AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I hate being pushed to the wall like this. And I especially hate it when someone tries to force my hand.
“Give me some time to think about it.”
Even as I say the words, I’ve already made my decision. An alliance with the Bratva would help to solidify my position when I’m Don. On the flip side, Lukas’s identity could pose some problems. It stinks of betrayal, and no one takes kindly to betrayal.
But the good far outweighs the bad in this case. If the Bratva’s on our side, we won’t have to rely on the drug cartels anymore. We’ll have a direct link to Russia and a chance to get some fields and land of our own.
“Don’t think about it for too long, Nicolas. Time’s ticking. And I want my seat at the table.”
“Doesn’t your husband want to sit there instead?” I ask bitterly.
She smiles. “Lukas is fine with me taking the reins. All he wants is to accomplish his mission.”
I glare at her. I’m already working hard to secure my position and now I have to worry about going against the rest of the outfit as well.
“Will your uncle support your rise to power?” I ask, because I at least need someone at the table to agree to this asinine plot.
“Marco doesn’t know a thing about my ambitions,” she says bluntly. “He thinks Lukas is his ticket to retiring a very rich man.”
I sigh softly at that. “You realize this will be immensely difficult, right?”
Damn near impossible if I consider the several other men who are in line to take over my position at the table once I’m Don. Men with honor, who have proven their loyalty. I can’t pass over them all for her.
“No one has to know about this until you’re Don, Nicolas. And when you are, no one will cross you.”
“They might not cross me openly, but if I do this, I’ll have even more enemies working against me within the outfit. And I have no assurance that you and your husband aren’t going to stab me in the back.”
It doesn’t sit well with me, the way he stayed hidden all these years. I overlooked him, which was my mistake. And then I allowed him to worm his way into our inner circle. And now I’m just supposed to agree to their demands? I don’t think so.
Camila smiles when my phone lights up with an incoming text. My brows furrow as I lift it to read the text from an unknown number.
A Trojan horse doesn’t always have to mean war, Ramirez. Give Camila what she wants, and you’ll have my support- The Shadow.
Very slowly, I lift my eyes to look at the woman in front of me, seeing her in an entirely new light.
“How the fuck do you know The Shadow?”
“I’m guessing we have a deal,” she says confidently instead of replying.
She doesn’t even try to hide the fact that she knows she’s won.
I don’t fucking like this.
CHAPTER 11
AURORA
“You grew up so beautifully, Aurora,” a middle-aged woman with dark hair says, leaning down to place air kisses against my cheek.
I’m not sure I recognize her, and it doesn’t really matter. She’s only here because she’s married to a made man. Despite that, I offer her a smile and ask after her family. Being rude to any of them would be seen as a slight, which would affect Nico’s chances on his way to the top.
It’s surprising how quickly I’m able to integrate into this life once again. How easy it is for me to catch up, to understand what’s expected of me, to play my role. She starts telling me about her kids, and I listen, smiling and nodding attentively where necessary. Soon enough, someone appears at my side.
“If you’ll excuse me, Viola, I’d like to steal Aurora away for a moment,” Adrian says charmingly.
The older woman practically swoons before waving us away. Adrian leads me toward a quiet part of the room.
“Where’s your fiancé?” he asks with a smirk.
