"And their suppliers? How loyal are they?"
"Mostly independent contractors doing business with whoever pays best. Not loyal to the Benedettis specifically. Just following the money."
Exactly what I needed to hear.
"Start making calls," I say, my mind already working through the strategy. "Offer the suppliers better rates. Better terms. Better protection. Whatever it takes to get them to switch their contracts to us."
"And if they refuse?"
"Then make it clear they lose both contracts—ours and the Benedettis'." I lean back in my chair. "Make sure they understand that choosing to stay with them means choosing to lose everything."
Bruno nods and leaves to make the calls, already pulling out his phone.
I pull out another file—this one containing Roberto’s financial records. It took some creative accounting and a few well-placed bribes to bank employees, but we finally got them.
The Benedettis are leveraged heavily, drowning in debt. They owe money to three different families, plus several legitimate banks with high-interest loans. They're barely keeping their heads above water financially.
That's why they tried to use Liana as leverage in the first place. They're desperate, backed into a corner with no good options.
Desperate men make mistakes.
And I'm going to exploit every single one of those mistakes until they have nothing left.
My phone buzzes against the desk. A text from Tommy.
Tommy: Costa girl spotted at Café Nero. North end. Thought you'd want to know.
My heart stops, then starts racing.
Liana.
I type back quickly: Alone?
Tommy: Negative. Two men with her. Big guys. Military bearing. Staying close.
The bodyguards Dominic assigned her. Of course he would assign her protection after what happened. After the kidnapping. It makes perfect sense. But the knowledge still burns like acid in my chest.
She needs bodyguards because I failed to protect her when she called for help.
Me: Stay on her. Keep your distance. Just make sure she's safe.
Tommy: You got it, Boss.
Two bodyguards. Probably young, capable, always at her side. Dominic's making a statement with this arrangement. He doesn't need the Marcello alliance. He can protect his own daughter without my help. I can't even be angry about it, because he's absolutely right.
I failed her. He's doing what I should have done.
My phone buzzes again. This time it's Sal.
Sal: You need to see this.
A photo attachment loads slowly. I open it and every muscle in my body tenses.
Liana.
Standing outside the café in the afternoon sunlight. Laughing at something one of the bodyguards said. The guy is tall with dark hair and a sharp jaw, standing too close to her for my liking.
She looks... happy. Genuinely happy in a way I don't remember seeing.
