40

40
Alaric’s POV
My meeting today was set to be the kind that would shake the ground beneath any man’s feet-just not mine. I’d built my life around avoiding these traps, these landmines of misplaced trust. Yet here I was, facing the reality that one of my own allies had potentially turned on us. I’d spent the past few hours steeling myself, sharpening the edge that would get me through this conversation.
A few minutes later, Allesio joined me, a grim look in his eyes that mirrored my own.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded, reaching for my coat. “Let’s go.”
I walked out of the house briskly, ignoring Irene who was just setting the table for breakfast. Allesio followed behind me and soon we were inside the dar, Allesio behind the wheels, and speeding out of the compound.
The drive was silent. Allesio was as focused as I was, his gaze fixed on the road, hands steady on the wheel. He knew the stakes just as well as I did-if I was right about this betrayal, then everything we’d worked to build was at risk.
We arrived at my Ferraro’s mansion-a grand estate surrounded by high stone walls and security that rivaled my own. It was impressive. Very impressive. It was too bad that Ferraro might meet his end in this house.
I got down from the car, slamming the door shut and dusting off invincible dirt from my shirt as I walked straight into the house without any of the guards stopping me.
His second met me by the stairs, a grim smile on his face as he angled his head up. “Don will meet you in his study,” he announced. “Let’s go.”
I let him lead Allesio and I to the study and walked in. Ferraro was seated behind a dark oak desk, his face a bit harsh as he read something in a document.
Noticing our presence, he raised his head and his harsh face softened a bit.
“Alaric, my friend,” he greeted, standing up and extending a hand. “What brings you here so early? I assume this is urgent, If you didn’t even bother to tell me you’ll be here today.”
I shook his hand, offering a polite smile. “Just a matter of business, Ferraro. We’ve had some… concerns recently. Thought it best to discuss them with someone I trust.”
Ferraro’s eyes narrowed slightly, though he quickly masked it. “I’m all ears.”
I settled into the chair opposite him, keeping my posture relaxed, casual. “The ambush on Guiseppe’s shipment has caused quite a stir. It’s had everyone on edge, as you might imagine. We’ve been doing a bit of digging ourselves, just to ensure there’s no misunderstandings.”
Ferraro’s smile tightened, a flicker of something-perhaps nervousness, or even fear-crossed his face. “Understandable. The Cruz family has always been unpredictable. Not to mention their other… alliances.”
I smiled. I never mentioned anything about the Cruz family, yet he acted as if he already knew who I suspected. He was playing right into my hand.
“Yes, we considered that,” I replied evenly. “But some of the evidence we’ve come across suggests it might be more complicated than a simple turf war with the Cruz family.”
I watched his face carefully as I spoke, looking for any sign that he’d crack, that he’d slip. But Ferraro was too seasoned to give away much, his expression controlled, guarded. Still, I didn’t miss the slight twitch in his jaw, the way his fingers tapped restlessly against the desk.
“Complicated, you say?” he asked, forcing a calm smile.
“Yes, Ferraro,” I continued, “the men at the port that night-some of them were seen talking to faces unfamiliar to the Cruz family, people who might be closer than we initially thought.”
There it was again, that flicker of fear. It was subtle, almost invisible, but I caught it. Ferraro was rattled, even if he was doing his best to hide it.
“Interesting,” he said slowly, as though measuring each word. “I’d heard about some unfamiliar faces myself. Hard to believe, though, that it would be anyone from our circle, Alaric. After all, our alliance has been built on loyalty, hasn’t it?”
I forced a smile, mirroring his faux camaraderie. “Of course, Ferraro. But loyalty isn’t as secure as it used to be. Times change. People change.”
He chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “True enough. And if you do happen to come across any names… well, I’d be interested to know who these traitors are.”
I kept my tone light. “If anything comes to light, you’ll be the first to know.”
With that, our conversation tapered off into pleasantries, and after a few more minutes of small talk, I left his mansion. The suspicion in Ferraro’s gaze didn’t leave me as I stepped back into the sunlight.
As we drove away, Allesio broke the silence. “What do you think?”
“I think he knows more than he’s letting on,” I replied, voice tight. “But he’s too careful to say anything outright. We need something concrete, something he can’t deny.”
Allesio nodded, his expression hardening. “Then we’ll dig deeper. If he’s involved, we’ll find the proof.”
We returned to my mansion, and Allesio and I spent the next several hours strategizing, outlining every possible angle for getting closer to Ferraro’s secrets without tipping him off. We needed to be careful-one wrong move, and he’d realize we were onto him. But I was counting on Ferraro’s own arrogance, his belief that he could outmaneuver me without consequence.
I assigned Allesio to watch his every move, instructing him to stay in the shadows and take no risks. If Ferraro was as involved as I suspected, he’d slip up eventually.
***
Allesio walked into my office, his face grim and a recorder between his fingers. I frowned. He spoke before I could even say anything. “You’re going to want to hear this.”
I took the device from him, my pulse quickening. Allesio pressed play, and the sound of voices filled the room, crackling slightly but clear enough. I recognized Ferraro’s voice immediately, and my grip on the recorder tightened as I listened.
“… don’t care what Alaric knows or thinks he knows,” Ferraro’s voice sneered. “By the time he figures it out, we’ll be three steps ahead. Guiseppe’s shipment was only the beginning.”
The other voice was unfamiliar, a gruff, heavy accent. “And you’re sure he suspects the Cruz family?”
Ferraro laughed, the sound cold and mocking. “Alaric’s predictable. He’ll look at the usual suspects and waste his time while we build our position. He thinks he’s in control, but he’s just another pawn.”
My chest tightened, anger settling in me as I listened. I’d been right. Ferraro had orchestrated the ambush, manipulated me, and used Guiseppe’s loss to position himself for a bigger move. He was banking on my loyalty, my willingness to believe the best in our alliance. But that was his mistake-one that would cost him everything.
I turned off the recorder, my jaw clenched. “He thinks he can outsmart me. Use me.”
Allesio nodded, his own anger barely concealed. “He’s been planning this for months, maybe even longer. It’s not just business for him-it’s personal.”
“Then we make it personal, too,” I replied, voice low. “We’re going to hit him where it hurts, cut off his power, his influence. By the time we’re done, he’ll wish he’d never crossed me.”
“Do you want me to gather our people?” Allesio asked, eyes bright with anticipation.
“Not yet,” I said, shaking my head. “First, we need to make sure we have the full picture. I want every detail-who he’s been working with, where he’s vulnerable, and how deep his betrayal goes. When we strike, I want it to be final.”
Allesio nodded, determination solid in his gaze. “Understood. I’ll keep digging. Ferraro won’t see it coming.”
As Allesio left, I sat back. Ferraro had made his move, and now it was my turn. I’d built my empire through discipline, strategy, and the absolute refusal to tolerate betrayal. And this time would be no different.
This was the kind of game I’d built my life around-one where loyalty was rewarded, but betrayal was met with merciless retribution. Ferraro had gambled everything, and soon, he’d learn just how costly that gamble would be.