Chapter Ten

Brynn

I made my way slowly down the stairs and never took my eyes off Leo. He stood at the bottom with his gaze fixed on me like he had been waiting all day to see me again. I’d tried to nap earlier before whatever this was about to bring, but my mind had been too restless. For the past two years, I’d taken on all the dangerous, gritty responsibilities that Guy used to handle. It was overwhelming, sure, but I never let myself get emotionally tied to any of it. It was just business.

But this ? This wasn’t just business. This was a shitstorm with Leo Banachi right in the middle of it.

The man who had stolen my heart over twenty years ago, only to break it in the end.

And now, after all this time, after everything I’d been through, he still had my heart—even though it was hardened and cracked. Held together by years of hurt and distance. It wasn’t a question of whether I could fall in love with Leo again. I’d never really stopped. The real question was whether I could handle loving him, knowing full well that he might break my heart all over again.

“I knew you’d be able to find your way,” Leo called up to me when I was halfway down the stairs, that familiar warmth in his voice.

I laughed softly, trying to shake off the tension that had been building up in me all day. “I did, but I still think you should hand out maps.”

He nodded, grinning wide. My heart skipped a beat. God, even after all this time, he was so handsome when he smiled like that. The years had changed him, sure—he had a few more lines around his eyes, his face was a little more weathered—but the way his smile lit up his entire face, that was the same. It still managed to knock the breath right out of me.

“I’ll get Murphy right on that,” he teased, his eyes never leaving mine.

I rolled my eyes, reaching the last step, now standing right in front of him. We were eye to eye, closer than we had been in years. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”

Leo just stared at me for a moment, his expression softening. He gently shook his head like he was trying to shake off a thought. “What was that?” he asked, his voice low, almost absentminded, like he had just been lost in his own world for a second.

I tipped my head to the side, trying to read him. “Nothing,” I said lightly, though I wasn’t sure it was nothing . There was something in the way his eyes connected with mine that made my stomach flip.

He stepped aside then, holding his arm out to me. “I told everyone to be in my office in five minutes. I thought you might want a second to gather your thoughts,” he said, his voice a little steadier now.

I placed my hand on his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin through the fabric of his shirt as he led me down the hallway to the left. We walked side by side, our footsteps quiet against the hardwood floors. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, rich and warm, and the faint smell of leather and whiskey lingered in the air. We passed a few closed doors before stopping at the second one on the right.

Leo opened the door and gestured for me to step inside.

The office was spacious. A large wooden desk dominated the far side of the room, on its surface scattered with papers, a laptop, and a half-empty glass of whiskey. In front of the desk were two plush chairs. The kind that looked like you could sink into them for hours without wanting to get up. To the left, there was a worn leather couch that sat in front of a stone fireplace, a soft fire crackling inside. The warmth from the flames spread throughout the room, making it feel cozy despite its size. On the opposite wall was a tall liquor cabinet standing with bottles of whiskey, bourbon, and scotch lined up neatly and their amber liquid catching the light.

It felt like Leo in here—masculine, calm, controlled. A place where deals were made, secrets were kept, and burdens were carried.

I glanced around, taking it all in, before turning back to Leo. “Nice place you’ve got here,” I said.

He gave me a small smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It does the job,” he said, his tone quieter than before. He walked over to the desk and picked up the glass of whiskey, swirling the liquid around before taking a sip.

I followed him further into the room, letting my fingers trail across the back of one of the chairs in front of his desk. I could feel the weight of everything between us, all the years, all the unsaid words hanging in the air.

“You know,” I started, trying to keep my tone casual, even though my heart was racing, “I thought seeing you again would feel... different.” I paused, searching for the right words. “But it kind of feels like… nothing’s changed.”

Leo looked at me over the rim of his glass, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Maybe because some things haven’t,” he said simply, his voice low.

I didn’t know what to say to that. The way he was looking at me, the way he said it—it was like there was a whole conversation happening between us that neither of us was willing to speak out loud.

Before I could say anything, though, the door opened behind us, and I turned to see Apollo stepping inside, followed by Creed, Princeton, and Murphy. They each gave me a nod, their faces serious as they filed into the room, taking the remaining chairs in front of Leo’s desk.

Sig, Don, Jack, and Clyde were right behind them and took spots on the couch or stood along the wall.

