Page 42

Chapter 42

Eden

Gilly's isn't full of people, but the tension and powerful egos in the room make it feel packed.

The Chamber is convening this gathering. Massimo, Ash, Dom, Sile, and Bill all stand together, facing the leaders of the other criminal factions in San Francisco. Usually, Massimo would be the Chamber's convenor, but given the conflict of interest with Vito at the heart of this, Ash stepped forward, and he calls for quiet now.

Gus and I are the only staff inside. Frank and the rest of the security team are stationed outside, guarding the perimeter.

The local police force has cordoned off a three-block perimeter. This contains the violence if anything goes south during this meeting and ensures no collateral damage. It also prevents anyone from striking at the power base in this city with all the leaders in one location.

I feel the weight of their stares as they regard me. The fingertip bruises on my throat from Amazu are visible. My bruised and stitched up face is impassive. I defiantly stare down the room— maybe not the best play, considering I need these people to vote in my favor—however, I won't cringe or cower.

"Shut the fuck up," Ash barks to those still talking, and the room goes silent. "Let's get this rolling and wrapped up."

Ivan, the head of the Serpents, a gang that's deep into the drug trade, openly checks me out. His eyes roll up and down my body. "I'd like to get her rolling and wrapped up."

My jaw flexes, but I remain silent.

"Shut the fuck up, Ivan," Dom snaps.

He glares at Dom, then me, but shuts his mouth.

"You all know how Gilly's operates and how succession happens," Ash begins. "We're here to vote on this one-time exception of that. Ed, I'll give you the floor."

I feel Gus's worried stare at my back, ready to get me to the office where Vito waits, just in case.

I turn my head and look at Sile Chen and Bill Ibrahim—both had been Lixin's and Amazu's seconds-in-command. Both now know of their former leaders' treachery to the Chamber. They oppose the human trafficking that their former leaders tried to reinstate underhandedly.

We're keeping Lixin and Amazu's betrayal under wraps.

No one outside the Chamber leaders and their inner circles knows the damning evidence on the USB and what Lixin, Amazu, Novak, and Mancini revealed at the factory. This serves two purposes.

One, it ensures Bill and Sile's cooperation so the Chamber is unanimous and unified. And two, it keeps any potential blowback on their criminal organizations for retribution for Lixin and Amazu's treachery.

As far as any of the others in this room know, Lixin and Amazu had been killed when the Chamber mounted the attack to remove the threat against it.

Of course, it burns me that Aiken's murderers won't be publicly outed for the traitorous bastards they are. That they get to be remembered as brave leaders who fought well and hard.

But I know justice has been served, with Vito and Ohith acting as judges, jury, and executioners.

In return, my silence secures Sile's and Bill's votes to keep Vito and me safe.

I turn back to the group staring at me, waiting for me to justify my actions. The secret about Lixin and Amazu has been buried, but Vito and I haven't been.

I take a deep breath. "Aiken believed one hundred percent in Gilly's. It was his life's purpose, and he died for it. He died to protect it."

"And you and Vito bastardized that," someone calls from the crowd. "Isn't that why we're here?"

"Silence," Sile snaps, then nods to me.

"Vito and I had encountered one another before I became Gilly's owner-operator." That is the truth, even if it's stretched. This next part is a lie, but I have no problem telling it because Vito's life is on the line. Mine, too; however, his is the one that matters most. "We met and developed feelings before I accepted to be Aiken's successor. However, once I was in my role at Gilly's, we didn't act on those feelings."

One hundred percent a lie but we're blending truths and lies today.

"Ed and Vito brought this conflict of interest to the Chamber's attention as soon as Ed became Gilly's owner-operator," Ash states in his low, gravelly voice. "Dom, Lixin, Amazu, and myself investigated, and oversight was put in place so we could closely monitored the situation. At no point has Vito, or the Santoro family, had an advantage,"

Man alive, this man is a smooth liar.

"And we all owe Ed a debt of gratitude," Dom adds. "For exposing a plot that would've undermined the sanctity of Gilly's operations. Plus, it would've put us all at risk because it would've caused federal and international authorities to turn their eyes to our city."

