Chapter 14 Sandro #2
"Here's what we do," I said, making the decision.
"Today we focus on keeping Emilio employed and safe.
Tomorrow we send another message to Antonio.
Not violence. But something that makes it clear we're watching him.
That we know about his meetings with other families.
That we're not intimidated by his coalition building. "
"What kind of message?" Luca asked.
"The kind that reminds him we have leverage he doesn't want exposed.
" I pulled up files Vincent had compiled.
"Antonio has a gambling problem. Owes money to three different bookies.
His family doesn't know because they'd see it as weakness.
If they found out, his position in the organization would be compromised. "
"So we threaten to expose him to his own family?" Elio looked thoughtful. "That's elegant. Hits him where he's vulnerable without creating evidence against us."
"Exactly. We leak information to his father.
Make sure old man Costello knows his son's been gambling away family money.
Antonio gets punished by his own people.
We stay clean." I closed the files. "After the trial, if he's still a problem, then Matteo can have his conversation. But until then, we play this smart."
My phone rang. Richard Sterling. I answered on the second ring.
"The board meeting just ended," Richard said without preamble. "I pushed hard for Emilio's withdrawal. Presented all the arguments about liability and safety. The managing partners were inclined to agree."
"Were?" I caught the past tense.
"Emilio made his case. Said he wasn't abandoning a client because of threats.
Said that setting that precedent would destroy the firm's reputation more than any liability exposure.
Said if we forced him to withdraw, he'd resign and finish the case independently.
" Richard paused. "He was very convincing. "
"So he's staying?"
"He's staying. Against my better judgment and the managing partners' concerns.
But he made it clear this was non-negotiable.
" Another pause. "He also said that if anything happened to him because of this case, we shouldn't hold you responsible.
That he was choosing this with full awareness of the risks. "
My chest tightened with something I didn't want to name. Pride, maybe. Or possession. Or the dangerous combination of both.
"Thank you for letting me know."
"Sandro." Richard's voice dropped. "I don't know what's happening between you and Emilio. Personally or professionally. But he's a good attorney. One of the best I've seen. Don't destroy him."
"I'm not destroying him. I'm giving him the career he deserves." I kept my voice neutral. "He'll come out of this case stronger than he went in."
"Or he'll come out of it compromised and unemployable. Make sure it's the former." Richard hung up before I could respond.
I set down the phone and found three sets of eyes watching me.
"He stayed," I said simply. "Emilio fought to stay on the case and won."
"Of course he did," Luca said with a slight smile. "You've trained him well. Turned an idealistic attorney into someone who'll fight for what he wants."
"I didn't train him. I just showed him what he was capable of.
" I stood. "Matteo, handle the information leak to Costello senior about Antonio's gambling.
Make it look like it came from one of Antonio's bookies, not from us.
Elio, keep tracking that unknown surveillance target.
Luca, I need you to reach out to your contacts at the other families.
Find out who Antonio's been talking to and what he's offering. "
They all nodded and stood to leave.
"And gentlemen?" I stopped them at the door. "Emilio Rossi is under our collective protection now. Not just mine. Anyone who threatens him threatens all of us. Make sure that message is clear to everyone watching this situation."
"Understood," Elio said.
After they left, I stood at the windows looking out over the city. Somewhere out there, Emilio was probably being congratulated by colleagues. Or warned by Richard. Or processing what he'd just done—chosen his mob boss client over his firm's recommendations.
Chosen me over safety.
My phone buzzed. Text from Emilio: I won. I'm staying on the case. Richard's furious but the board backed me.
I smiled and typed back: Of course you won. I never doubted it. Come back to Inferno when you're done there. We should celebrate properly.
Define properly.
You. Me. My bed. Several hours of reminding you why fighting for this was the right choice.
That's very tempting.
That's a promise. Get back here.
On my way.
I pocketed my phone and made one more call. Vincent answered immediately.
"I need everything you can find on Antonio Costello's gambling habits. Every bet. Every bookie. Every debt. I want documentation that would make his father disown him."
"How fast do you need it?"
"By tomorrow morning. We're sending a message that doesn't involve broken bones."
"Understood. I'll have it compiled by midnight tonight."
I hung up and poured myself another coffee. The trial was in four weeks. Four weeks to prepare the defense. Four weeks to neutralize the Costello threat. Four weeks to make sure Emilio emerged from this with his career enhanced instead of destroyed.
Four weeks to win on every front that mattered.
The elevator chimed forty minutes later. Emilio walked in looking flushed and triumphant and absolutely beautiful in his victory.
"Tell me everything," I said, pulling him into my arms.
"Richard presented all the safety concerns.
The managing partners looked nervous. They started discussing reassignment protocols.
