Page 12 of Married to the Devil

“This is all well done,” I say, pleased with her work and doing my best to ignore my brother’s flirtation. “How are the permits coming along?”

“Finished on that end too,” Silas says, stretching out, looping one arm over the back of his chair. I sit straight, shoulders back, but my brother slouches and slinks like he’s back home in his living room. “Wasn’t fucking easy, I’ll tell you that. Had to call in more than a few favors.”

“Wonder how you earned those,” Theodora mutters.

Silas ignores her. “But we’re settled now. Kellan and Devlin are finalizing the warehouse space. I’ll move on to trucking and logistics soon.”

“Theodora? Hiring?”

She nods once. “I have people working on it.”

I sit back and look down at the papers on my desk. My lawyer and my brother fall silent for a moment as the magnitude of what we’re doing slowly settles on our shoulders.

On my shoulders, as always.

“When we’re finished, the Corvino family will be remade,” I say, gazing at the faint but still visible burn scars on my left palm. I still remember the door that gave me those. The brass was so hot it made me scream, but no louder than my brothers begging on the other side. Ashes. “The world is changing, and we have to change with it.”

“Legal drug dealing. Who would’ve thought?” Silas sounds serious for once in his life. “The Chinese factories are practically foaming at the mouth at the thought of getting their faintly regulated shit into the US market.”

“Everyone I know loves those GLP-1s.” Theodora checks her nails, shrugging. “I never saw the point.”

“With a body like yours, why would you?” Silas nudges her with his toe. “Come on, Dora, tell me your secret.”

“Good genes and not getting involved with fuckboys like you.”

Silas touches his chest. “I’m wounded.”

“Please, enough.” I rub the bridge of my nose. “I swear, you two are going to give me an aneurysm. I’m trying to have a moment here.”

“Right, sorry, bro.” Silas rubs his hands together. “Let’s get all sentimental some more, shall we.”

I give him a hard look. He shuts up, to his credit.

“When the deal closes and we officially own Denning Drug Supply, we’ll have a legitimate way into the market. While our competitors are busy knifing each other on street corners and selling meth in empty lots, we’ll flood the streets with completely legal Chinese knockoffs.”

“I wouldn’t say completely legal,” Theodora comments.

“The shape of our family is changing. I want to make sure everyone’s ready for it.” I stare hard at Silas. “Have you spoken with Cassian recently?”

Silas clears his throat. “I try but you know him. He only answers when he wants to.”

“Make sure he understands and is on board.”

“I’m not sure Cassian cares about much. I mean, so long as he’s got a list of targets—“ Silas stops and glances at Theodora. She’s doing her best impression of a woman who can neither see nor hear, which is one of her specialties. “Anyway, Kellan likes the idea of running an army of salesmen, and Devlin keeps saying he’s going to fuck every hot doctor on the East Coast, so you know them. Happy so long as there’s blood and treasure.”

“There will be plenty of both.” I lean my hands on the desk, staring at my oldest brother and my most trusted advisor. Both gaze back seriously. “Our enemies will not sit back and let this happen. We’re entering into uncharted territory, and I will make sure my family is protected. Do you understand me?”

“Legally speaking, I’m on top of it.”

“And less than legally speaking?” Silas stands and walks over to the bar cart. “We’re ready.” He pours a drink and raises the glass. “Here’s to the future.”

“This stays between us for now. The Capos and Lieutenants will have too many questions.”

“What about Ignazio?” Theodora asks softly. “He’s aware something’s happening.”

“I’ll deal with the accountant.” I look down at my hands, thinking how this is going to split the family in two. There are those that must be left behind but everything I do is for the greater good.

Nothing lasting is created without a little blood in the foundations.