15. Lexi

15

LEXI

W ords stick in my throat as Dom makes himself comfortable beside me. His suit is spotless, his cologne so thick it clogs my throat. He angles himself so that he's leaning his arm against mine. For a second, I'm too surprised and terrified to react. Ramsey warned me Dom would find me. But is he stupid enough to ask me for information right here in front of Grey and Vincenzo? I'd never make it out of this room alive.

Maybe that's his goal.

But he doesn't bring it up as he adjusts his legs so that his thigh brushes mine.

I flinch, scooting toward Grey.

Dom grins, clearly enjoying my discomfort, but the movement of his cheek makes the scratch on it more noticeable, and I can't help smirking at the sight of it, despite my fear. I love that I managed to inflict damage he's forced to see in the mirror.

"Relax," he says. "I'm only here to offer moral support. These meetings can be a bit overwhelming at first." He leans in, adding, "Although, I'm sure you've seen some shit in your line of work, huh?"

He's trying to bait me. Rather than give him the satisfaction, I toss back, "I've definitely seen scum like you."

"Funny," he says. "But I can guarantee you've never met a man like me."

I suppress a shudder at the undertone. Grey presses in closer to me, his body rigid as he leans forward to glare at Dom. "What the fuck do you want, Albero?" he asks in a low voice.

Around us, the room is starting to quiet. People are taking their seats. Security's pulling the doors shut, sealing us in.

"I already told you, just offering moral support for her first time." He chuckles. "A girl never forgets her first, and today's going to be extra eventful."

"Fuck off," Grey warns him.

Dom's eyes rake over me, leaving a trail of disgust across my skin. "Believe me, fucking is top of my list."

Grey snarls and starts to reply, but he stops as someone else joins our row. A flash of red hair catches my eye, and I look up to see Mia dropping into the seat on Dom's other side.

Her smile is warm enough, but her eyes are ice cold. "Dom, he's let you out of your cage, I see."

Dom turns to her smoothly. "Mia Reyes, the equal opportunity general-in-waiting, all the way up here in the back row." He tsk s and adds, "How will you ever keep hold of your daddy's coattails sitting so far away from him?"

Mia bats her lashes. "Funny. I was just wondering how you keep your nose so firmly in Franco's asshole from way up here."

Dom's friendly fa?ade drops away. "Watch your fucking mouth, bitch."

Mia simply smiles back at him. Then she glances past Dom and shoots me a wink before settling back in her seat, unruffled in the face of his anger. Seriously impressive.

Grey, however, is practically vibrating with rage. And Dom knows it.

"I'm surprised your alpha allowed you to attend this meeting," Dom remarks. He doesn't look at Grey, but I know that's who he's talking to. "Considering you betrayed him the last time you were here. But then I guess he's forgiven you since you brought him a consolation prize." He looks pointedly at me.

"I'm not a fucking trophy," I tell him.

"A peace offering then." Dom shrugs. "How did Vincenzo react when he found out you tried to join our side?" he goes on. "Probably not well."

"Shut the fuck up, Albero." Grey's voice is brittle and clipped.

One glance at him, and I can see he's hanging onto his control by a thread. It's tempting to let him lose it. Dom deserves whatever Grey would do. But not here in a room full of generals who'd condemn Grey for what would probably look like an unprovoked attack.

The thought of Vincenzo punishing Grey again isn't a welcome one.

I grab Grey's hand and squeeze.

"From what I hear, Grey's return to the family was met with celebration," I say before Grey can say something he can't take back. "They never did get to congratulate him on killing your brother."

"Ouch," Mia says with utter sarcasm.

Dom's face flushes as he glares at me. He doesn't say a word for a long moment, and I can tell I've surprised him. I'm not sure if he didn't expect me to talk shit or didn't realize Grey would've told me what really happened.

Either way, I smirk at the obvious direct hit I've landed.

At the podium down front, Franco stands up and calls the meeting to order. Dom goes quiet though he doesn't leave. I keep my attention on him so I can be ready if he tries to pull anything, but I also can't help watching Franco. He looks completely at ease in this room full of mafia monsters, all of whom rule this city like some kind of celebrity killers.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Franco says. "Thank you for coming."

Ironic since they undoubtedly had no choice.

"As is our monthly custom, we've gathered today in a show of peace and goodwill among our pack and its leadership." He glances at Vincenzo, and I swear his lip curls up in disgust before he goes on. "For fifty years, I've ruled as alpha of this great city, and you've all served me loyally in return."

Another ironic statement. Loyalty must be earned not forced. But I guess no one told him that.

"It's because of that loyalty that we've prospered and grown strong as a community." He pauses, and there's some murmuring in the front few rows. "But there are some who've become dissatisfied with their current position. They want more. And they're willing to step on their brothers if that's what it takes. They want to betray and backstab their way to the top. And ultimately, they want my seat."

The murmurs get louder.

Worried, I glance down at Vincenzo in the front row, but he's not moving or speaking. His shoulders are stiff and straight. Beside him, Alvaro is equally still.

When I glance back at Franco, I find him staring up at Grey.

Dread slams into me.

Does he already know our plans? He must know something, or he wouldn't have asked me to spy. Then I realize Ramsey's likely already fed him something, and that he's chosen this moment to call it out. In a room full of men who would happily bay for someone's blood if it meant saving their own skin.

"This kind of unchecked greed is a blight on our pack's legacy and must be dealt with swiftly and strongly," Franco says.

The room is completely silent.

My thoughts race. What can I possibly do if Grey's singled out?

"Anthony Greco, come forward," Franco calls.

"What the fuck?" Grey says, and for a moment, I think he's going to get out of his seat.

"Careful, Jericho," Dom warns. "You go to battle for that asshole, and you'll end up on the chopping block too."

"What the fuck is this?" Mia hisses.

