Page 34 of Nikola

“No matter.” Enrico clicked his tongue with annoyance flaring in his eyes, clearly directed at Luca. “With the recent developments, it’s everyone’s business.”

Amon and I shared a look. He was referring to the organ trafficking that’d been plaguing the criminal world.

“Anything your side is aware of?” Enrico asked Amon, who headed Yakuza operations.

“We’re running into a similar problem.” Amon slid his hands into his pockets. “We’ve located a warehouse where underground surgeries were performed, but as soon as we shut it down, ten more popped up on our radar. The business is too lucrative and people are too greedy to turn down the opportunity.”

I agreed, but despite the fact that we were sharing information and trying to get ahead of organ trafficking, we were constantly a step behind the masterminds running it. Marco King’s bastard child was dead. We cut off one head of the snake, and two more popped up. The truth was that we weren’t even sure who was involved.

“We need to send a message,” I stated matter-of-factly. “It shouldn’t be a venture anyone even considers aligning themselves with. If they witness us dismantling everyone touching that business, people will start dropping off. Risks have to outweigh the benefits.”

“Matteo Vitale attempted to establish a relationship with an FBI agent, but it seems the scrupulous fed has an agenda of his own,” Luca pointed out. “If we can’t find a way to join forces, the organ traffickers will continue to be a step ahead of us.”

“Let’s head inside,” Marchetti cut in. “And I shouldn’t need to remind either of you: weaponry doesn’t cross the threshold.”

I nodded and we disarmed at the entrance of the restaurant, securing our pieces in the vault kept exactly for this situation.

The restaurant had a Mediterranean feel—the walls were hand-painted with motifs of vineyards, Roman ruins and statues, and Sardinian beaches. The tinted bulletproof windows worked to keep the guise of elegance protected and made patrons like myself feel at ease among fellow criminals.

I nodded toward the men around the table, but it only took one look at Sasha Nikolaev for my blood pressure to spike. It was bad enough I’d have to look at his ugly face for Thanksgiving weekend, but he had to show up here too.

My Nix carried a baby for him and Branka, and it turned out to be her last healthy pregnancy. She wanted to ensure peace between our families, and once Damien was born, we tried for another baby of our own. It ended up being a stillborn. The doctor claimed abnormality and cautioned us against having any more children. Despite his advice, my wife wanted to try for another baby, but I refused to risk her life.

The whole experience made me feel robbed by Sasha and the whole damned Nikolaev family. It was irrational; I knew that.

“Gentlemen,” Enrico greeted. “We’re ready to start.”

“About fucking time,” Sasha grumbled. “What kind of restaurant doesn’t at least put out a spread?”

I barely controlled the urge to strangle the blond Russian bastard.

“Dante, don’t start,” Amon muttered under his breath. I met my brother’s eyes, registering the warning they held. He’d always been the calmer, saner of the two of us.

We took our seats at the circular table, Marchetti opposite me and Amon on my left.

“Let’s get this over with. I want to be home before my family wakes up,” I started.

“We learned of five separate cases in Italy alone over the past week where a body was found with organs extracted,” Marchetti said.

“And even more in the States,” Sasha chimed in, causing me to grit my teeth.

I locked my eyes on him, picturing all the ways I could wipe that stupid smile off his face. If only it wouldn’t upset Skye. Shethought of him as her second father. That’s right: he was second. I was first, and the most important.

“It’s happening globally,” Amon stated. “Spreading like a disease. The only reasonable assumption is that it’s run by several people. Other than that, we’re in the dark about any details regarding who, where, or why.”

“Probably our past haunting us,” Luca grumbled.

“Which is exactly why I propose we make certain alliances,” Enrico chimed in.

I frowned, something about his tone raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “What kind of alliances are we talking about?”

The silence stretched, the tension building, and I fucking thrived on it.Let it fucking explode.

“Marriage alliances between factions who align with our interests,” Enrico answered like it was the best idea he’d ever had. “Luca’s daughter was promised a while back, but it’s time we consider it for other daughters too. Like yours, Dante.”

I didn’t mind explosions, but for fuck’s sake… this one detonated in my face.

“Fuck no,” Sasha and I said, in agreement for the first time ever.