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LEONA

A t the last minute, Giulio switched the place of our agreed upon meeting from a warehouse building in the city to an abandoned office park just outside. Ciel and Cas had been scrambling, but Giulio and a few of the other men coming with him were worried someone snitched to Max about the location. A snitch was highly likely, so we couldn’t chance it. Ciel, Cas, and I arrived early anyway just to case everything and make sure it wasn’t booby-trapped this time around. Thankfully, it was clear.

Wynn had to stay a little later than planned with Fallon, but he was heading back from Philadelphia. Obi and Ryu were on their way back from the airport, but all three of them were supposed to meet us here any minute. Then Giulio was supposed to show up with whatever men he could gather.

We could do this.

My nerves were already shot. I’d been buzzing all day, going over what I wanted to say in my head over and over. It would be a balance of persuading them to join our new syndicate—that I could lead them as Head—and convincing them they needed to oppose Max.

Neither of those things would be easy.

I’d been a spoiled princess all my life, living separately from the business because of my father’s wishes. Max, on the other hand, was respected a thousand times over. He’d earned their loyalty—enough that they still followed him after he killed my father.

Getting them to switch their allegiance would be difficult. Cas had been talking to Giulio, doing his best to spread the word. I hoped it would be enough. The more powerful he became, the more alliances he formed, the harder it would be to kill him.

“Leona, I need to talk to you before everyone else gets here,” Cas started. He ran a hand through his hair, bracing his other hand on his hip.

He’d also been nervous all day, like something that he just couldn’t bring himself to say was on the tip of his tongue. It had been driving me crazy with worry. Did he not think this was going to work? If even he didn’t think so, how was I supposed to get these men to change their minds?

“What’s wrong, Cas?” I asked.

After another few moments of hesitation, he finally opened his mouth to speak. Before he had the chance to say anything, though, something poked into both sides of my waist. I jumped, squeaking in surprise, as arms spun me around.

“Ryuji!” I grinned at my dragon. “You guys made it!”

“Of course we did, sweetheart.” He pulled me into a deep kiss. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Where’s Obi?” I asked, breathless.

He nodded to the side, where Obi stood talking with Ciel. Obi glanced our way, momentarily meeting eyes with Cas, who swallowed, and gave a slight shake of his head. Something passed between them.

Before I could ask, Ryuji’s hands tightened on my waist. “Did you miss me?”

“Of course I did.” I brushed my thumb across the fading bruises on Ryuji’s jaw, giving him a small smile. “You look exhausted. You have dark circles.”

“Just a lot of travel.” His words were tight. “But we finished the job.”

I raised my eyebrows. “The Chinese will ship for us?”

“All over the world, sweetheart,” he said as he tweaked my nose. “And your empire expands.”

“ Our . Our empire expands.”

His eyes crinkled. “You’re right. Ours.”

Cas cleared his throat behind us, and I stepped out of Ryuji’s arms. “What were you saying, Cas?”

He looked from me to Ryu. “I’d like to speak with you in private.”

“Come on, bodyguard, I just got back,” Ryu ground out. “You didn’t get your fill while I was gone?”

I smacked his chest and rolled my eyes. “You can wait two more seconds. Go over there.”

“Fine.” With a sigh, he smacked my ass, and walked away to embrace Ciel. He ruffled Ciel’s hair, and the gesture was so much like what an older brother would do, that the side of my mouth kicked up.

“Okay, Cas, tell me?—”

A commotion drew my eyes to the entrance, where Giulio came into the room, followed by a group of Italian men I instantly recognized. “Alessio! Romolo! Daniele!”

The three rushed over, throwing arms around me in a giant hug. All these men were my father’s personal drivers and guards. They’d taken me to school when I was younger, sat with me in the kitchen while I did homework, and teased me as I pined after Max. Whenever Cas wasn’t with me, one of these three was.

“It’s so good to see you, piccola !” Romolo said. Extra wrinkles creased at his eyes, with more gray streaking his hair than usual.