No details about the death ring or Lixin and Amazu's plans and intentions are being shared. But if a local site for the heinous ring was set up in San Francisco, then all the city's criminal activities could have come under a microscope by local, state, federal, and international authorities. Which would increase the risk of incarceration, loss of profits, territory, and more.

"All at the risk to her person," Sile adds. He follows it up by making a small bow to me. I'm unsure if it's all for show or at least partially in respect.

Bill clears his throat as he regards the leaders. "Ed helped ensure the continued operation of several, if not all, of us here in this room."

There's a buzz of quiet chatter.

I shift to stand ahead of the Chamber leaders. "Gilly's is about being an impartial and unbiased place, and that needs to continue. Because of what I learned about my brother's murder," I keep it vague, "and feelings that have grown between Vito and me, even with us trying to ignore each other, I can no longer remain impartial and unbiased as Gilly's owner-operator."

"Have you and Vito fucked?" Sean Finley, who leads a branch of the Irish mob here, outright asks.

Dom speaks before I have to lie.

"Did you ever see Vito act inappropriately toward Ed?" he demands. "Or her to him? Ed hardly fucking looked at him or gave him the time of day."

"I saw her talk to you more, Sean." Amir, the Prez of the Electric Reapers, a smaller MC, smirks. "You were always trying to make goo-goo eyes at Ed."

"Was not," Sean huffs, his face turning red.

"They steered clear of each other," Ash outright lies again with a straight face.

"And Massimo? What do you have to say?" Ivan challenges.

Massimo clears his throat. "You've all known Vito for years. His loyalty is to our family—it always has been and will be. Ed…" He glances at me. "Eden is now someone who he views as his family.

"She is someone he met before she became Gilly's owner-operator. There's no evidence of inappropriate conduct on either of their behalf. If there is, now is the time to speak and present that."

The barroom is silent as Massimo waits for anyone to step forth. Tension and anxiety swell within me, threatening to wash over me with panic.

"And the attack on Ed a few nights ago?" Amir asks.

"That was to stop Ed from finding Aiken's murderer and uncovering the plot against the Chamber," Sile answers. "Now that we've dealt with the usurpers," his jaw shifts, but his expression remains flat, "and have recovered Ed after they grabbed her, this is our effort to be transparent with you and close the chapter on this."

"As Ed said," Dom continues, "after what was discovered about Aiken's murder, she was forthright with us that she couldn't remain impartial and unbiased." There's ripe curiosity about all the details being left out, but no one presses that. "And like Ash said, we have been closely monitoring the situation to ensure no bias toward the Santoros occurred after Ed and Vito disclosed their previous relationship. They kept their distance, following Gilly's rules." He turns to me, a slight glint of humor in his eye. "To the letter."

Vito told me that Dom openly admitted he'd be calling in a favor for backing this 'union,' but my stomach is swirling too violently to be curious what that would be.

"Ed and Vito could've snuck around behind all our backs," Ash growls, like his patience for this gathering is ending. "Instead, they took the risk and came forth to the Chamber to discuss appropriate next steps."

Lies and more lies mixed with a dash of some truth.

But do I give a shit?

Not in the least.

"Which is why we gathered you all here," Massimo picks up, like this a well-scripted play. "For your vote, for this one-time exception, for how Gilly's succession occurs."

There's a dull din as the leaders talk.

Succession happens upon death. They aren't just saying yes to bending Gilly's succession rules, but deciding the fate of two lives.

These are criminals. Some are pieces of shit, while others are like Massimo, Ash, and Dom, and have some kind of moral compass.

But some could be power tripping.

I think of Lixin and Amazu. Even before it came to light who they really were, I could see them voting no just because they had the power to kill two people, especially one who is mafia royalty.

Dread and anxiety rise in me.

We're not going to get out of this. We're going to have to run, or we'll die.

Massimo and Gus shift closer to me. Dom steps forward, leaving a clear path behind him to the door that leads to the hallway and my office. Ash positions himself with Dom, like two O-line football players, getting ready to block and protect the path the play is set to take.