“Well,” Apollo said, breaking the silence, “let’s get to it then.”

Leo set his glass down on the desk and leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the room before settling on me.

“Brynn,” he said, his voice steady but heavy. “Why don’t you start?”

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling the weight of their eyes on me. This was the moment. The one I’d been dreading. I had to tell them enough to keep them on our side without revealing too much. Not yet. Not until I knew... I didn’t know what. A lot of what I did dealt with a gut feeling.

Guy had shown and taught me a lot, but the most important thing he had ever told me was to trust my gut; it never would steer you wrong.

I took a deep breath, meeting Leo’s gaze one last time before turning to the others.

“Alright,” I said, my voice stronger than I expected it to be. “Let’s get started.”

“Let’s start with how you got hitched to Guy Maranga,” Creed said, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.

“And how we didn’t freaking know,” Apollo growled from across the room, his expression dark.

Yeah, these guys weren’t as happy to see me as I thought they might be. I could feel their frustration seeping into the air, thick and heavy. They wanted answers, and I wasn’t entirely sure how much I was ready to give.

I glanced at Leo, who was sitting behind his desk, casually sipping his whiskey like this wasn’t a bomb about to go off. He wasn’t going to jump in and rescue me here. This was on me. I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell them everything—certainly not about Guy being dead and me being in charge now. But they deserved to know at least some of the story.

“I worked at Wayne Plastics until two years ago, I think,” I started, my voice steady but guarded. I looked over at Sig, who gave me a slight nod. It was hard to believe it had been two years already. Time really did fly when everything around you was falling apart.

“A few years after I started working there, I met Mark’s brother, Jason,” I continued.

Murphy, sitting on the edge of his seat, couldn’t resist chiming in. “You marry him too?”

Leo, mid-sip, choked on his whiskey, and Sig cleared his throat. The tension in the room was broken for a moment as Leo regained his composure, but it didn’t last long.

I moved closer to the front of Leo’s desk, leaning against it to ground myself. “Uh, well, I did marry him... and then found out he was Guy Maranga.”

That admission hit them like a punch. I could see it in their faces, the disbelief, the questions forming in their minds. Apollo’s jaw clenched, and Murphy shook his head as if trying to shake off the absurdity of it all.

“There goes my next question, if you knew who the hell he was before you married him,” Apollo muttered.

I sighed, the memory of it all flashing through my mind like an old, faded photograph. “That would be no. I didn’t know who he was. I was lonely, and at the time, I figured being married was what I wanted.” I paused, the weight of my past settling in my chest. “I don’t really need to go into details, but my life wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows after I married Guy. The rumors of him being a hard and ruthless man were true.”

“And now we’re about to get into bed with this guy,” Murphy muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

“Things have changed,” Sig cut in, his voice firm but calm.

I nodded in agreement. “They have.”

Apollo’s gaze locked onto me, unblinking, intense. “You wanna go into what those changes are, or are we just supposed to nod our heads like sheep?”

I knew at that moment I couldn’t spin the story the way I had planned. These men were smart, too smart to let me slip past without giving them the truth. My eyes met Sig’s again, and I could tell he knew what was coming next.

“The things I tell you in this room,” I said, standing straight, my voice hardening, “do not go out of it. That includes your girlfriends, family, everyone.” I looked at each of them, my eyes narrowing on Apollo, Creed, Murphy, and Princeton. “If I find out what I say leaves this room, there will be consequences.”

Leo shifted in his chair. He knew where this was going, but he wasn’t about to interfere.

Creed raised an eyebrow and his skepticism was evident. “Okay,” he said with a chuckle, the disbelief still lacing his voice.

“Pretty sure whatever you’re about to tell us isn’t more shocking than the fact you married Guy Maranga,” Princeton drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. The others murmured in agreement.

Leo grinned, his voice cutting through the thick air. “Try not to drool on the floor when your jaws hit it, fellas. Or shit yourselves.”

I took a deep breath, knowing that what I was about to say would hit them harder than anything I had said so far. “The reason why things changed two years ago,” I began, my voice steady but firm, “was because after suffering from cancer for years, Guy died.”

The air left the room like a vacuum had sucked it out. The silence was almost deafening as the weight of my words hit them.

“And when he died, I took over,” I added.