" He was talking fast, adrenaline still flowing.
"Then I stood up and said I wasn't withdrawing.
That forcing me off the case would set a precedent that threats work.
That Sterling & Associates doesn't cave to intimidation. "
"What did Richard say?"
"He said I was being reckless. I said I was being professional.
He said my personal involvement with you was clouding my judgment.
I said my personal life was none of the firm's business as long as I performed my duties competently.
" Emilio pulled back to look at me. "Then I said if they forced me to withdraw, I'd resign and finish the case independently. "
"You threatened to quit?"
"I didn't threaten. I stated facts. They could either keep me as an employee defending you, or lose me as an employee while I defended you anyway. Their choice." He smiled. "They chose to keep me."
I kissed him. Hard and claiming and tasting like victory.
"You're magnificent," I said against his mouth. "Absolutely devastating."
"I learned from the best." He kissed me back. "Now are you going to make good on that promise about celebration?"
"Absolutely."
I picked him up and he wrapped his legs around my waist automatically. We made it to the bedroom this time instead of stopping at the couch. Progress.
I laid him out on the bed and took my time undressing him. Savoring each piece of clothing removed. Each inch of skin revealed.
"Four weeks until trial," I said, sliding his shirt off. "We need to use that time wisely."
"Are we talking about trial prep or something else?" His breath caught as my mouth found his collarbone.
"Both. We'll prepare during the day. Celebrate at night." I worked my way down his chest. "By the time we walk into that courtroom, you'll know this case better than anyone. And you'll know exactly what you're fighting for."
"You. I'm fighting for you." He threaded his fingers through my hair. "That's what I'm fighting for."
"Then let me give you something worth fighting for."
I took my time with him. Worshipped his body with hands and mouth until he was trembling and begging. When I finally pushed inside him, he cried out my name like a prayer.
We moved together with the kind of rhythm that came from knowing each other's bodies. From nights spent learning what made each other gasp and moan and surrender completely.
When he came, it was with his back arched and my name on his lips. I followed him over with a groan that was probably heard throughout the apartment.
Afterward, we lay tangled together while our breathing returned to normal.
"Four weeks," he said quietly. "Then we destroy them in court."
"Then we destroy them," I agreed. "And after that, we build something that lasts."
He turned to look at me. "What do we build?"
"Whatever we want. A life. A future. Something that isn't just about surviving threats and winning cases." I pulled him closer. "Something real."
"This feels real."
"It is real. We just need to protect it long enough for everyone else to realize it." I kissed his temple. "Starting with making sure Antonio Costello never threatens you again."
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing that'll tie back to us. Just a message about consequences." I felt him tense slightly. "Trust me, Emilio. I know what I'm doing."
"That's what worries me. You're very good at this. Manipulating situations. Controlling outcomes. Making people do what you want." He propped himself up on one elbow. "How do I know you're not doing the same thing to me?"
"Because if I was manipulating you, you wouldn't be questioning it.
You wouldn't be aware enough to ask." I met his eyes.
"I want you, yes. I've pursued you deliberately.
But every choice you've made has been yours.
Every line you've crossed, you crossed consciously.
I didn't force you. I just showed you the path. "
He studied my face for a long moment. Then: "You're right. You didn't force me. You just made it impossible to choose anything else."
"Is that such a bad thing? Being with someone who wants you enough to fight for you? Who values you enough to protect you? Who sees you clearly and wants you anyway?" I cupped his face. "You could've walked away at any point. You stayed because you wanted to."
"I stayed because I'm falling in love with you." The admission came out quiet. Almost reluctant. "And that terrifies me more than the Costellos or the FBI or anything else."
My chest tightened. "Why does it terrify you?"
"Because love makes people stupid. Makes them compromise everything they believe in.
Makes them defend the indefensible and justify the unjustifiable.
" His eyes were dark. Serious. "I'm terrified I'm going to wake up one day and not recognize myself.
That I'll have sacrificed so much for you that there's nothing left of who I was. "
"Then don't sacrifice who you were. Become who you're meant to be instead." I pulled him down for a kiss. "You're not losing yourself, Emilio. You're finding a version of yourself that isn't bound by other people's expectations. That's freedom, not loss."
"That's a very convenient rationalization for corrupting someone."
"Maybe. But it's also true." I rolled him beneath me. "Now stop overthinking and let me show you exactly why choosing this was worth it."
He laughed and pulled me down into another kiss.
We had four weeks until trial. Four weeks to prepare. Four weeks to make sure every possible threat was neutralized and every possible advantage was secured.
Four weeks to prove that Emilio Rossi choosing me over everything else was the smartest decision he'd ever made.
And I would prove it. Whatever it took.
Because I protected what was mine.
And Emilio was mine completely.