Page 98 of Deathless & Divided

“She’s always been a vocal woman,” Ben said, dismissing Theo.

Theo scowled. “You defend that woman like you’ve got a claim on her, Uncle.”

Lily didn’t miss the twitch of Ben’s cheek as he said, “You’re toeing a thin line, Theo.”

“Drop it,” Dino demanded quietly. “Back to the Rossi issue.”

Ben jerked his thumb in Damian’s direction. “You’re about to break bread with one right now. Terrance isn’t pleased about this shooting mess, regardless of what Laurent is trying to say about his involvement. Cara and Lea arrived home last night.”

Damian perked at that. “From Toronto?”

“Yeah, you didn’t know?” Ben asked.

“No.”

“Well, they are. And they said nobody left the house.”

“It was Serena’s car,” Dino said. His tone left absolutely no room for argument. “He can’t deny that.”

“He can’t.”

“What is wrong?” Lily asked, inserting herself into the discussion, too. She probably shouldn’t have. “I mean, if Laurent made a point by going after the Conti business, doesn’t that show he’s being loyal to Terrance?”

For the first time since Ben arrived that morning, he actually graced Lily with his attention. She wished he hadn’t. Mostly, she flew under her uncle’s radar and she liked it that way. This didn’t feel the same at all.

“This isn’t for you to concern yourself with, Lily,” Ben said.

Her uncle stood from the table and walked out of the kitchen without saying another thing. Dino and Theo followed behind him shortly after. Damian stayed in his spot with his back facing Lily.

“I hate that man,” she said more to herself than Damian.

“A lot of people do,” her fiancé replied.

“What is the problem? Will you tell me?”

Damian spun around slowly and placed his hands to the countertop. “The problem is that Terrance wants to make peace. He sees the things happening around him. He sees his men taking sides and separating further. Riley has a great deal of loyalty on his side because he’s the front boss for the Outfit?”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning he’s a lot closer to the guys on the streets and the crews than Terrance is. Riley has power, too, even if Terrance doesn’t want to admit it.”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with the shooting, Damian.”

Damian ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “No matter how many times Terrance says he didn’t order Laurent to follow through on the shooting, Riley is at a place now where he won’t believe him. No matter how many times Laurent says he didn’t do it, Terrance is too angry to believe him because he has no one else to blame.”

“More problems,” Lily said.

“A lot more. All this did was put more of a rift between Terrance and Riley. A bigger one than what was already there before. Some crews, even part of your uncle’s crew, are kicking up a fuss on Riley’s behalf because of this shooting mess. DeLucas are loyal to the Trentini side of things, or they always used to be. Ben is struggling to keep his people in line for Terrance’s benefit. Laurent made a huge statement for the Rossi side of things by going after the Conti business.”

“What about the Lazarri thing?” Lily asked.

“That’s another issue. Riley still wants blood from them; they still deny the restaurant shooting and Mia’s death.”

“This is a mess.”

“It’s not good, Lily.”

“Doesn’t sound like it.”