Don Matteo gave him a long look, then nodded. "Then go on. I've got work to do."
Makros and Leila stepped out of the study. As the door shut behind them, Leila leaned into him.
"I didn't expect that to go... well," she whispered.
Makros smiled. "Me neither. But I'll take it."
"So, what now?" Leila asked as they strutted down the long hallway, holding hands.
"Dragon's going to be handling some new recruits," Makros said. "And I'll be heading out to visit the families of the men we lost. Make sure they're compensated properly."
Everyone who worked for the mafia knew the risks. No one signed up expecting to make it out alive but they did it hoping their families would be taken care of. And Makros wasn't about to be the one to break that tradition.
Leila looked up at him. "Can I tag along?"
Makros seemed to think about it for a second, but his mind was already elsewhere. He wasn't actually weighing her question, he was planning a workaround.
"No, you can't," he said simply. "But... you can help Dragon vet the new staff and bodyguards."
Leila frowned slightly. "So I get stuck in the house?"
"It's not just the house," Makros replied. "You'll be helping decide who gets trusted with our lives. That's no small thing."
She raised an eyebrow, still not convinced. "Feels like I'm being babysat."
Makros stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression softening. "No. You're being protected. There's a difference."
Leila studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. But I'm not going easy on them. If someone so much as blinks wrong, I'm sending them home."
Makros smirked. "That's exactly why I want you there."
They started walking again, a little slower this time.
"Oh, and Leila?" he added.
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell Dragon I told you to boss him around. He'll pretend not to care, but he'll give me hell for it."
Leila grinned. "No promises."
Makros had barely left the estate when Dragon appeared in the living room with the first recruit in tow. Leila sat beside him, arms crossed, eyeing the man who stood before them. He looked like he'd crawled straight out of a street fight. He tried not to stare too long at Leila.
Dragon cleared his throat. "Alright Ramirez, you know why you're here. But just so we're clear—this isn't a job, it's a life sentence. If that scares you, now's the time to walk."
Ramirez didn'tmove.
Leila narrowed her eyes. "Cute. Let's see how brave you are after we actually test you."
Dragon smirked. "Didn't think you'd show up for this."
"Makros asked me to help vet them," Leila said, her tone sharp. "And I like knowing who's going to be walking around my house armed."
Dragon grunted. "Fair. But I think I should do the talking."
Leila piped down a bit and allowed Dragon to ask the questions. Ramirez left, and the next recruit, Fabio Capello walked in. He looked too handsome to be risking his life.
After about four recruits, Dragon said under his breath, "Stefanos being buried tomorrow. Don wants him buried before we go to war."
