Claimed By The Enemy

ANT

sure it'

ed at the photographs spread across his desk. Vittorio Sa

my voice steady even though my hands wanted to shake. Five years I'd waited for thi

cigar, watching me carefully. He'd found me half-dead from grief and stupidity five years ago, t

er information. Se

"Dante, I took you in because you were smart. Don't m

they burned him alive. Seventeen people, Marco. My mother

stood up, adjusting his suit jacket. "Tommy goes with you. And you follow S

w the

oros have been weakening. Vittorio's getting old, his operations are slowing. We're close to making our m

lligence. Twenty-six, rarely seen at family operations. There were notes about art galleries and

ill believed in guardian angels and happy endings. The fire had tak

o make jokes tonight. We'd been friends since Marco brought me

omething because Sofia Ricci didn't tolerate disrespect. She'd built her empire on bei

ably cost more than most people made in a month. "Dante. Tommy

o violence on your floor."

talk benefits everyone, including Marco." She pressed the elevator butt

hifted beside me. "Are you really g

ave

not an

ned before I

of the table like he owned it. Maybe he thought he did. Gray streaked his dark hair but he still looked solid and dan

his fingers, actual paint in blues and reds that he hadn't bothered to wash off. His face was too open, like he hadn't learn

at across from Vittorio. Tommy positioned himsel

ritorial disputes are expensive for both our families. The police are

After starting a w

d our shipment," Vittorio said easily, lik

But sitting across from the man who'd given the order to burn my family a

im now." I gritted my teeth. "

itories, shared profits. An end

k Marco would trust a Sa

months if I'm lucky. I don't want my legacy to be endless war. I

was the first he'd heard about the cancer. Nico's expression

rco expected. "Security measures, financial audits,

ls." Vittorio gestured broadly. "This is about b

d expanded it by murdering anyone in his way, including innoc

ht. Gold with the Santoro family crest in detailed enamel. The same crest that had been on shell casi

snapped

ross the table. Alessandro's eyes went wide but he didn't fight back, didn't even try to

" Tommy

ll I could see was that crest, that symbol, pressed against the throat of a Santor

his face. "Wear that ring like it doesn't mean an

had his hands on my shoulde

st looked at me with something that might've

d and sharp. "Everyone stop right now or

ntment in his face made me finally loosen my gr

announced. "Get out of

g back at Alessandro. At the red marks on his throat from my ha

. "Tell Marco I'll be in touch with a differe

en Tommy finally spoke. "Y

kno

going to

kno

ge from an unknown numbe

ay to end this war

ad another p

it?" To

ossibility it represented, and wo

wly, "things are abou