33. Brie

CHAPTER 33

Brie

I walk into the conference room like I own it—because I fucking do. The will in my hand feels like a crown, heavy with both promise and responsibility. This room, with its dark mahogany panels and leather seats, has witnessed decades of Colombo Family power plays.

Now it’s about to witness mine.

Larry and Vince are already seated at the massive table, and they have a few of their loyalists on each side, five or six each. Frank is still standing, and ushers his men to the table only as I come in. These men are the more junior crew leaders, men who report to Vince or Larry or Frank. The ones who don’t know about all the politics going on in the upper levels, and who tend to follow their leader blindly.

“Well, if it isn’t our grieving widow,” Larry drawls, lounging in the chair at the head of the table again, even as his men, and Vince’s, stand out of habit to greet me—there’s a lady in the room. “Franks says you actually caught the killer,” he goes on. “That little weasel Holden Brooks?—”

“The next person who says that name in my hearing,” I cut in, “will be kneecapped.” The men, who have been chuckling at Larry’s attitude, fall into sudden silence. “Holden Brooks was a traitor to the Don and I will not have his name invoked in my presence.”

That’s not the real reason I don’t want his name in their mouths.

I know he did terrible, heinous things, and I’m angry about that. But I won’t have the name of Terry’s lover dragged through the mud by the likes of Larry Caruso and Vince Sabatelli, who have a thing or two to learn about loyalty themselves.

Larry’s laugh is ugly. “What, you gonna come at me yourself, Breezy? I’m a little harder to put down than…” He waves his hand, but I note that he doesn’t say Holden’s name. “Where’s that pet bulldog you usually have skulking around behind you?”

“Sit down, gentlemen,” I say, nodding at the capos who are still standing there respectfully.

They sit. It’s a small victory, but I savor it. This is how power works in Vegas—not in grand gestures, but in these tiny moments of compliance.

“Yes, the killer has been caught and dealt with,” I say. I have a flash of the weight of his body in my arms, the grace I offered him for Terry’s sake at the end, though I had none of my own to give him. “He killed Don Colombo because the Don found out he was skimming money from the casino.”

Vince leans forward, something like admiration in his snake-oil smile. “Word is you took him out yourself. Personally.”

I turn to him, letting him see the strength beneath my carefully applied makeup, the strength that’s always been there since that night I learned that sometimes survival means getting blood on your hands. “That’s correct. I shed blood in vengeance for my late husband, Don Salvatore Colombo.” My voice carries the weight of ritual, of tradition. These men respect blood and violence above all else. “And that’s the last we’ll speak of it.”

Then I hold up the will, watching Larry and Vince’s eyes lock onto it. “And—according to Don Salvatore Colombo—I am to be named his successor in the Family. It’s all here in black and white.”

“Forgery,” Larry spits immediately, his face reddening.

“Frank?” I turn to the consigliere, keeping my voice mild. Frank, who’s watched me grow from Terry’s trophy wife into something more, something stronger. “Would you confirm your signature here, and Terry’s, too? The one you witnessed when Terry signed this document in front of you?”

Frank comes over and takes out his glasses, though I know he doesn’t need to look closer. His eyes, when they meet mine, carry understanding. “That’s my signature, all right. It’s genuine, Larry. Plain as day.”

“Doesn’t matter a damn anyway. The dead guy doesn’t get a say.” Larry’s fist hits the table, making the crystal water glasses jump. “I’m taking over this Family, and that’s that.”

“I stand with Breezy,” Frank says quietly. And where Frank goes, his loyal soldiers follow, judging by the way they all look to me, nodding. “She got justice for Terry, and the will is clear. I trust Terry’s judgment, even from the great beyond.”

I meet Larry’s furious gaze. “What about you, Larry? Will you fall in line?”

“I ain’t falling in line to some?—”

“Watch your tone.” I lean forward, letting him see the look in my eyes.

The silence stretches as Larry stares back at me. “I want the Family,” he says at last, stubbornly. “I ain’t backing down. I got more claim to it than a woman.”

Larry’s men all nod and murmur. I was expecting that, though I hoped it might be otherwise. I turn to Vince now, who hasn’t missed a moment of this dance. “And you, Vince? Will you fall in line?”

A slow smile spreads across his face, reminding me of a poker player holding onto his cards until the last possible moment. “Well, I think I’ll follow everyone else’s lead…” He pauses for effect. “And put up my own hand for the job.”

Vince looks at Larry with that smile I’ve come to know so well. In another life, he could have been a very successful used car salesman. “That’s fair, isn’t it?” he asks. “Give the guys a choice, eh? There’s too much at stake not to give ’em a choice.” He turns to me with mock regret, playing to his audience like always. “Sorry, Breezy, but a man’s gotta shoot his shot.”

“Then it seems we’re at a stalemate,” I say. “But perhaps there’s one person who can break it.”

The door opens with perfect timing, and Nik enters, holding her phone. Just the sight of her steadies something in my chest—my protector, my partner, the woman who knows exactly who I really am. She moves to my side with a quick nod.

The pieces are falling into place.

“But do you know what, Vince?” I say smoothly, letting a hint of drawl back into my voice. “I agree completely that this is too important to screw up. So the Underboss should have a say in this discussion, don’t you think?”

Larry’s bark of laughter bounces off the walls. “What, Big Joe? He’s in the joint, no contact allowed. He don’t get no say.”