From the second row, Ramsey's dad gets up and makes his way to the stage where Franco waits. When he gets there and turns around, his face has flushed bright red. He glares back at the crowd, eyes narrowed on Franco's generals.

"Anthony, do you have anything to say about the charges against you?" Franco asks.

I watch, wide-eyed and frozen, trying to understand why this is happening. Is Franco fucking with Ramsey and me? Because the only traitors I know of in this room are us. Yet none of Vincenzo's generals have said a word in Anthony's defense.

"I've done nothing against your leadership," Anthony says tightly. "These are all lies."

Franco reaches into his jacket pocket. Anthony tenses, but Franco pulls out a piece of folded paper. With obvious fanfare, he unfolds it and holds it up.

"This is a bank receipt with your name on it, isn't it?" Franco asks.

Anthony looks at the receipt and pales. He doesn't answer, but Franco turns to the crowd as if the man's silence is admission enough.

"This receipt shows a significant transfer of money from the city treasurer's office…to you."

A few gasps and murmurs go up.

Grey makes a sound of fury. I grab his hand, willing him to be quiet.

Anthony looks at Vincenzo, but the alpha doesn't say a word.

"This is so fucked up," Grey says through clenched teeth. "That money went to the Giovanni Foundation, and Franco fucking knows it. This is a setup."

Dom's smile slips, and he looks sharply at Grey. "What the hell makes you say that?"

Grey levels a look at him. "Call it a hunch."

Dom scowls.

"Anthony," Franco prompts, "considering you recently gained a seat on the city council—which provides direct access to the treasurer's books—would you care to respond to this receipt?"

"I suggest you start by asking the treasurer himself," Anthony snaps. He glares at one of Franco's generals watching from the second row. "Conrad? What the fuck is this bullshit you're trying to pull?"

"I've complied with all regulatory requests for the audit Franco ordered on my office," Conrad says. "Any discrepancies were investigated by a third-party agency."

"What agency?" Anthony demands. "Give me the name." His face is even redder than before, which is a feat in itself.

"That information's sealed to protect bias," Franco says. "And for their safety." He looks at Vincenzo pointedly before nudging Anthony roughly. "That money was earmarked for schools. You stole from children so you could take more than the fair share given to you."

"I didn't fucking do this," Anthony says, but Franco ignores him.

"This city gave you a home," Franco says. "A family. Brothers. Not to mention the kind of money and power most people fucking dream about. And you used it to steal. To betray your brothers. And to implicate me in the process."

"I told you, it's not what it looks like," Anthony stutters. He's indignant but also clearly terrified. There's no way to disprove Franco's accusations, and he knows it.

Even I know it.

Shit.

This is going to be very bad.

I glance at Ramsey. I'm only able to make out his profile from this angle, but I can see that he's glued to the sight of his father standing on the dais. His skin is so pale it's slightly green, and he doesn't even appear to be breathing.

"We are only as strong as our weakest member," Franco declares.

He folds and pockets the receipt. This time, after reaching into his coat, he comes away holding a gun and aims it right at Anthony's head.

"Fuck," Grey growls.

"Grey," Mia hisses, leaning forward in her seat, "what does he think he's doing?"

"He's taking out the trash." Dom grins just as the gun goes off.

Anthony falls face-first, blood and brain matter coating the back of his head.

Someone screams, the sound muffled in my ears after the loud shot.

"No," Ramsey roars, leaping from his seat and rushing for the stage. Rocco and Charlie manage to grab him by the shoulders, hauling him back.

Another scream.

Then Grey is touching me, pulling my face toward his so that my eyes are forced to focus on him rather than the dead general, whose brains are now located outside his body.

"Lexi," Grey says, his voice far away. "Lexi."

He squeezes my cheeks with his hands until the sensation brings me back to myself.

"Lexi." This time, his tone is sharp and almost unkind.

I blink.

"Stop screaming," he says, his dark, enigmatic eyes anchoring me.

"I wasn't—" I frown. My throat is raw. Another scream builds, but I manage to swallow it.

"Good." He doesn't let me go or look away.

Not even when Franco starts talking again. "This is what happens to those who forget their place."

His words make me flinch, but I don't look away from Grey. I grip his wrists, hoping that means he'll hold on to me too. It's a connection I desperately need right now.

"Don't forget this," Franco warns in a booming voice. "Betray me, and this is how it will end. This meeting's adjourned."

He drops the mic, the thud echoing harshly. He's speaking again, but the words don't carry this far without the microphone.

Clothes rustle as people rise and begin to move. The hum of voices fills my ears.

"We're leaving now," Grey says to me. "Okay?"

"Okay," I manage.

He finally releases my face and wraps his hand around mine, holding tight. "Stand up."

I do as he says, glad for the instruction and even more relieved my body knows to obey. I'm not sure it would listen to me right now.

When I stand and turn for the aisle, I find Mia waiting for me there. Dom is gone. I don't look for him.

"Come here," Mia says, holding out her hand.

I grasp her hand with my free one and let her lead me down the center aisle steps. My heart thuds as we get closer to the ground level—to the dead man lying there—but Mia turns left halfway there and slips out a side door.

A few others with the same idea are just ahead of us in a dark hallway. No one speaks to us. I keep a tight hold of Mia's hand with my left while still squeezing Grey's hand with my right.

We descend a musty stairwell then push out into bright sunshine that's jarring to my panicked senses. It's too bright. Too warm. And entirely too cheerful for what I just witnessed.

My stomach rolls with nausea.

"Here." Mia pulls me over to where Grey's driver holds the car door open. Before I slip inside, she grabs me by the shoulders and turns me to face her. "Deep breaths. Count to ten. You'll be fine."

I nod, taking her word for it. Then I reluctantly release both their hands and climb into the car.