Page 56 of Damon

Chapter 17: Damon

The family meeting is held in the back room of Romano's, the restaurant we've used for business discussions since I was a kid. Same scarred wooden table, same dim lighting, same smell of garlic and old cigarettes that never quite fades.

My father sits at the head of the table, flanked by my uncle Sal. Three other underbosses fill out the rest of the seats, men who've been part of this organization longer than I've been alive.

All of them are looking at me like I'm a problem that needs solving.

"The Verga situation is escalating," my father begins without preamble. "They hit one of our warehouses last night. Burned it to the ground."

"How much did we lose?" I ask.

"Two million in merchandise. But that's not the real problem."

"What is?"

"The real problem is that they're getting bold. Testing our responses. Seeing how far they can push before we push back."

Uncle Sal leans forward. "Word is they're planning something bigger. Something that'll take us out of the picture permanently."

"War," my father adds. "They want to eliminate both us and the Bonaccis while we're distracted by this alliance. Leave them in control of the entire territory."

I think about Viviana's instinct yesterday that something was wrong. The Vergas are definitely escalating.

"What's our move?" I ask.

"That depends," my father says, his eyes fixed on mine. "How much longer do you plan to keep Roberto's daughter?"

The question hangs in the air, loaded with implications. Because this isn't just about strategy anymore. Everyone in this room knows I've been protecting Viviana longer than strictly necessary.

"As long as it takes to eliminate the threat," I say carefully.

"And how long is that?"

"However long it takes."

Uncle Sal snorts. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer I've got."

"Is it?" My father's tone is deceptively calm. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've gotten personally invested in this protection detail."

"I'm doing my job."

"Your job was to grab the girl, use her as leverage, and hand her back when the situation resolved. It's been weeks, Damon. The situation should have resolved by now."

"The Vergas are still a threat."

"Since when haven’t they been a threat?"

Uncle Sal clears his throat. "What your father's asking is whether you're keeping the girl because she's useful to the family, or because she's useful to you."

The accusation hangs between us. Because they're not wrong. I could have handed Viviana back to Roberto days ago. Could have negotiated a different kind of protection,something that didn't require her staying in my house, sleeping in my bed, sucking my cock.

"She's safer with me," I say finally.

"And why should we trust your judgment on this?" Timo asks. "You've been alone with her for weeks. She's young, she's beautiful, she's the enemy's daughter. You think we don't know what that does to a man?"

"My judgment's sound."