Page 134 of Vicious Kingdom

“I hate that she’s the one who found him,” I added.

“But she did good today. We now have access to the media empire.”

With that, and the news companies I already owned under one of the corporate umbrellas, we controlled the local news.

“Her mission wasn’t about finding the dirt on Voss,” I surmised, glaring sideways at my brother.

The don grinned. “I saw an opportunity.”

It was a strategic move. And if everything had gone smoothly, it would have been brilliant.

But my sweet Anna was paying for the little act of espionage.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry that she was the one to discover the murder. Mier said it was gruesome,” the don sighed.

Of course our contact in the Federal Bureau knew. There wasn’t much that happened in this city that he didn’t know about.

“She always wanted her parent’s approval, especially her dad’s. I hate that he’s dead so I can’t beat him to a pulp for ignoring her,” I ground out. “And she’ll never get it now.”

“She never was going to get it,” Sandro said, voice hardening. “Men like him don’t see a good thing when it’s right in front of them.”

“You don’t know that,” I snapped. “I could have made him see.”

A sad smile played on my brother’s stoic features. “I remember a boy who wanted his father’s approval.”

I shifted. Why my brother chose to bring up the past was beyond me. I rose above the horrors of our youth. Years later, I looked back at my actions as pathetic.

Yet you don’t see hers that way.

“You two are perfect for each other,” Sandro mused.

“Thanks.” I thought so too.

I understood Annaliese so much better in the last few days. I was an idiot not to see it before. The evidence was surmounting, and I’d chosen to ignore it.

“I’ve shut you out of the mob, but maybe it’s time for the billionaire to retire. Penelope agrees with me,” the don chuckled.

Join him. Words I always thought I wanted to hear.

“Thanks, fratello, but our situation is profitable because it works.” The bitterness invaded my words despite my best efforts.

The don pulled something out of the bag he held. A custom Venetian mask. “Batman lived two lives, why can’t you?”

I snorted.

It turned into a full-blown laugh.

“What do you say?” He held out the mask.

“I’m in,” I huffed with a smile.

“Good, because we’re going to pay a little visit to the Alley.”

My brows drew together. “I can’t leave my wife.”

Sandro went to the door, which, when he pulled it open, his wife skipped through. “Ooh! What are we making?”

I shook my head. The don thought of everything. I explained the situation to Penelope, who nodded along like I was a child with an art project. Then she shooed us out the door, only pausing to give her husband a swift kiss.