Page 202 of Fall Before Her Throne

“I’m realizing that,” she responded. “There were two more attempts on my life last night. Plus, there have been multiple incidents between mafia men and the police, and we’ve heard reports of intimidation and bribery from multiple public figures. It appears as though Greco is on the move. It feels like a city-wide takeover.”

“Shit,” I murmured, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You’re okay, though?”

“I’m fine,” she said. Again, she hesitated, and then her voice came out resistant and hard. “It appears I owe you a thank you.”

I chuckled. “Don’t sound so excited about it.”

That drew me a little laugh and then another deep breath. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long fucking twenty-four hours. Thank you, Leona. Thank you for saving my life. I mean it.”

“You’re welcome,” I responded. “I know who we are, my men and I. But I need you to know, we are not like that.”

The words sat between us for a few moments. I respected her spark, even now. Greco might have thought she was an easy target to make his point, but she was anything but.

“I see that now,” she said. “I looked at the drive you gave me.”

“Oh? And you saw just how corrupt your administration is?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m surrounded by fucking idiots. Dangerous men who care for nothing except their own wealth and survival. I always knew this city had its problems, but I didn’t realize just how rotten it was. Straight to its core.”

“Not all rotten, though,” I said honestly. I watched out the window as cars whizzed by. “You’re doing your best.”

She laughed bitterly. “And I almost got fucking murdered.”

“Hey, that has to mean you’re doing something right,” I replied. “If someone isn’t trying to kill the mayor of New York City, is that person even doing their job?”

This time her laugh was a little more humorous. “Well, I’m glad you called. I have something I need to ask you. You offered me your help before. Does that offer still stand?”

“It does,” I said. “Except with one stipulation. My help for yours.”

Josephine answered immediately. “Tell me what you need.”

65

LEONA

It took all day, but we got everyone together. The only safe place to meet was in Makarov’s territory—where we could use the cameras Wynn and I had set up months ago to monitor the streets and ensure that Greco wasn’t coming after us. After Giulio got me a laptop, I’d used every skill that Ciel had taught me to make sure all our allies could safely arrive at Makarov’s estate. I wasn’t the expert that he was, but I was good enough to feel confident that we were safe.

“All right,” I said to the room. “Listen up!”

Fallon had brought her three men, plus a force of fifty others. Ronan, Conor, and Finn all greeted me with warm hugs but grim attitudes. Greco had already been testing the metaphorical waters down in Philadelphia, so if we failed here, he’d set his sights on the rest of the Eastern Seaboard almost immediately.

Makarov’s brother Kolya was still in jail, but the rest of his captains and the security forces surrounded him, protecting his estate. He was ready to use his remaining men for the plan—even if he didn’t know what it was yet.

Enzo Rossi and two other chosen men had arrived in dark trench coats. They snuck their way here riding the subway. I was surprised that Rossi only brought two men, but it was a smart strategy. The smaller the group, the less detectable. I was a little disappointed he didn’t bring Chiara, but I understood his desire to keep her safe.

Felix had brought all the men reporting to him, along with Giulio and a few other capos who had been working closely with Cas and Ryuji recently. He’d been acting a little more intensely than usual, ever since we’d returned to the city after picking me up from Fallon’s. He didn’t seem bothered by her, but he kept looking to the door—like he was expecting my girls to show up. However, Zoya and Willow had stayed behind in Philadelphia so they’d be safe. The street war we were about to face wasn’t either of their forte.

“First, thank you all for coming,” I started while standing in the middle of Makarov’s living room. I’d climbed on top of his coffee table so I could see everyone. The house was brimming. “You didn’t have to help us. You could have let us fight the Camorra on our own. But you haven’t; you’ve been our allies and supported us this entire way. You have my thanks and my promise that if you ever need anything, call on the Shadows and we will come.”

Makarov sat on the couch next to his third-in-command, in the same spot where he’d sat the last time I was here. Fallon sat on the couch I’d occupied before, with Ronan on her right and Connor and Finn to her left. Felix leaned against the wall next to Giulio, and Rossi plus his two men had occupied some stools that had been moved into the room.

“Now, this is a pretty packed house, so I’m going to need everyone to shut it while I lay out what’s going to happen. If there are concerns, I expect Fallon, Rossi, Felix, Giulio, or Konstantin to voice them. Everyone else, zip it. Agreed?”

Thankfully, it was quiet. I took a deep breath. This entire room was listening to me. Waiting for my orders. No one was trying to say I didn’t belong here, or that I couldn’t handle this. These people were on my side, ready to fight for my city and our future.

It felt fucking good.

“Greco thinks he’s dealt us a major blow by arresting my men,” I continued. “What he doesn’t know is that getting ourselves into jail was exactly what Obi and Max planned. We need my Shadows there for the last phase of this whole thing. But right now, our job is to capitalize on Greco’s assumption. I need to make him think that he’s won.”