Alessio pulled Cas into a hug. “We thought you were dead.” Alessio had taken Cas under his wing when he first came into the Family. He’d personally handled a lot of Cas’s training. “Caspian! Come sta?”

“ Bene , bene ,” Cas responded, matching their grins with one of his own. “It’s good to see you. We’re relieved you came.”

Daniele clasped him on the back of his neck and pulled him in for a hug while Giulio made some joke. Daniele had been the gatekeeper of our estate for longer than I could remember. He’d been one of the men who stopped the kidnapping attempt against me when I was twelve.

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my cheeks at how they chatted. Hope swelled in my chest. These men wanted to be here. They still cared about me.

Giulio lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “ Principessa . I’m glad you’re alive.”

I blushed. “Me too, Giulio. How many men have you got for me?”

More men filtered into the space, glancing around at the abandoned office furniture, before their eyes went wide at the sight of the Shadows huddled around an old conference table. My guys watched every single person carefully, despite how they were supposed to let Cas and I handle the main discussion tonight. We weren’t sure exactly how they’d respond to our partnership.

“I’ve got almost forty that came to hear you and Caspian speak—a couple of capos , even. They’re taking a big risk being here tonight.”

Forty. I sucked in a breath.

They were taking a huge risk. That many men off the front lines would draw Max’s attention. Ciel had set up a signal jammer to stop any outgoing messages, and we just had to hope that was enough to prevent snitching.

“We don’t have a lot of time, principessa ,” Giulio said, looking at his watch. “If you want to address them, you better start.”

I nodded, glancing at Cas. Whatever he needed to say would have to wait.

First, I needed to convince these men to switch to my side, and then we all needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

“Hey!” Giulio shouted. “Over here, now. Ascoltala!”

The office space was a large, open floor plan that was clearly gutted, yet remnants of the furniture—chairs, tables, a ripped-up sofa in the corner—and old equipment remained. I grabbed Cas’s hand as I climbed on top of the conference table so I could get a good view of everyone.

Suddenly, the space felt so small. Almost a hundred eyes scrutinizing my every move.

Cas stood beside the table, glancing from face to face. The rest of my men stood somewhat off to the side, trying not to make people nervous. Wynn still hadn’t arrived. Should we wait?

Giulio cleared his throat.

We didn’t have time to waste.

“First, let me say thank you for coming here tonight,” I began, clasping my hands in front of my stomach. My hands were sweaty. How the hell did this make me more nervous than stabbing Kofler through the heart? “I know the risk you’re taking, and regardless of your decision, you have my gratitude.”

Some men nodded at my words, while others cast awkward glances toward Obi, Ryu, and Ciel. I didn’t recognize a lot of these faces, but most of them I knew. Even if I didn’t know their names, I had seen them plenty of times. They knew me. But would everything I’d tried to do be enough?

“I’ll jump right to the chase,” I said. “I claim ownership of the men of the Vero Family. It’s mine by right as Don Luciano’s daughter. Max stole it from me when he murdered my father in cold blood.”

I thought I’d see some sort of anger at Max or pride at me being here, but as I looked through the group of men, all I saw was controlled indifference. None of the men seemed particularly surprised—they had to have guessed why I wanted to speak with them—but I didn’t expect so passive of a response.

“We heard the old Don was doing some dirty shit,” Daniele spoke. “We heard Max’s kill was justified.”

Fuck. Max must have told them, or at least allowed some of what my father was doing to slip through the ranks. The stolen drugs and the trafficking would make any of these men question my father, but the guns he sold to the government? That could ruin the whole Family if the news got into the wrong hands. How much did they know?

I crossed my arms over my chest. I had to take control of this narrative. “The truth is, Daniele, that my father was doing dirty shit. I’m not going to stand here and try to hide that. I carry the Vero name. After learning what my father did, I decided to be better. I want to fix all the shit he put this Family in, and I need your help to do it.”

“Max has been trying to fix it, too,” Daniele insisted.

