Page 229 of Savage Devotion
“Letting you die after all the shit we went through would be in vain,” I said. “I am not weak. My happy ending isn’t fading into the shadows. I was never meant to fade away. I was meant to build. To grow. I was meant to save you right back, Enzo. So fucking let me, or I’ll do it by force.”
He stared at me, his eyes wavering.
“You’ve been planning this since you left, haven’t you?” his voice shook.
“No.” I smiled at him. “I was planning it before I left. I’m a De Santis. I know things.” I tapped my head. “I thought I could die to escape it, but it was just my beginning, not my ending. Don’t think my returning isn’t my happy ending, brother. It’s my fucking destiny.”
“So… I-I give it all up to you?”
“Yes.”
“And then what?”
“And then I save your life, like you saved mine. Let me fight this battle for you. When we win,wewill be at the top. Together. Just like we planned.”
He let out a shaky breath, his eyes searching my face. I could see the torment eating at him. The uncertainty. The worry. But he needed help.
“OK. I agree.”
“Perfect.” I kissed his forehead tenderly and backed away. I pulled my phone out, his dark eyes fixed on me, and dialed a single number.
“Tell the Carpenter it’s done. Move in,” I said.
66
ENZO
Everything was already in motion.
Evan moved fast. Or Constantino.
Whoever he was now.
I’d already turned over control of my men to him. Word was already out there that there had been a silent takeover and there was a new boss in town. In less than twelve hours, men were bowing to a new leader.
I was one of them. It was different to be on this end, but Evan had cut me out. He simply set me aside and told me to rest and focus on what I truly wanted.
What I wanted was answers.
Evan was already meeting with Dom. Cole had given a look of confusion and had left with Anson to go to Dom’s place for the meeting. Ryder and Klaus went with them, along with E, because Evan now pretty much owned E since he’d been with me. E went willingly. He knew what was at stake.
For the first time in years, I didn’t have much to worry about. My company was perfect. I still had that. I had a day off.
E had taken Riot to Ann and Harold, so it was just me, Rosalie, and Ellis in the house. There were double the guards in the building, so we were safe in that respect.
But I wanted answers. I wouldn’t be able to get my head right without them. I fully intended to help take out Virelli’s men and anyone working with them.
I knew who I needed to speak to.
“Rosalie?” I called out, poking my head into her bedroom. She sat with Ellis on the bed, getting her toenails painted.
She looked at me as I stepped into the room.
“Are you OK?” she asked, worry in her pretty eyes. I’d barely spoken to her all week. She knew what went down. That her husband now controlled a hundred percent of my mafia empire, and that Anson was his underboss with Ryder and Klaus as his enforcers.
“No. I was wondering if you’d help me with something.”
“What is it?”
