Chapter 82: I want the whole city.

I head back to my office. The moment the door closes behind me, I let out a long breath and loosen the collar of my shirt.

I know exactly what is coming.

The consequences of allowing Nerissa to kill Sebastian will not take long to reach me.

My men saw it.

Some will be angry others will see it as an insult.

In our world, there are rules that have existed long before I became Don. Rules about respect, rules about hierarchy, rules about how a man is supposed to die.

And one of those rules is that a made man should not be executed by a woman.

My men would have preferred that I killed Sebastian myself. Hell, some of them probably expected it.

But I didn’t.

Because Nerissa is my wife and she is going to stand beside me, she needs to be respected as more than a pretty face attached to a treaty.

She needs to have her place and she earned that place herself today.

She stood in front of all of them and made it clear that she wouldn’t tolerate anyone treating her like she was weak.

I could have taken the gun from her, I could have told her to step aside, I could have handled Sebastian myself.

But I didn’t.

Because she was capable of handling it.

And because, whether my men like it or not, she is strong enough to stand beside me.

I drop into my chair.

Then sigh.

"Fuck."

I rub my face.

As if I didn’t already have enough problems.

Now I have to deal with the consequences of this too.

My workload seems to multiply every time I solve one problem.

I stare at the documents scattered across my desk.

Nico and Isabella. The Hamilton brothers. The fucking Genovese mess and now the possibility that my own men might start questioning my decisions.

I lean back in my chair.

I’m hanging on the edge of my patience.

Nico is the first problem I need to solve. Isabella’s marriage to him is approaching quickly....Too quickly.

The bastard has already buried three wives.

Three.

And everyone knows exactly what happens to the women who marry him.

I refuse to let Isabella become number four.

But getting her out of that arrangement isn’t as simple as telling Nico to fuck off. If I openly pull out of the marriage, it will look like the Sanchez family has gone back on its word.

That could destabilize the alliance.

Worse, it could give Nico’s family a reason to retaliate.

So I need to handle him quietly and cleanly.

In a way that doesn’t point back to Isabella or ourr family.

I need Nico to believe that walking away was his idea.

Then there are the Hamilton brothers.

I stare at the paperwork concerning their operations.

The Two fucking psychos who happen to control half the city and I was content letting them have their half while I handled mine.

Business was business.

We stayed out of each other’s way...until Genovese. Until they decided to come after me, until they drugged me, beat the shit out of me and stabbed me.

I look down at my side. The wounds are still healing beneath my shirt.

Jeremiah wanted to go after them immediately.

I refused.

Not because I don’t want them dead.

I do.

But because I’m not stupid enough to walk into a war while I’m still bleeding from the last fight.

I need to heal.

Then I’ll deal with them myself.

I had been content with controlling half the city.

Now?

I want the other half and I’ll get it. Even if it means wiping out their entire generation to take it.

My fingers tighten around the pen in my hand.

I’m tired of people thinking they can test me.

Genovese did, he died. The Hamilton brothers did and they are going to die regretting it.

I force myself to focus on the papers in front of me.

For the next hour, I work....up until my office door bangs open.

My hand moves instantly, I reach beneath the desk for my gun.

My eyes snap toward the entrance.

Jeremiah.

He stands there looking like he’s ready to punch a hole through the wall.

I release the gun.

"What the fuck is going on?"

He slams the door shut behind him.

"What the hell are you on about, Jerry?"

"You had your wife kill Sebastian?"

I lean back.

I shouldn’t be surprised.,:Word does travel fast.

"I guess word does travel fast."

Jeremiah glares at me.

"Your wife?"

His voice rises.

"Come on, bro."

He walks farther into the office.

"You know it’s better you do it."

I say nothing.

"It’s considered shameful to die by the hands of a woman. You know that."

"I know."

"Then what the hell were you thinking?"

He starts pacing.

"You want a revolt brewing inside our own ranks? You already have your hands full."

My jaw tightens.

"Watch your mouth."

"I’m serious."

"So am I."

He stops and stares at me.

"Sebastian tried to rape her."

That shuts him up.

For a second, I see the anger drain from his face.

"He tried to fucking rape her, Jeremiah."

My voice drops.

"He put his hands around her throat."

Jeremiah’s expression changes.

I continue.

"He tried to kill her."

I push myself back in my chair.

"He didn’t deserve to die a respectful death."

Jeremiah’s shoulders drop and he looks away.

We both know the rules. In our line of work, there are things that are tolerated and there are lines even men like us don’t cross.

Women and Children.

The innocent.

You don’t touch them unless there is absolutely no other choice.

And Sebastian crossed that line.

Jeremiah exhales.

"Well, fuck."

He rubs the back of his neck.

The anger is gone now, he starts pacing again.

It’s something he does whenever he’s stressed.

I watch him.

"You know the outfit is loyal," he says eventually.

"I know."

"But shit like this can stir up trouble."

I shrug.

"I don’t care."

He stops pacing and I meet his eyes.

"I’m not going to regret letting Nerissa pull that trigger."