I tried to control my reaction, but my jaw clenched. “Max hasn’t done shit but start wars and cost this Family money. I wouldn’t?—”

Grumbles went through the group, talking over me, with more than one voice insisting that wars were simply part of our world. I could see their disagreement written all over their faces. What had Max done? He’d caused nothing but death. That was what I was trying to fix.

“Max is a fucker who has damaged way more than he’s fixed.” Cas’s voice carried loud and clear over the crowd. They hushed their bickering to listen. “He’s caused this war between the Italians and the Russians. He’s bleeding money. He’s letting traffickers into New York, just like the old Don did, and doing nothing to stop it. He’s running the Family into the ground. You can all see it. The Family is dying under Max’s leadership.”

Everyone was quiet. They didn’t mind interrupting me, but they’d respect Cas’s word? I inhaled a deep breath to get my annoyance in check. They just didn’t respect me yet . That’s what I was here to earn.

That was what I had worked hard to show I deserved.

“What about them?” A man I didn’t know jerked his head at Ryu, Obi, and Ciel. Ryu seemed to exude darkness with his glower and the knife he casually flipped in his fingers.

“They are the Shadows.” I smiled. “And they are mine.”

The man who asked visibly paled. A few near my men stepped even farther away.

“Told you.” Giulio chuckled. “You assholes didn’t believe me that they have the Shadows on their side.”

“They are mine and I am theirs.” I folded my arms over my chest. “After Max tried to kill Cas and I, they saved us. We found a home with them.”

I glanced at Obi, who watched the men carefully, but he inclined his head. “We are more than allies. We are partners. Our futures are entwined. You know from our reputations that we have the power to back up our words.”

My chest swelled with pride and relief. Obi said we had to be willing to do whatever it took. I was willing; that’s why I killed Kofler myself. I wouldn’t let him down.

“Why would they help you?” Alessio asked, glancing to the men on his side. “I have to be honest, Leona, we’ve also heard some unflattering things about…”

“About what?” I asked.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well…your virtue.”

I choked down my gasp, along with the string of curses that threatened to burst from my mouth. My virtue? Who was talking about my fucking virtue? Max?

“Fuck. That.” Cas stepped forward, his anger painted in his furrowed brows and dark voice. “Anyone questioning Leona’s virtue answers to me. It’s nobody’s fucking business, and Leona’s virtue has nothing to do with her ability to lead. I’m fucking disappointed in you all for even letting that thought cross your minds. Grow the fuck up and come into this fucking century.”

The men looked visibly contrite at Cas’s rebuke, ducking their heads and nodding. My heart warmed at Cas’s defense.

“Sorry,” Alessio said softly, more to Cas than to me.

“It’s my honor you’ve besmirched, Alessio.” My voice was pure venom. Alessio was definitely part of the older generation, just about ten years younger than my father, but I thought he was better than that. “I think I’m owed your apology, not Cas.”

At that, his eyes widened. “S-sorry.”

Cas glared.

“I apologize, Leona.”

How the fuck had we gotten so far off track? I had to bring this back. We didn’t have time to fucking debate virginity as a social construct. I needed their allegiance. Now.

I folded my arms over my chest.

“The Shadows and I have formed our own syndicate.” My voice rang over the group. “Together, we’re going to change New York. We will not be like my father, or like Max. I want you, as my father’s men— my rightful men— to join us. Max might talk big about hunting down traitors, but he’s the traitor. He’s tried to kill me multiple times. He’s tortured Cas to the point of nearly killing him. He put you all at risk with this war with the Russians and the South Americans. Whatever promises he’s made you are empty. Whereas I’ve made allies. I’ve secured revenue streams. Despite my father’s errors in judgment, as his daughter, the Vero Family rightfully passes to me. Join us.”

I could see them mulling over everything I was saying. Yet, they were still looking to Cas and the Shadows.

“I understand what this must look like,” I continued. “A lot of you knew me as a spoiled, young princess who liked to party and cause trouble. I’m not that woman anymore.”