If Massimo and Gus intervene to get me to safety, everyone will see and know. It might even be apparent that Ash and Dom played a role in allowing me to get away. And there will be backlash against them.

Why the hell didn't I think of that before?

Instead, I wanted to let Vito and Ohith take care of this part if it came down to it. They hadn't flagged that risk, and I blindly didn't allow myself to think about it.

There will be fallout. There would have to be.

All because of me.

Not everything in the criminal underworld in this city is sunshine, unicorns, and kumbaya. The fact remains that the five strongest criminal factions hold extra power in this city, and it makes sense that not everyone would be happy about that. Add to it that the Santoros and the Chamber had roadblocked human trafficking in the city—to the full extent that they could at least—that wouldn't please everyone because the sad, sick fact is there's a shit ton of money in that revenue source.

Yes, the Chamber has enabled a calm, relatively peaceful environment where profits and success for the majority of criminals can thrive. However, others love anarchy and chaos—for the sake of it, but also to create opportunities to take power from others.

Did the Chamber overplay their hand? Overestimate their power and control here?

I don't know Sile well, but Bill has spent time in Gilly's. Bill, along with Massimo, Ash, and Dom, is strategic and cunning.

They would've thought about this from all angles ; the rational part of my brain pushes in, trying to rein in my panic.

There doesn't feel like there's enough air in the bar, and my breath wants to come in small, shallow pants. A low buzzing noise has started in my head and sweat beads down my spine. My resting bitch face mask is still in place, but my hands have a slight tremor.

Vito and I are dead. I'm sure of it.

Massimo won't be able to do anything about it; he won't be able to protect Vito. If the vote is against us, and Massimo tries to intervene to save Vito, the Santoro empire—all their people, businesses, and assets—will be put on the open-hunting market.

I have to stop this. I can't save myself, but I'll be damned if Vito or his family goes down with me.

I close my eyes, about to call a halt to this.

"Ed." A female voice rises above the din. "Who is your father?"

The bar quiets down, and everyone turns to the one who asked that curious question.

Well, it's curious to them, but not to me. This is who Ohith said he had waiting in the wings, just in case.

Zara, a woman with ebony skin who leads the Sirens, a group of women who go after people who abuse and hurt children, steps forth. "Who is he, Ed? And I'm not talking about your biological sperm donor."

I side-glance at Massimo, but he's unreadable as usual. I wet my parched lips. "Ohith."

There's a collective hiss that moves through the room, like a snake slithering through, as the leaders suck in sharply.

Sean frowns, glancing around at the others. "He's dead."

"Faked his death. Axin, too," someone calls from the back.

"Is that supposed to be a threat?" Ivan scoffs. "To sway our vote?"

"You'd be a fucking idiot to vote against Ohith's daughter," Amir mutters. He lifts his hooded eyes to me and winks.

"It's obvious which way Zara's vote will be cast," a man with greasy, long hair sneers. "Leave it to a woman to be swayed by the prospect of love ."

Zara weaves her way through the crowd toward him. She looks like a cross between a runway model and a femme fatale.

"Oh, Draco." She drags a long nail down his cheek. "You're just being a whiny little bitch because I dealt with two of your men who had a nasty habit of sending their women and kids to the hospital."

"Fuck you, bitch." He jerks, and his lanky hair moves as one piece.

I clear my throat. "This is Gilly's. No bloodshed allowed on premises," I remind them.

Zara smirks at me over her shoulder, then turns her back on Draco, unconcerned.

"So much like your brother, Ed. He regularly told me the same thing." Her beautiful face turns somber. "Love has nothing to do with my decision. Aiken was a good man; he did everything to maintain the integrity of this institution. I appreciate your honesty, Ed, and coming forth, even at your peril, that you can no longer remain impartial and unbiased. That's the reason Aiken's kin has my vote."

That opens the dam. One by one, leaders come forth and give their support. The support might be because of the Santoro's calling in favors or fear of Ohith, but I won't flip my middle finger at that.