It was as if time stood still. They stared at me, processing what I’d just said, trying to reconcile it with everything they thought they knew about me. The tension that had been building since I walked into the room exploded into a heavy, oppressive silence.

Apollo was the first to speak, his voice low and sharp. “You took over?” His words were more an accusation than a question.

I nodded. “Yes. I took over his businesses, his connections... everything. I inherited his empire.”

Murphy shook his head, letting out a short, bitter laugh. “So, what? You’re the new Guy Maranga now? The queenpin?”

I didn’t like the way that sounded, but I couldn’t deny the truth in it. “It’s more complicated than that,” I said, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. “But yes, in a sense, I’m in charge now.”

Creed leaned forward; his skepticism was replaced by curiosity. “You’ve been running his empire for two years? And no one knew?”

I nodded. “I didn’t need anyone to know. I didn’t want to involve anyone... until now.”

“And why now?” Princeton asked, his tone still laced with sarcasm, though I could see the wheels turning in his mind.

“Because things have changed,” I said, repeating the same line but knowing they needed more. “Candace has been after you guys for years. She wants control. She wants what she thinks is hers. When you killed Brandt, it sent her over the edge.”

“No shit,” Murphy chuckled, shaking his head. “The chick has a fucking screw loose.”

“Hold on,” Apollo interrupted, leaning forward with suspicion etched across his face. “How the hell did you know Candace was after us?”

All eyes turned to me, and I felt the weight of their stares. The truth was simple enough. Still, they needed to know.

“She came to Guy a few years back,” I began, “wanting to strike some type of deal.”

Leo, who had been quietly observing, suddenly sat up straighter. His attention sharpened in an instant. “What do you mean?” His tone wasn’t demanding, but it was clear he wasn’t going to let this go until he had the full story. I had left this little tid bit out earlier.

“Oh, finally, some surprising shit you didn’t know about?” Apollo muttered with a smirk, glancing at Leo.

Leo waved him off, his focus entirely on me now. “What deal did she want?”

I took a breath, knowing this was going to land hard. “She offered him intel on you.”

Leo squinted, the lines between his brows deepening. “And what the hell did she want in return?”

“In.” I looked him straight in the eyes. “She wanted in on the Maranga empire.”

The silence was thick as the room processed that bombshell. Princeton was the first to break it.

“Candace would be fucking nobody to Guy Maranga,” Princeton pointed out, his voice low with disbelief.

“She was nobody to him,” Sig added, arms crossed over his chest, as if the mere mention of Candace disgusted him.

I nodded in agreement. “He barely gave her enough time to get the offer out of her mouth before he turned her down.”

Murphy, always looking for the lighter side of things, leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Should I be insulted that intel on us wasn’t something Guy wanted?”

I raised an eyebrow, sensing the humor in his question.

Murphy continued, “I mean, I’m glad he turned her down, but I’d like to think intel on us would be valuable.”

Before I could respond, Sig chimed in. “Guy already had intel on you. More than Candace had, I’d bet.”

Murphy slapped Princeton on the shoulder, the impact loud in the otherwise quiet room. “You hear that? Guy Maranga had intel on us.”

Princeton winced, rubbing his shoulder, glaring at Murphy. “I’m not sure that’s a good thing, Murph.”

“Why did Guy have intel on us?” Leo asked, cutting through the banter. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity—and something more. I wasn’t sure if it was concern or satisfaction.

Sig shrugged, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Guy had intel on everyone. It’s what he did. You don’t build an empire without knowing who’s a threat and who’s an ally.”

There was a brief pause as Sig’s words settled over the room like a storm cloud. It was the truth. Guy had always been steps ahead of everyone because he knew where to look and what strings to pull.

Sig’s eyes flicked between Leo and me before he added, “It might also have to do with you and Brynn being an item at one point.”

I stiffened slightly at the mention of our past. The room felt smaller suddenly, the air thicker. My eyes darted toward Leo to gauge his reaction. His lips quirked in a small, almost pleased smile, like the idea that Guy had been keeping tabs on him made some sort of twisted sense.

Leo tipped his head, not saying much but clearly pleased with the notion that Guy had known about us. I couldn’t tell if that satisfied him because it meant he’d been a bigger player in my life than even Guy might have liked—or if it was something else entirely.