“Excuse me, principessa , I mean no disrespect.” Romolo paused with the tip of his head, waiting for me to gesture for him to continue. “How are we supposed to believe that? I’ve known you since you were a babe. I haven’t seen you in months. And you return with the Shadows on your heels? How are we supposed to know you’re not just under their control?”

“Have you heard how the West Coast gun trade is under new ownership?”

A few men murmured.

“A hostile takeover, I heard,” Romolo said. “It’s got the Don upset. The Family lost a lot of business from whatever happened.”

Part of me loathed to hear Max referred to as the Don, but the other part wanted to laugh that it pissed Max off. Excellent.

“Do you know who killed the old dealer? Who stabbed him and stole his business from underneath him?”

They shook their heads.

“Me.”

Murmurs of disbelief went through the men. Eyebrows raised as they processed the news. Heads cocked to the side. It was like they started to look at me with fresh eyes. Finally .

“I get why Max didn’t want anyone to know it was me.” I shook my head. This is exactly why I had to be the one to kill him. Why I had to prove I belonged here. “You’re right, the Family did lose a lot of business. But the West Coast gun trade is mine now. Once I take over, that business returns, and money starts flowing back in your pockets. And let me assure you, there is plenty of it to go around. I’m bleeding Max from all sides. Of course he doesn’t want you to know that.”

More whispers and shifting feet.

“Do you know why Max has been limping around lately? Do you know who stabbed him in the thigh?” They looked to each other, but no one seemed to look at me. “Anyone remember seeing nail marks slashed across his face?”

A few more of their eyes widened, with a couple nudging each other’s shoulders.

“That’s right. Me.” I straightened my back. “My knife.” I pulled the blade from the sheath on my thigh. “My nails.” I held up my fingers. “Me.”

A few nods, a few approving gazes. I could practically see their change of opinion written across their faces. We were so close . I just needed to seal the deal.

“These men”—I gestured to my three Shadows and Cas—“could handle all the dirty work for me. Believe me, they’re more than capable. But I’m not the woman who’s going to sit behind them and pretend to be in power. I am in power. I will kill Max. New York will be mine. The only question is whether you’re on my side or his.”

Silence stretched through the room. I swallowed, trying to piece out what they were thinking. A few whispered in each other’s ears. Should I say something else? What was next?

Giulio grinned. “Little Leona all grown up.”

“Yeah. Yeah,” I said with a small smile in return.

“You’ve convinced me,” he said, stepping forward to shake Cas’s hand and then mine. “I’m ready to swear allegiance. Who else is with me?”

At first, muted agreement rippled through the men. Then, as more and more stepped forward, cheers began to rise.

I looked at Cas. His eyes shined with pride.

“You’re with me?” I asked them.

“Yes!” Giulio shouted, along with Alessio, Romolo, and the rest. “We’re with you!”

I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Had this actually worked?

The men looked between me and Cas, their awe and respect evident. They came up, like Giulio, to shake our hands, and clap Cas on the back. A few even murmured “Congratulations,” which felt a little weird, but hey, I’d take it.

We’d gotten these men on our side.

And if we could get them, we could turn the rest. I was sure of it.

Max wouldn’t know what hit him when his entire army turned against him.

“Little Leona, growing into the woman she was meant to be,” Giulio said. He gathered Alessio and Romolo around me. Daniele was talking to Cas a few feet away. “Getting married. Running the Family. Just like we all thought you would.”

I frowned, my ears catching on one word.

“It’s just a shame that Max ended up being the enemy,” Giulio continued. Alessio nodded in agreement. “Oh, well, everyone loves Caspian just as much. It’s a good match, and it would make your father proud.”

“I’m sorry.” My brain struggled to catch up with what I was hearing. “What did you say?”

Romolo smiled. “When Giulio said that you were alive, I was so damn relieved. But when he said that you and Cas were planning to retake the Family, I knew I had to hear you out.”

I turned to Cas, a question in my eyes, but he kept his eyes on Giulio, his throat bobbing.

“Leona—”

“I know. I’m really glad I could convince them to come,” Giulio said with a sigh. “Half the guys in here probably wouldn’t have even shown up if they didn’t think you two would get married.”

