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“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.
