𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐌

95| N O V A N T A-C I N Q U E

ALESSANDRO'S POV

The hour had come, ticking and running as more people entered the house.

Dante received a call back from Amelia, announcing her attendance with Alyssa.

I haven't spoken with Amelia since the stunt she pulled with Akila's parents and we had no time for anger and vengeance for the past. I swore that if I lived after the war, I'd make her pay, and learn a lesson or two for pushing Akila into such a thing.

A few small leaders and high-ranked generals joined us from the Mexican mafia, showing their loyalty when we needed it the most which was surprising but noble.

Our shaky relationship with them stays as a matter of fact that I will not obey or bow to Vicent and I didn't care about the power he held against them, I had hundreds and thousands waiting for me to unleash war upon them.

Everyone was busy when noon hit us, Emilion and Adriano were arranging flights, informing airports of our friends' landing. Dante worked his way into settling in anyone who arrived early. And I haven't seen a trail of Armando.

Akila moved from one room to another. With her mask drawn beneath her eyes, she observed our visitors and checked their pockets for any weapons or harm they dared under my roof.

A lot happened downstairs while I sat in my office, staring and trying to figure out the bullshit Marcello dropped on us.

Discovering Enzo's little game was funny on some thin lines, he'd done all of that, going through war and death just so he could have that small say in everything.

And there I thought I was a control freak.

Although Marcello gave up valuable information, I didn't know how much he actually knew, how far would he go against us and sell more information to the Romanians if we didn't guarantee his special order?

I couldn't get rid of his grin, the one he flashed me once the words floated around us, because he knew, I would rather kill him and kill myself alone than watch him take her away from me.

He may have been reckless but he was no fool. He was well aware of his chances of actually having her so that led me to the same stop, how much and how far.

The door shot open and Emilion stormed in, followed by Adriano. "We have a problem." On another evening, I would slap them both for not knocking and asking for permission first. Maybe after we survived this.

"As you already know, Amelia and her people are on their way here," Adriano started slowly until Emilion got impatient and cut in, "The Devilles are going to be here soon and we all know how they feel about each other."

Armando's family, his parents specifically, always had this riddle—clot—between them and any Albanian blood. They weren't enemies, perhaps on very bad terms which no one knew why.

When I threatened Armando to tell me, he didn't know himself. He said his parents forbid the mention of their names.

I sustained a deep breath and waved them a lazy hand, "I'll take care of it, leave me alone." They silently nodded and rushed out of the door, gently closing it behind them.

Thoughts crowded in the back of the head. I had Marcello to deal with, stop a third war and prepare for any attacks in minutes.

A part of me wondered why they haven't made a move yet, giving us time to gather more people and form forces all around the world.