“Married,” I repeated. Even the word felt weird as it slipped off my tongue. “Cas and I aren’t getting married.”

Giulio’s eyebrows pulled together. “Then what…”

Ryuji chose that moment to waltz over and throw an arm over my shoulder. “Queenie, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Your face is as white as a sheet.”

Giulio said something else, but my gut twisted with nausea. Had these men only agreed to switch sides because they thought Cas and I were getting married?

“Sweetheart,” Ryu said, grabbing my chin, and forcing me to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

It spilled out of my mouth before I could stop it. “These men want me to marry Cas.”

“Marriage? Between you two?” Ryu scoffed. “What the actual fuck?”

Obi walked over with Ciel. Obi didn’t look surprised by any of this. He only looked at Cas with his eyes knit together in frustration. But Ciel did look surprised. What was going on?

“Wait, it’s not what you think,” Cas started, abandoning his conversation with Daniele.

I held up a hand to stop him, my heart thundering.

“Giulio, could you please explain what you meant?”

His mouth hung open, but I leveled my gaze at him, and he swallowed. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression that you and Cas are getting married so you can run the Family together.” He looked at all of us. “Cas said you’d get married.”

My eyes went wide as my head whipped to him.

“That is absolutely not what I said.”

“What the fuck?” Ryu growled. His head whipped to Cas. “You said you’d put a ring on her finger, but I didn’t think you were actually fucking serious.”

A ring?

What?

My brain spun.

“Calm, everyone, please,” Obi said, lifting his hands. “Leona…”

All the pieces suddenly clicked together.

If you’re going to be a queen, you must make strategic decisions that further your goals.

“Obi—” Hurt twisted my throat closed.

He knew. He had practically told me himself. Make decisions without us . Agree to this. Secure the army.

Both he and Cas had talked about this. All those shared glances. The frustration. They’d planned it. Orchestrated it behind my back without telling me. Treated me like I was a pawn.

He wasn’t mentoring me. He was manipulating me .

Giulio looked between us all. “Feels like I’m missing something.”

They didn’t want me. They wanted Cas leading the Family. I was just the woman he would marry to achieve that.

Shouts echoed from the back of the room. Men shuffled, drawing their guns.

I shifted, pushing Cas out of the way so I could see what was happening.

“Max,” I breathed, eyes wide.

He sauntered in, flanked by five men. Casually, he pushed an old office chair out of the way. It rolled into an abandoned copier before falling to its side.

My guys moved to block me from him. Ryu and Cas stood in front of me, guns drawn side by side. Obi and Ciel shifted to my sides, wrapping me up in a cocoon of protection.

The entire place was moments away from exploding, and my heart was on the cusp of breaking. Someone snitched. Someone told him where we all were. Who?

I yanked my knife free from my thigh again and swallowed down the emotion. I bit my lip so hard it bled, trying to get control over the raging pulse in my ears.

“Wait!” I shouted.

Everybody froze. Max and I stared each other down.

I had to think. I had to be smart. We could not get into a firefight right now.

Despite their recent declarations of allegiance, these men could turn on me in a second. And now that I knew they were only here because they thought Cas would take over the Family, I knew they could gun us down in moments.

But if they still chose me—chose him —we could kill Max. If these men chose us, we could kill him right here and now.

“Nice of you to join us, Max,” I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible.

Calm. Restraint.

“Well, well, well,” Max said, hands in his pockets like he hadn’t just caught almost forty traitors red-handed. His dark suit was immaculate, as always. “What do we have here?”

I swallowed, stepping between Cas and Ryuji. “Just a few old friends catching up. Why? You didn’t get your invite?”

His hair fell in front of his eyes when he shook his head. “Looks like mine got lost in the mail.”

“Bummer.” My hand fisted at my side, knife in hand.

Max looked around the room, pausing on each face. I watched as the men shrank under his gaze, faltered, and refused to meet his eyeline.

“The Family is mine, Max. These men are mine.”