Eventually, the room falls silent. Everyone, except two, has given their vote.

Ivan and Sean.

It needs to be unanimous.

I see the hunger for power swirling in the depths of Ivan's eyes.

He takes his time looking at each of the Chamber leaders. "I want a seat."

"Fuck no," Dom snarls. "You're a cunt."

Ash grunts a laugh, thumbing the corner of his mouth, eyeing Ivan. "There's not a seat available at the table."

Ivan pulls himself up to his full height. He's not a small man, but not as large as Massimo or even Ash and Dom. "My gang is just as strong as the Fire Clan."

"Careful," Bill growls.

Ivan huffs. "It's true. Over the years, things have changed. The Chamber needs to evolve . If you're asking us to give the finger to tradition here at Gilly's, then why the fuck not the Chamber?"

"Because six members doesn't allow for voting purposes," Sile interjects.

Sean steps forth, catching the power-hungry bug. "Then have a seventh."

Massimo's hands flex. "The Irish aren't next in line, if that's what you're thinking, Sean."

"The Sirens are," Zara says.

Ash looks amongst all his colleagues, his jaw tight. "We'll consider it, but that's tabled for now. Give your vote, Ivan and Sean."

Ivan's blue eyes swing to me, and he pushes his hand through his dirty blonde hair. "If you're freed from Gilly's role, you'll be with Vito."

"What's your play here, Ivan?" Dom demands. "Ed has already admitted they want to be together."

Ivan crosses his arms over his chest and waits for me to answer.

Gus moves closer to me. He's been silent, so I hope no one is paying much attention to him.

I hold Ivan's stare, unwavering. "Yes."

He hooks his thumbs in his belt loops. "So, why not just keep it under wraps? No one here suspected anything. Or why not just fake your death, like Daddy Ohith, and be done with it and leave this city?"

"This is my brother's legacy, and I won't make Vito lose his family."

"But you could die," he challenges without tact. "Your life is in our hands, Ed. You've openly admitted to the offense of not being impartial and unbiased."

"I did the right thing by Aiken to come back here and get him justice. I'm asking you to do the same."

His mouth presses together. He still looks like he wants to wield his power; if not through the Chamber, then with me. "Aiken's legacy." He rocks back on his heels, scanning around the barroom. "Your beloved brother's legacy."

I stay silent because there isn't much I can say. Massimo is tense, poised, and ready to act.

"You get my vote." Ivan looks at me slyly. "But you're never to set foot in your brother's legacy . Neither you nor Vito." He's watching me carefully. He wants to inflict pain. "And all Aiken's personal possessions he left to you are forfeited."

"To you, I suppose?" I ask tightly.

I'm shocked by how much this demand kicks me in the gut. I'll lose everything of Aiken's.

His apartment—that still feels like he lingers there—where I can spend time and get a sense of who he was all these years that we've been apart.

His clothes are still all there. I still smell them.

I don't care about the money or the property. It's about being where he lived and laughed, about being in this bar every day, where I felt my brother's presence and had a connection with him.

But if I'm dead, I lose that, anyway.

And I'll give up this and anything else for Vito.

There's glee in Ivan's eyes as he sees my pain. "Nah, Ed. I'm not a greedy man. We'll spread the wealth around, yeah?"

I lift my chin. "You have my word. Vito's as well."

"Oh, you speak for him?" Sean raises his eyebrow. "Fucking pussy-whipped fucker," he mutters.

"I dare you to say that to his face, Sean," Amir challenges.

Sean's cocky smirk fades, remembering that Vito is still Vito Santoro, unhinged protector of his family.

"I agree to your condition," I say with a dry throat.

"Then you have my vote."

"Mine as well," Sean adds quickly.

"Good puppy," Zara taunts Sean. "Follow your master."

His reddish-blonde eyebrows pull together as he glares at her.

The rigid tension in Massimo's shoulders has eased somewhat. He glances at me and gives a slight nod. I'm not sure if he hates me for what I made Vito risk, or if he's relieved. No one really knows what he's thinking. The guy is a vault.