Murphy, never one to let things get too heavy, whistled low. “Well, damn. Guy Maranga keeping tabs on love lives. Didn’t see that one coming.”

Apollo, however, wasn’t in the mood for jokes. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his eyes bore into mine. “So what did Candace do when Guy turned her down? I mean, I’m guessing she didn’t just walk away and leave things at that.”

I shifted my weight, leaning against the desk for support. “No, she didn’t. After that, she started poking around more. She never let it go. She knew she needed leverage if she was going to get anywhere, but Guy... well, he wasn’t someone you could manipulate easily.”

Princeton scoffed. “No shit. That woman’s been circling like a vulture ever since. And now she’s after you.”

“Why not just take her out?” Murphy asked bluntly. “I mean, if she’s this much of a problem–”

“It’s not that simple,” I cut in. “Candace isn’t stupid. She’s made alliances and gathered resources. She’s determined to take each of you down, with Leo being the final blow. When she does that, she’s going to take over the Banachi empire, and then I’m assuming she’ll think she can come after the Maranga empire. I’m not going to let that happen.”

The room was quiet again, everyone absorbing what I’d said. It wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about power, control, and how I intended to wield it.

Apollo rubbed a hand over his face, his patience clearly wearing thin. “So what’s the plan here, Brynn? You took Leo for a reason and made it known to him who you are. What do you want us for?”

I straightened up, feeling the shift in the room. This was the moment I’d been working toward. The reason I had to come clean about all of this. “Guy is going to reach out to her. Let her know he’s changed his mind about working with her.”

Leo’s expression darkened at the mention of his name, but he remained silent, waiting for me to finish.

Murphy raised his hand. “Guy is dead,” he pointed out.

“The only people who know Guy is dead are in this room or have been sworn to silence,” I replied.

“They must have been threatened with consequences, too,” Creed muttered.

“Are they always smartasses?” I asked Leo.

Leo nodded. “Yes, but it seems to be getting worse lately.”

“Why haven’t you just taken Candace out before now?” Apollo asked, leaning forward, his gaze hard. “One shot to the head, and she’s out of all our hair.”

I could feel the tension in the room rise, the weight of the question pressing against me. It wasn’t the first time someone had suggested it, and I doubted it would be the last. But it wasn’t that simple.

“Because our intel in the past never pointed to her coming after the Marangas,” I explained, keeping my voice steady. “Guy was ruthless, but he was also smart. He wasn’t going to go after someone who wasn’t hurting him.”

Leo, who had been quietly listening, sat up a bit straighter, his eyes narrowing. “So, Guy would have pretty much watched Candace tick us off one by one and wouldn’t have done anything if there wasn’t a direct threat to the Maranga empire?”

I met his gaze, knowing the truth wasn’t what they wanted to hear. “Yes,” I said simply.

“Jesus,” Murphy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s cold, even for Guy.”

“While Guy was alive,” I continued, “Candace and Brandt were not a threat to anyone. They were erratic and inconsistent. Back then, it didn’t even cross Candace’s mind to take you guys out to get to the Marangas.”

“And the reason it did cross her mind?” Apollo asked, his voice tight.

I nodded. “Because you killed Brandt. As much as I hate to admit it, Candace is not dumb. She realized that if she took you out, she could seize control of your empire—and then come for what was left of Guy’s.”

“Exactly,” Leo added, his tone grim. “Brandt was the plug, and once he was gone, Candace had nothing holding her back.”

“That’s why I don’t want any of that to happen,” I said, my voice firm, letting the severity of the situation settle over the room. “We can’t let her finish what she’s started.”

“So fucking kill her!” Creed called out, his voice sharp and impatient. His bluntness was nothing new, but it hit harder in moments like this.

I turned my gaze on him, steady and unwavering. “Why haven’t you guys taken her out yet?”

That shut Creed up. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms as if he realized the weight of his own inaction.

Apollo grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because she’s slippery as fuck and two steps ahead of us.”

I nodded. “Yes, except she’s only one step ahead of me now, and we’re going to close that gap.” I shifted my gaze to Sig, who was standing quietly near the back, observing like always. He nodded slightly at my cue.

“I’ve already reached out to Candace on behalf of Guy Maranga,” Sig said, stepping forward to address the group.

Leo frowned, clearly confused. “Wait, so if she thinks Guy is still alive, doesn’t she know you’re married to him?”