“No.” His voice sliced through the air, so powerful it felt like a dagger down my chest.

Nobody moved.

I could feel my Shadows behind me, waiting for some kind of signal, command, anything telling them what to do. Should they kill him?

“Lots of weapons on me right now,” Max said as he walked around. “I’d be careful about not making any sudden moves.”

Some men flinched when he walked by, making sure to catalog each person here. Others stepped backward, away from me. The message written on most of their faces was so clear.

We were losing them.

Fuck.

“Oh, yeah? Got the whole place booby-trapped again, Max?” I asked. “How unoriginal.”

He shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. But I’d be more concerned about Chiara right now.”

My jaw clenched and my stomach plummeted to my feet. “Where is she?”

“Safe with me. For now.” He paused, glancing at a cobweb hanging from an old ceiling fan. “If I don’t leave this place alive? Who knows, then?”

“Always have to use tricks, traps, and hostages to fight your own battles, huh, Max,” Cas said through gritted teeth. He still hadn’t lowered his weapons.

The army watched them both, waiting to see who would emerge victorious.

“I just use my brain to ensure I’m the one who walks away,” he replied with a shrug. “That I’m the one who wins.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about walking away tonight, Max,” I said.

“Right back at you, Leona. I don’t take kindly to people trying to poach my men.” He tsk ed his tongue as he strolled the room. Alessio flinched as Max paused in front of him. “ My men, Leona. Not yours.”

“They belonged to me the moment you killed my father?—”

“No. They’ve been mine for far longer than that.” He lifted his chin and spoke to everyone in the room. “I get it. You wanted to come see the princess, hear what she had to offer. I don’t blame you. A spectacle is a spectacle. Even a train wreck makes a good show.”

My eyes narrowed.

“This time I’ll be lenient.” Max lifted his hand, pointer finger extended up. “ One time. Back out of here and get back to your assignments where you belong. No grudges, no hard feelings. That’s it.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, right, Max. You all think he’d just forget about this?” I shook my head. “Nope. He’ll kill you just for being here. Might as well switch sides and help me take him down.”

Even Giulio faltered, eyes shifting between the two of us.

I was still operating under the attitude they were here for me.

They weren’t. And they certainly weren’t going to risk their lives for me.

But they’d already proved they would for Cas.

Make the decision.

Fuck. Fuck this. Fuck being in this position.

I raised my head high and let my voice cut through the tension in the room. “The Family isn’t just mine. It’s Caspian’s, too. It’s ours.”

Silence. Eyes shifted from side to side. Giulio tensed, exchanging a glance with Alessio and Romolo.

Max’s eyes flashed. “Oh?”

“That’s right, Max.” I lifted my chin. Shit . It had to come to this. I wasn’t going to get them on my side without it. “Cas and I are engaged. It’s always been me and him, and now the whole Family gets to see it.”

I didn’t look at my guys. I didn’t turn my head as Ryuji glared at Cas. I didn’t glance behind me at Ciel, who had just welcomed Cas into the Shadows with open arms. And I definitely didn’t look at Obi, who’d used me like a piece on his chessboard. But I could feel all their gazes boring a hole into my back.

I had to choose this marriage. It was the only way I was going to get these men on my side—if this even worked.

But what was it going to do to my guys?

A muscle feathered in Max’s jaw. “A political play that means nothing.”

“Something you’re intimately familiar with, Max,” I said as I stepped forward. “But no. I love Cas. He loves me. This was always going to be our future.”

“In that case, the line of inheritance is clear,” Giulio said. “The Family falls to Caspian.”

The men shifted from foot to foot. It was like, suddenly, they respected us again. Suddenly, we were legitimate.

Simply because in their eyes, Cas would take power, and I’d be the meek wife by his side. It made my blood fucking boil. But if I stopped to consider it now, stopped to think about how Cas had clearly known this was on the table and hidden it from me, I’d ruin everything.

I’d save my anger for when Max either left or was dead at my feet.