Not only did I risk Vito—well, of course, it takes two to tango—but it looks like I opened the door for pressure to expand the Chamber membership.

Dom steps closer to me. "It will work itself out, Ed."

"An eternal optimist, Dom?"

"'Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power,'" he quotes William James.

Ash turns to me. "Ed, as you are no longer Gilly's owner-operator, and keeping with the added condition for you not to be a patron here, I need to ask you to leave."

I swallow, glancing at Gus, who looks pained but relieved that I'm getting out of this alive.

The leaders of the criminal factions split like I'm Moses parting the Red Sea. I walk with my back straight and make a detour to the bar. Reaching over the counter, I pull out the fire whiskey that Gus always keeps chilling.

I tip it back, drinking deeply, my throat working as the whiskey burns down my throat. After four long pulls, I pull the bottle away, my eyes burning—both from the whiskey and emotions—and lift the bottle to the picture of Aiken laughing and smiling behind the bar.

"To you, big brother."

"This round is on me." Money lands on the counter. Zara grabs the bottle from me and drinks deeply. She coughs and shakes her head. "Fucking hell, Aiken."

I choke out a laugh. "It's the shits."

"Give your father my regards." Zara holds up the bottle in salute and saunters back to the group.

When I walk out of Gilly's for the final time, I take a deep breath, not knowing if I want to cry or laugh.

I can't believe we got away with that.

I don't fool myself, though. Vito and I made enemies today, and we'll have to watch our backs. But that's c'est la vie in this life.

Raf waits on the sidewalk beside my parked car. Frank rushes over and pulls me tightly into his chest for a bear hug.

"Take care of Gus," I rasp, blinking back tears, knowing my interactions with him will be limited.

"You have my word," Frank solemnly vows. "Ambrose's, too, once he's back."

I squeeze his forearm and step back.

As I walk down the wide pathway to the sidewalk and street, Raf opens the passenger door for me. I don't even protest and let him drive my car. All I want is Vito, but we can't meet close by because he isn't supposed to be near here. He'll go out the secret passageway, coming out on the other side of the police perimeter.

Raf guns the car and peels away before he glances at me. "You okay?"

"Peachy."

He snorts, but his forehead pinches.

"What?"

He rubs his jaw. "Well, I sort of expected cartwheels or something."

It's my turn to snort. "I strike you as a cheerleader?" I turn to look out the window and watch the police barricade open up for us to drive through. "I'm grateful and excited for Vito and me."

"But?" he prods, turning the corner once we're through the barricade.

"Something shifted in there, Raf. Power. I may have placed the Chamber at risk."

"Not you, Ed. Not just you," he reminds me.

"Eden."

He flashes a smile. "Eden it is then." His levity fades as he side-eyes me. "The Chamber leaders are kings who are used to holding their power on many fronts. They'll know how to navigate this. It's not the first time others have voiced dissent about their power or want a seat to be part of such a collective allied group. But those who want that additional power want it for personal gain. They don't understand that a big part of the role of the Chamber is for the greater good. "

We drive in silence the rest of the way, my stomach in nervous flutters.

I've never been nervous around Vito, but as we get closer, those nervous flutters amplify.

When Raf turns the corner down a quiet residential street, and I see Vito standing outside his car, the flutters take flight like a kaleidoscope of butterflies. But rather than increasing my nervousness, they carrying it away.

I'm jumping out of the car before Raf has stopped. He half-laughs and half-curses. I fly to Vito, and he catches me and slams his mouth to mine. Even with my cut lip, his lips have never felt so perfect.

"You're welcome," Raf calls out, then peels away.

Vito keeps kissing me, walking me backward to his car. He deposits me in the passenger seat, and his hungry look makes me want to climb him like a tree.

"I need to get you home, baby. We're going to start our official life together with me making you sob from so many orgasms, and then I'm going to paint you in my cum like the good little cum slut you are."

Cue. Pussy . Clench .

I fist his jacket, pulling him closer. "You're such a fucking cunt."

His grin blooms, dark and full of sin. "I love you, too, Eden."