I shook my head slowly, knowing this next part would catch them off guard. “No. She doesn’t know.”

Creed raised his hand like we were in a classroom. “I didn’t even know Guy was married.”

The room collectively glanced at me for answers, and I sighed. “No one did. No one knew because Guy didn’t want them to know. Especially after his diagnosis. He trained me and taught me everything with the expectation that I would take over when he was gone. But he made it clear—our marriage stayed a secret.”

The silence that followed was thick. Even Leo seemed momentarily thrown off by the revelation. The idea that someone as powerful as Guy Maranga could keep something like marriage under wraps for so long—it was a lot to take in.

Murphy scratched his chin. “So, you’re telling me this guy, this mastermind, didn’t want anyone to know he was married, even before he got sick?”

“Yes,” I said quietly. “He thought it would make him look weak. He didn’t want anyone knowing he had a wife to use against him, especially after he was diagnosed.”

Apollo shook his head, disbelief written all over his face. “Christ. Guy was a paranoid bastard.”

I gave a slight smile, though there was no humor in it. “That’s one way to put it.”

Leo exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. “So, let me get this straight—Candace doesn’t know Guy’s dead, and she doesn’t know you were married to him. And now you’ve reached out to her under his name.”

“That’s right,” Sig confirmed, his arms crossed as he looked at Leo. “She thinks Guy’s still running things. It’s our best chance to get her to lower her guard.”

“And then what?” Murphy asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “What’s the play here, Brynn?”

I took a deep breath. “The play is simple. We make her think Guy is still the one pulling the strings. We draw her in and make her think she’s negotiating for something real. And when she’s close enough, we cut her off at the knees.”

Creed smirked. “I like the sound of that.”

“Of course you do,” Leo muttered. “You always did like the dramatic stuff.”

“I like anything that gets the job done,” Creed shot back.

“But why not just take her out now?” Princeton asked, speaking up for the first time. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Why go through all this if you could just end her now?”

I shook my head. “Because killing her outright doesn’t solve the problem. Candace is the face of this, but she’s built up a network. You kill her without knowing who she’s got working with her, and you create a power vacuum that could make things even worse. We need to know the full picture before we move.”

Apollo frowned. “And you think this plan will get us that?”

“I do,” I said firmly. “We get her to think she’s about to win, and she’ll start making moves. Once we have enough intel, once we know exactly who’s involved, then we take her out.”

Murphy whistled softly. “That’s one hell of a tightrope to walk.”

“It is,” I admitted. “But it’s the only way to make sure we’re not just fighting Candace—we’re fighting her entire operation.”

Leo studied me for a long moment, his eyes sharp and calculating. I could see the gears turning in his head, weighing the risks against the potential rewards. Finally, he nodded.

“Alright,” he said. “We’ll do it your way. But the second this thing goes south—”

“It won’t,” I interrupted, my voice steady. “I’ve got this.”

There was a beat of silence, and then Leo gave a small nod. “I trust you.”

That simple statement settled the room. The others didn’t say it outright, but I could feel their agreement in the way they shifted in their chairs. The tension eased just a bit. It was a gamble, but it was one we were all willing to take.

Creed stretched his arms behind his head and let out a sigh. “So, what’s the first step?”

“We wait,” Sig answered before I could. “Candace won’t bite immediately. She’ll need to believe this is real, and that’ll take time.”

“And while we’re waiting?” Princeton asked.

“We watch,” I said. “We watch and we prepare. Because when she makes her move, we’ll be ready.”

Apollo stood up, pacing the room a little, clearly thinking through the plan. “You’re sure about this, Brynn? I mean, this is a long shot. A risky one. What if she finds out Guy is dead before we can take her out? Won’t that put you in an even worse spot?”

“I’m sure she won’t find out,” I said. “I’ve been playing it since the day Guy died.”

Leo stood as well, grabbing his glass of whiskey from the desk and raising it slightly. “Then here’s to the long shot. Let’s make sure Candace doesn’t know what hit her.”

Clyde filled glasses with whiskey and handed them out. The guys followed Leo’s suit, raising their glasses.

I caught Leo’s eye. He gave me a small, reassuring smile, the kind that reminded me why I trusted him even after our past.

Once we got Candace out of the picture, we were going to figure out where we actually stood.