his dark eyes promising retribution. Then, slowly, he followed his men, smoothing down his jacket with movements that were just a little too controlled to be natural.
As he walked past me, he paused, “I’m watching your every move, Fratello.”
Some wars aren’t fought with bullets.
Matt’s words were a constant echo in my mind, reminding me that I couldn’t solve things with force this time.
Vincenzo was too cunning to have left loose ends, unless they had left him. Camila was my last resort. She was the base of our issue and the only one who could help solve it. The problem was finding her.
I’ve had Jimmy on that task for a week now with little to no results.
Time was ticking. Relentless and unforgiving.
Looking at Alison, who sat in the passenger seat, my heart tightened before skipping a whole damn beat.
I was going to lose her. The only thing that truly mattered in my life. The future mother of my children. The only woman who could ever own a piece of my soul.
Lost.
To my brother.
Quickly, I swerved the car to the right, back into my lane, missing the delivery truck that drove toward me by a mere inch.
“Jesus!” Alison protested, her sunken eyes showing me just how drunk she had gotten tonight.
“Sorry. I got distracted.”
By you. By the thought of you marrying another man. By this deafening silence that felt like a canyon. By the thought of losing you to my brother because I was too much of a fucking saint to snatch you for myself when that was my mission.