Chapter 28 – Mari
Six families died in the Aces carnage. Dozens were injured, not to mention the number of people who were displaced. I called Two-Bit and told him to pull some strings and get them all to safety before I made his life a living hell. He did, and it was the only thing letting me sleep at night.
It could’ve been worse, but that didn’t negate the losses.
So many unnecessary losses.
I was grateful that the people who’d died did so quickly, grateful that they didn’t suffer more, but even that didn’t feel right. They shouldn’t have died at all.
None of this should’ve happened.
Standing there with my men, watching the chaos in the home my husband had made for us, I felt something inside me break. Something I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to get back. Part of me wondered if my people were even safe with me at all, while another part wondered how anyone with a soul could watch children flee in terror and laugh about it the way the Aces had.
And they had. They’d taunted and teased, tormented the people I’d moved for their safety, and then they’d slaughtered them.
I’ll kill them all.
I spent every waking moment watching and rewatching the footage, noting which Aces did what and how much pleasure they took in it. Which ones disappeared over the walls of the compound, never to return. We’d hunt them down eventually, but for now, the ringleaders were first on the chopping block.
I’d decided that no one who’d ever worn Cash’s banner was safe.
I was still face first in the footage when I got a text that changed everything. I barely took time to gather my men and change my clothes before I stormed into my father’s mansion, fresh rage stoked in my heart. It wasn’t hard to locate the man who could have ended this so long ago if he had put his petty vendettas aside.
He was sitting in my fucking seat, after all.
The Wolf looked the same, like nothing could touch him, and that pissed me off. My people were dirty and bruised and bleeding, and this fucker had the audacity to call a meeting in my house wearing thousand-dollar shoes?
He had a death wish. Plain and simple.
“Last I checked, it’s a form of respect to let a territory leader know if you’re entering their city.”
“I’m just crossing through.”
“Doesn’t change the protocol.”
“Oh, get off it,” he spat. “I’m not here for you, Marcosa.”
Dominic growled under his breath at the disrespect, but he stayed where he was even though I knew he wanted to beat the shit out of Emmanuel.
Get in line, babe.
Christian stood off to the side, blocking the couch where Adrien and Shara sat together, the men very obviously on guard and ready to make a move if any of the Wolf’s men so much as looked at Shara wrong. Adrien leaned over, whispering in her ear as he squeezed her thigh reassuringly. Her eyes flashed to me and she smiled, but it wavered at the edges.
I didn’t like that at all.
The door opened, and everyone stiffened as Two-Bit stomped in. Christian, who’d lifted his gun at the newcomer, curled his lip at his brother. Suddenly, I could see the resemblance between him and Emmanuel. Did I look like that when I was disgusted? Fuck, I hoped not.
Our friendly little Fed kept his distance from everyone, choosing to lean against the wall closest to the door. Maybe he was hoping for a quick getaway.
“Dante. I’m glad you made it.”
Two-Bit’s lips tightened at the name, but he didn’t correct it. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“Of course not. When your grandfather calls, you come.”
“Of course.” He gritted. “What’s this about, Grandfather?”
Emmanuel turned away. “I’m here for my ungrateful heir.”
It was then that I noticed Rafael standing behind him with crossed arms and a tight jaw.
“Did you really need an audience for that?”
“Apparently so, since my son likes to ignore what he’s told.”
I rolled my eyes, which was apparently the wrong thing since Emmanuel snarled, crossing the room to grip my chin tightly between his fingers. “Has he helped you, Marianna? Is your little vendetta why he refuses to come home and do his duties?”
“You better take your hands off her, old man.” Dominic took a step forward like he was going to rip my grandfather away, but I lifted a hand to stop him. All three of my men—plus Two-Bit—had guns trained on him, but this was between Emmanuel and me.
How could a man who was powerful be so fucking weak?
Holding power was one thing, but withholding it to the detriment of others was another. Emmanuel Osorio had no backbone—no soul—and he wasn’t someone I would bow to. I might have needed his help before, but now that I had the Paez cartel in my pocket, the Osorios were obsolete. Which meant there was no reason for me to answer.
He shook me with his hold, bobbing my head like a rag doll, and that rage in my chest grew. I’d had enough.
