جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 137

AXEL POVThat night, Vincent summoned us.Both of us.His study.Eight PM.Guards escorted us.Making sure we complied.Vincent sat behind his desk.Jax stood beside him.Seeing him alive.After two years thinking he was dead.After Marco "killed" him.It was surreal.And infuriating."Sit," Vincent ordered.We sat.Em close to me.Trembling."I think it's time we had an honest conversation," Vincent said."About what?" I asked."About why you're really here. About what I really want. About the truth.""I thought the truth was I work for you for two years. Then I'm free."Vincent laughed."Is that what you thought? How naive.""So the two years was a lie.""Not a lie. An impossibility. You see, Dante, once you're in the family, you never leave. Surely you remember that from your father's time.""I'm not staying here forever.""You are. And you'll do

AXEL POVThey dragged Em away.I couldn't stop them.Six guards held me back.Vincent watched, smiling."Let her go!" I roared."Kill Marco," Vincent said calmly. "Then you can have her back.""I won't kill Marco!""Then you won't see Emilia."He nodded to the guards.They dragged me to the basement, the old section where my father used to punish people.Stone walls. Cold. Dark.They threw me in a cell and locked the door.

AXEL POVSeven PM.Guards escorted us to the dining room.The entire family waited.Vincent at the head.Isabella beside him.Nikolai. Jax.Captains and underbosses.Twenty people.All watching us."Dante, Emilia. Sit."Two chairs. Center of the table.On display.We sat.Food was served immediately.Elaborate. Expensive.I couldn't eat.Marco was dead.Because of me."Eat, Dante," Vincent said. "You need your strength.""I'm not hungry.""That wasn't a request."I picked up my fork.Forced food down.Tasted like ash."I'd like to make an announcement," Vincent said.Everyone quieted."Dante and Emilia are expecting. A Moretti heir. My great-nephew or niece."Applause.Congratulations.Fake smiles.I wanted to kill them all."This calls for celebration," Vincent continued. "To family. To legacy. To the future.""To famil

AXEL POVThree weeks of playing Vincent's obedient heir.Three weeks of hell.But Angelo's plan was ready.Marcus and Rafe had arrived in New York two days ago.Vincent's men caught them.Threw them in the basement cells.They thought I killed Marco.Hated me.I couldn't risk telling them the truth.Not with Vincent's surveillance everywhere.Tonight, everything changed.Angelo called at 10 PM."It's happening. FBI moves at midnight. Be ready.""Ready for what?""Chaos. When they raid, get Em and run. East exit. My car will be waiting.""What about Marcus and Rafe?""My inside man releases them during the confusion. They'll find their own way out.""And Vincent?""Isabella's evidence is solid. Financial crimes. RICO charges. Murder conspiracy. He's going away for life.""You're sure?""Positive. Just be ready."He hung up.I found Em in our suite."It's happening.