I forced the words out. “The Family falls to Caspian. Cas will be the Head.”

Cas cleared his throat. “Max’s claim cannot rival a legitimate marriage. With our union, we claim leadership of the Vero Family. It’s ours, not his.”

Ripples went through the men.

Cas stood tall. He stretched out his hand to mine in a silent plea. I saw the apology in his eyes, but it meant nothing—just like me believing I could be the Head meant nothing.

I took his hand, my fingers cold in his. I didn’t meet his pleading gaze. I stared straight ahead at Max, who was staring at our clasped hands.

“The future of the Vero Family belongs to us,” I said before turning to the rest of the men. “Is this a debate? One of us trying to prove we’re better leaders? Fuck, no. It’s a choice. Make yours. Now. Our side, or his.”

The men started to move, shifting across the imaginary line I’d drawn through the room. My heart stuttered in my chest, watching how each man made their decision.

By the end, half of the men stood behind Max. Half stood behind us.

Alessio, Romolo, and Giulio fell to our side.

But Daniele stood beside Max. Snitch . The truth was clear in his seething stare. He looked at me like I was worthless, a little girl playing a stupid game, and that was exactly how I felt.

“Well, there you have it, Max.” Just power through it. Just hold on until this is over. “What’s it going to be?”

Cas squeezed my hand, but I ignored him.

The click of a gun drew our attention to where Wynn stepped up behind Max, guns raised. “Careful now.”

Wynn . Thank God he was here.

His eyes flicked to mine, to Cas’s, and his face fell. My heart sank even further as I realized he knew, just like Obi and Ryuji had. He knew, and he didn’t tell me either.

Max chuckled, turning from Wynn back to us. “Well, this was a surprising development. Congratulations to the happy couple.”

“Fuck you,” Cas growled.

“Let me say this to all of you,” I said, addressing the men who chose Max. “Max is a parasite. A piece of shit, garbage human?—”

“Ouch.”

“—who only wants to use you as a means to his own ends. If you ever want to change your mind, if you want leadership that cares about your future, and the future of this city, come find us. It’s never too late to pick the winning side.”

“And you all,” Max said, voice hard as he looked at my half of the room. “Don’t bother coming back. Traitors don’t get second chances. If we see you on the street, you’re dead.”

With that, he inclined his head, and turned to leave. He walked right past Wynn, casting him a withering glare. His half of the army followed after, their guns still raised at us until they had safely exited the building.

Everyone on my side breathed a collective sigh of relief once they left.

“Ciel,” Wynn said with a jerk of his head. The two of them followed shortly behind, only returning a few minutes later to confirm they were gone.

“Fuck.” I pulled my hand free from Cas’s. He opened his mouth, but I held up a hand. “Don’t you dare.”

I turned to the half who stayed with us. “It’s not safe to stay here long, but Cas and I want to thank you for your support. We will retake New York. Max is living on borrowed time.” I gestured to Obi. “Follow Obi’s orders and get out of here before Max returns.”

Obi gave Giulio and the other defectors instructions, first sending them toward Makarov and his territory for now. Until we could find a main headquarters, Makarov was the safest place for them. We’d give them further direction after that.

I turned on my heel, ready to get out of this fucking place and get back to the penthouse.

“Leona,” Wynn whispered as he stepped close to me. He reached out a hand, but I met his eyes and confirmed what I thought earlier. Somehow, he knew. “It’s going to be okay.”

I pushed past him.

Ryu and Cas followed after me, exchanging insults and jabs, but I didn’t fucking care.

The truth of the evening had settled in. I had the men. I’d gained part of an army. But it was meaningless. They chose Cas, not me.

Despite everything I’d done, all the strength I’d tried to gain, it all meant nothing. I’d failed before I’d truly even begun.

Those men looked at me and saw a girl who had no power.

Maybe that’s all I was.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

Cas had lied to me. They’d all lied to me. Only Ciel seemed surprised by the fact that marriage was on the table tonight. And me? I looked like a fucking idiot because I had no idea.

The cord of trust I held between our group shattered.