Wrapping my fingers around the Wolf’s wrist, I kicked him in the knee and twisted, holding his arm in my grasp. He snarled and snapped, but he still dropped to the floor like anyone else. The sounds of guns lifting filled my ears, but I didn’t take my eyes off my grandfather. “If you were such a powerful leader, Wolf, you could’ve kept him under your thumb easily. Don’t blame me because you’re too old to control your men.”
A noise made me look toward Two-Bit to find him nearly smiling. He wiped it away before I’d even fully registered it, but I’d seen it and so had the Wolf.
Emmanuel was vindictive; anyone with half a brain could see it. He could blow us away with a wave of his hand if he wanted to—and he wanted it. No doubt he was weighing the pros and cons of his decision when Rafael spoke.
“Yes. You asked if I’ve helped her, and the answer is yes.”
Emmanuel hissed, turning toward his son, and I let him go, stepping away and closer to my men. As I did, the Wolf’s goons lowered their weapons, though they still eyed us warily.
Emmanuel panted angry, heaving breaths. “You admit it, then? You disobeyed my direct orders and helped that?—”
“Watch it.”
“Yes, and I’d do it again.” Rafael lifted his chin at his father but made no move to attack or protect himself.
Anger rolled off the Wolf in waves, and he bared his teeth at his son like he was seconds from shifting his skin and taking his bloody pound of flesh. Was this how he’d gotten the name the Wolf? If so, it was fitting.
“You’re no son of mine. Certainly no heir.”
The room stilled, everyone seeming to hold their breath as the implications hit us at once.
If Rafael wasn’t the Osorio heir, who was?
“Grandson.” Emmanuel turned to Christian, and my heart pounded in my ears. I’d come here not sure what to expect, but watching Christian ascend wasn’t it. “My grandson’s trained his whole life to lead, and now it’s time to see what he’s made of. Will you be the heir your father couldn’t be?”
There was no show of pride from Christian. No puffed chest and blinding smile. He stood there like it was just another day, instead of the most monumental moment of his life. “I will.”
Two-Bit didn’t move beyond the smallest sag in his shoulders. If I hadn’t seen relief in his gaze, I’d have assumed it was disappointment. I imagined that was intentional on his part, needing to balance his life as Emmanuel’s grandson and his world as a federal agent. Fuck, that’s got to be tough.
Emmanuel smiled and clapped Christian on the back, lifting the mood.
That was it. Rafael was out and his son was in, but what did that mean for our tentative alliance? What would he do if Emmanuel asked him to hand over Shara? Would he hurt her as a way of proving his own loyalty?
I glanced at Grey, who obviously shared the same concerns, then over to Nate, who was closest to Shara. If a fight broke out, he was our only shot at getting her out safely. His head dipped in the slightest nod, drawing Adrien’s eyes.
The turmoil in them made my chest tight. His loyalty was split between his boss, his friend, and Shara. I didn’t envy him one bit. When Christian’s head was bent with Emmanuel, Nate snatched Shara just as Adrien pushed her off the couch. It was barely a movement, but I saw it. Knew he’d helped us because Shara didn’t stumble once.
He’d told her to get ready because he couldn’t guarantee her safety anymore.
Fuck.
Emmanuel didn’t care what we’d done, but Christian looked ready to burn us to ash.
“Let her go, cousin,” he said with quiet menace. To the side, Two-Bit straightened, and I wondered if he’d intervene if his brother came for me.
“When I know she’s safe,” I promised. Nate moved behind me, so Shara was pinned between our bodies, giving her a human shield. I didn’t give a fuck if that made her a target right now. If Emmanuel tried to use her as leverage, I’d kill him and deal with the consequences later. All being cautious had gotten me was a city in chaos and my friends disappearing before my eyes.
Shara leaned into me for a moment before her hand squeezed mine twice.
Trust me.
We’d come up with the nonverbal sign ages ago, when Shara had just figured out who Antoni was—who we all were. She hadn’t been born into this life, and it had taken some adjusting for her to learn the right kind of self-preservation when confronted with Mario’s versions of testing her and the unfortunate situations that being in the underworld brought.
I squeezed back, promising not to fly off the handle, but I was still tense.
Was this a trick? Did they plan it ahead of time? What did she know that I didn’t? Because she knew something. Whatever it was, it would come with time. For now, she was safe, and that was what mattered.
