Page 141 of Vicious Kingdom

Voss chuckled nervously. “Gentlemen, I’ve already promised—”

I slid my phone across the table, screen displaying a series of explicit photos—Voss with a woman who was decidedly not his wife. The timestamp showed last Tuesday.

“There’s more, but I think this is sufficient to show you what level of damage you’re dealing with,” I said with a smile. “You have dirt on us; now we’re at an impasse.”

The color drained from Voss’s face as he stared at the damning evidence. His fingers curled into a fist beside his wine glass, knuckles whitening with the strain of containing his rage.

“You think this changes anything?” he hissed through clenched teeth, keeping his voice low despite the fury dancing in his eyes. “There are copies of my evidence in multiple locations. If anything happens to me—”

“Nothing will happen to you,” Alessandro cut in smoothly. “We’re businessmen, not barbarians.”

The feel of the cousin’s slim neck snapping under pressure tingled on my fingers.

Barbarians?

We were fucking monsters.

Voss snatched my phone from the table and slid it back to me with enough force that it nearly tumbled into my lap. “This is blackmail.”

“This is negotiation,” Sandro corrected. “Take the money, support our interests, and we’ll ensure these photos never see daylight.”

“And there will be no more random appearances at my house to decorate my ankles with bracelets,” I bit out. “I see another one of your goons in suits, and I’ll make them disappear.”

The politician’s jaw worked silently as he processed his options. His face transformed, a mask of civility cracking to reveal the rage beneath. His complexion flushed crimson. “I see we understand one another.” The politician rose. “Well played, gentlemen. We’ll be in touch.”

He left through the front doors, briefcase in hand.

I held up my wine glass. “Before we continue, do I need an antidote?”

Alessandro leaned over, took my glass, and drained it. “Not tonight, fratello.”

Taking the bottle, I poured another glass. The don’s brows shot up in surprise.

“After the day I’ve had, I need whatever I can get my hands on,” I muttered and downed it.

“Ah, yes, Penelope said the cousin was murdered.” Alessandro toyed with his own glass.

“It was better than the motherfucker deserved.”

“Rumors are coming out. I didn’t know your wife danced naked in Ibiza.”

I choked. “They’re lies, Sandro. If she’s dancing naked, it will be for me and me alone.”

The don lifted his glass in a salute, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. After he took a sip, he leaned against the table, the casual gesture only partially masking his intensity. “Let’s get down to business, fratello. That bastard Voss has to be silenced.”

His voice was as level as his glare was sharp. From the way the politician left, I couldn’t agree more. The prospect of leaving loose strings was unpalatable. We risked everything staying in this stalemate with Voss.

I nodded, rubbing my chin in thought. “And how do we do that? This won’t be an easy pest to eradicate.”

“Simple. We make it in someone else’s best interest to take care of this particular infestation. An incentive will change everything.” A glimmer of vicious amusement sparked in his eyes—Sandro loved nothing more than playing puppet master.

“Someone who’s going to boast about this hit,” I said, catching his drift.

He chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass. “Exactly. I know just the person.”

I finished my wine and rose from the table with renewed energy. “Make the call.”

The words tasted like victory.