“Let’s get this over with.”
The smile drops right off his face and he nods. “Of course.”
Leaning forward, I lay my arms on the table. “It’s come to my attention that you have ended up on the wrong side of Dmitri Petrov.”
He grunts, but keeps his composure. “Yes, well, I guess I have you to thank for that.”
I can’t help but smile as I stick my tongue in my cheek. “Oh, I promise you, it was my pleasure.”
His fist clenches on the table, but he knows better than to retaliate. Even looking at me the wrong way would result in him leaving here in a body bag, and while Dalton may not care about the life of anyone else, Saxon was right when she said he values his own.
“Enough small talk,” I tell him. “I’m willing to offer you protection from the Bratva, and in return, you sign over the rights to everything you stole from me.”
His brows raise. “That’s it? You want me to hand over half of Manhattan in exchange for keeping me safe against something that may or may not happen?”
I shrug and go to stand. “I mean, if you think you don’t need it, suit yourself.”
“Fine!” he snaps. “Let’s not be too hasty.”
Sitting back down, I watch him expectantly and wait for him to continue.
“The Bratva was willing to offer me more, a lot more, in exchange for my inheritance.”
“And to my understanding, that deal fell through,” I counter. “Why does that matter to me?”
He smirks. “Because there are plenty of other crime organizations I’m sure would be interested in some of the properties I’ve acquired.”
The longer I sit in front of this man, the more he manages to piss me off. “If you expect me to offer you power, you’re going to be disappointed.”
“And why’s that?”
I square my shoulders. “Because the Familia is all about trust and loyalty, and lately all you’ve shown us is that you have none.”
He throws his head back, laughing like there’s humor to be found in this. “Oh, come on. You would’ve done the same if given the chance.”
“Don’t act like you and I are alike. I would never be as idiotic as to piss off not one crime family, but two. No amount of power is worth having that size of a target on your back.”
“Coming from the man who has all of it,” he counters. “Come on. I’m not looking for anything top level. Make me a Capo de Capi. You’re lacking in one of those for this area.”
It makes me uncomfortable to know that he’s still aware of some of the inner workings of our organization. Andrea, my Capo for the city, was gunned down almost a year ago. We retaliated immediately, and the Bratva lost five of their men in exchange for my one. Since then, Raff has been trying to get me to promote Nico. It’s his hope that he and I can get along and work together in a greater capacity, but that will happen over my dead body.
“I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” I say. “Against my better judgment, I will allow you back into the family, but you’re starting from the bottom.”
“An associate? You may as well spit in my face.”
“A soldati,” I correct him. “No grunt work, but you have to work your way up like everyone else.”
He glares at me. “I wanted power.”
“And you’re getting it. Being in the organization is power.”
Leaning back in his chair, he taps his fingers against the table like he’s considering it. Like there’s actually something to consider. I already didn’t want to come here, but to watch him act as if I’m not offering him a lifeline right now against my better judgment? Well, that makes me want to wrap my hands around his throat even more.
“I don’t have all night, Forbes,” I say sternly. “And I’m not a man whose time you want to waste. Sign the papers before I take back my offer.”
Dalton picks up a pen and grabs one of the papers Mauricio passes to him, but just before he signs, he stops. “How do I know my daughter is still alive?”
I can feel as the little patience I have gets chipped away some more. “I can show you the scratch marks she left on my back last night. How’s that sound?”
Nico coughs to disguise a laugh while Beni fights off a smile beside me. If this motherfucker wants to play games, we can play.
His grip on the paper tightens, crumpling it in the middle. “Fuck you, you piece of shit.”
“No. Fuck you. Don’t sit here and pretend like you give a shit about her.”
It’s as if something clicks and changes inside Dalton as he drops the act and smiles menacingly. “You’re right. I don’t. At least not after she became useless to Dmitri by sleeping with the likes of you.” A dark laugh emits from the back of his throat. “But I happen to know that you do, which is why I can’t wait to watch this destroy you.”
My eyes narrow as Beni leans over. “He’s stalling.”
Dalton overhears and chuckles. “Am I? Or am I simply the decoy?”
A pit settles in my stomach as I look over at Roman. “Call Paolo and make sure Saxon is safe.”
He nods and disappears into the back of the room, while Dalton sits there with a smug grin. A grin I’d like nothing more than to wipe right off of his face. The room goes silent, aside from Dalton’s whistling, until Ro comes back.
“He didn’t answer,” he tells me.
Dalton hums. “I figured that would be the case. Poor guy. I hope he’s okay.”
Within seconds I’m out of my seat and across the table. I grab Dalton by the collar and pin him to the wall. “Tell me what the fuck you’ve done before I rip your head straight off your neck.”
“You were right about loyalty,” he sneers. “It’s a valuable asset, when they’re truly loyal to you.”
I pull out my knife and press it to his throat, feeling the give as it presses into his skin.
“Go ahead,” he taunts. “Kill me. It won’t matter. By the time you get to Saxon, she’ll already be dead.”
The night I took Saxon’s virginity, I honestly thought I was saving her. Sure, wanting her more than the air I breathe played a part in me giving into the idea so easily, but knowing that I was making her useless to Dmitri was my main intention. I had no idea that Dalton would stoop as low as playing a part in his own daughter’s murder.
I underestimated my enemy, and that won’t ever happen again.
As they lower the casket into the ground, Nessa finally reaches her breaking point. She lets out a pained noise and falls to the ground. Scarlett drops with her, rubbing her arm and holding her close. Everyone around watches helplessly as the girl who lost her best friend lies in the grass and weeps.
THE FUNERAL ENDS WITH the casket in its rightful place and covered with flowers. People pay their respects to her family and leave, sniffling as they wipe their eyes with tissues. Raff takes the lead as we step up to her family. He addresses Scarlett directly, being as he’s closest with her.
“We are so sorry for your loss,” he says kindly, taking her hand. “Saxon was an extraordinary young woman. Silas always talked about her like she was his pride and joy.”