Christian glanced at Shara again before stepping forward, waving his big arms toward my couches like he owned them. “Why don’t we sit?”
“I don’t need to sit,” Emmanuel huffed, though I noticed he was still favoring the knee I’d kicked. A vicious smile lit my face, and he glowered at me.
Christian turned back to him with a congenial smile. “Grandfather, there are things that you should know about this war of Mari’s before you turn her down again.”
I wasn’t planning to ask Emmanuel to join me again. Not when I’d given him the chance to help already. Especially not when I’d made other arrangements. I wasn’t sure if Paez would work with him, regardless, even if the Wolf agreed, so what else was there to discuss?
“By all means, have a seat. That knee looks bad.”
Christian’s look of admonishment was easy to read. I’m trying to help. Don’t make things worse.
I wasn’t entirely sure they could get worse at this point.
The Wolf sat next to his newest heir, with Adrien standing sentinel behind his friend. Shara nudged me in the back, pushing until she and I were seated on the final love seat, my men spread around us.
“There, now we can have a conversation like civilized adults,” Adrien said with a smile. Shara rolled her eyes next to me, but I could tell she was amused.
Again, she squeezed my hand. Trust me. Trust us.
Well, my cousin hadn’t earned my trust beyond keeping her safe, but Shara had earned it in droves.
“Why am I really here?” I asked. “Because if it was just to see Rafael’s downfall, I could have stayed home for that.”
Emmanuel opened his mouth, probably to snap at me, but Christian cut him off. “I’ve had word that you’re working with the Paez cartel to get rid of your little problem. Is that true?”
Two-Bit froze, and I realized that having him here while I discussed this was a really bad idea. I’d just made a deal with the Feds, and now he had proof that I wasn’t going to follow through with it. Fuck, what a mess. “It is. We’ve come to an arrangement.”
Apparently, this was also news to our grandfather because the Wolf stiffened and turned a look of betrayal so much fiercer than anything he’d ever given Rafael on me. “You would partner with my rivals? Is there no family loyalty?”
Images of the compound filtered through my head, and I had to let go of Shara for fear of breaking her fingers as I clenched my fists. “We did show loyalty, remember? We came to you first. We asked for help, and you spat in our faces. You made it clear that I wasn’t an Osorio, not by blood or claim, and my war wasn’t yours. So, what’s stopping me from working with Paez when he’s willing to give me what you never will?”
“Blood is bullshit. Family is what matters, and you’ve made it clear you’re not our family.” Dominic rested a hand on my shoulder, and I could almost feel Nate and Grey nodding.
“She’s right. We haven’t shown her our loyalty, so how can we expect hers?” Emmanuel turned away, whispering fiercely to Christian, who took it all in stride.
I could see a hint of the leader he would become. Formidable, fair, calm under pressure. I felt a strange sort of pride in my chest that I refused to acknowledge as I watched him own his birthright. If he could get rid of Emmanuel, I had no doubt the cartel would flourish under his leadership.
Emmanuel was grinding his teeth loud enough for us to hear when he begrudgingly asked, “What kind of arrangement did you make?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure that’s any of your business.”
It was actually kind of fun watching that vein in his head pop out.
Christian smiled to himself and sank a little deeper into the couch. “I assume Victor doesn’t want to lose Seattle’s importing capabilities. Chances are, he gave you his army for that alone.” When I still didn’t reply, he nodded to himself. “What if we offered you the same deal? Our help for the ability to import what we need through your docks.”
“Why would I need you when I already have him?”
That smile turned into an infuriating smirk that I wanted to smack off his face. According to Shara’s scoff, she did too. “I think we both know you need as much help as you can get. Cash’s forces are far more widespread than you assume. It’ll take months to eradicate him on your own. Months that you don’t have, especially when the cost will be lives you won’t spare. We’ll help remove the cockroach in return for the same agreement you gave Paez.”
I was going to tell him to fuck off when Shara squeezed my hand again. God fucking damn it.“It’s something to consider.”
“No,” Emmanuel said. “I want more.”
“Of course you do,” I scoffed. Men like him always wanted more just to prove their dick swung farther. “What do you want in return?”
“Marriage.”