“The hell I don’t, you spineless piece of shit!”

Big Joe’s voice booms through the speaker on Nik’s phone, and I have to bite back a smile at how quickly Larry’s face drains of color as he bolts upright in his chair. Nik turns the phone around so they can all see Joe’s weathered face on the screen. Even through the small screen, his presence fills the room—a reminder of the old guard, of tradition and respect.

“Look at you two mutts,” Joe growls. “Terry only kept you around cuz you were decent at your jobs. But lead the Family? Please.” His disgust is obvious. “Neither of you sorry excuses even bothered to reach out to me in here, keep me in the loop. But Breezy? You better believe she’s been keeping me informed. Looking after my interests. And that’s what a real leader does.”

“Your opinion doesn’t mean much from behind bars, old man,” Larry sneers, but I catch the nervous tick in his jaw, the way his hands clench on the armrests. He knows he’s losing ground.

Joe’s answering grin just makes Larry look even more nervous. “Funny thing about that, Caruso. See, Brie here pulled some strings, got me this fancy new lawyer. Guy thinks I’ll be home in a few months, soon he gets the charges thrown out.” He leans closer to the camera, his voice dropping to a growl. “We’ll have ourselves a nice long drink together then, won’t we, Larry?”

I watch the implications sink in, watch the power in the room shift like a tide.

“What are you saying?” Larry says at last. “You plan to take over, like Terry wanted?” I see him considering it. “I can fall in behind you, Joe, you know that. Just can’t come at a woman telling me what to do.”

“I’ll give your wife a call and let her know once we’re done here,” Joe says. “See how she feels about what you just said.” He clears his throat. “Now listen up, you fucking ingrates. If Terry wanted Breezy Colombo to take over, that’s what’s gonna happen. I’m too old to fuck around with you morons. Got no patience left, and you clearly got no loyalty to me unless you think I’m right there to bust your balls. But any man there who won’t stand behind Breezy, I’ll come see you, personal, once I’m out, and show you the error of your ways. You hear me?”

Vince, always quicker on the uptake, clears his throat. “You know what? Big Joe’s made some excellent points.” He turns to me with a wide smile now, and I remember Terry telling me once that Vince’s greatest talent was always knowing which way the wind was blowing. “I’ll stand with Breezy Colombo. She’s got the name and she’s got the brains.” He chuckles. “And I should’ve known better than to play a player.”

“This is bullshit!” Larry explodes, shooting to his feet. “It goes against every tradition?—”

“The Family has to evolve or die,” Frank cuts in wearily. “That’s what Terry always said, and he was right. Breezy here has proven herself smarter than any of us. Ready to do what needs doing. I don’t see you getting Big Joe outta lock-up, Larry, or Vince tracking down Terry’s killer. We should be thankful for her service to this Family, and grateful that she’s gonna stick around and make sure we stay strong.”

It happens fast—Larry reaches for his gun, but he’s not even halfway there before half a dozen other weapons are trained on him. Frank moves to shield me, but Nik is already there, her body angled wide to protect mine, while keeping her gun trained steadily on Larry.

In that moment, I feel Terry’s presence strongly, as if he’s watching his plans unfold exactly as he intended.

“It’s over, Larry,” Joe’s voice rumbles from the phone. “And remember—I got a long reach, even from in here.”

“I’m taking my guys and leaving,” Larry spits, his face mottled with rage. “I won’t be part of this farce.”

“Funny,” I say. “I was about to suggest the same thing. So let’s make a deal, Larry. Get the hell out of Vegas. You can have Reno if you want it—I’ll pull our crews out of there and let you enjoy a clear run.” Reno has been nothing but a problem of late, so it’s no loss to us here. “But you think about coming back to Vegas? To my city? Then all bets are off.”

Larry storms out, slamming the door hard enough that it bounces back open.

“Anyone going with him had better go now,” I say to his little group of loyalists. They look at each other and then they trail after him, although one stays behind.

“Always hated the guy,” he says with a shrug when I raise an eyebrow at him. “And I like Vegas. I got no problem working for a lady, long as she knows how to take care of business.” He gives a little nod and a smile. “And you sure do.”

Vince lets out a low whistle, holstering his weapon. “You got a pair on you, handling Larry like that. They call you Breezy, but actually, you’re a damn hurricane.”

“Thank you, everyone,” I say to the men. “I’d like a word with Vince and Frank here, but the rest of you can head out.” As soon as the door shuts behind them, I turn to Vince. “Prove your loyalty,” I tell him, meeting his eyes steadily. “Make sure Larry and his men are gone within twenty-four hours. If they’re not, I’ll put you down along with all of them.”

“You got it, Boss,” he says with a grin, and heads out.

“What’s next?” Frank asks once Vince is gone, and I hear the respect in his voice. It’s touching.

I look around the room that’s witnessed so much Colombo Family history, thinking of all the men who’ve sat in these chairs, made their plans, fought their battles. Now it’s my turn to write the next chapter.

“We stabilize the Family,” I say, feeling Nik’s steady presence at my back like an anchor. “Clean up the mess Holden and Larry left behind.” I hold up the phone and smile at the Underboss, still enjoying the show. “We get Big Joe out of prison and back home where he belongs. And then we show Vegas what the Colombos can really do.”

The crown sits heavy, but it fits.