Chapter 11
The capos did not defend Grant.
That surprised him.
He had mistaken concern for allegiance.
Again.
Carlo spoke first.
“I thought Massimo was distracted.”
Grant looked relieved.
Carlo continued.
“I did not know you were creating the distractions.”
Relief vanished.
Another capo nodded.
“Same.”
Grant looked around the room.
“You all complained.”
“Yes,” Carlo said. “About what we thought was real.”
Silence.
That distinction ended half the conspiracy.
Vanessa tried a different angle.
“Nothing we did changed the fact that Massimo reorganized security around a newborn.”
I looked at her.
“Yes.”
Several men turned.
“I did.”
Grant smiled.
I continued.
“Because someone had already interfered with Luca twice before I knew it.”
The smile disappeared.
A father increasing security after threats to his newborn was not proof of instability.
It was proof the threat existed.
I looked around the table.
“If any man here believes protecting my son disqualifies me from command, say it.”
Nobody did.
Not because they feared me.
Because once the manipulation became visible, the premise looked absurd.
Grant’s voice hardened.
“You’re making this emotional.”
“No.”
I gestured toward the hotel key sleeve on the table.
“You did.”
He stared.
“You built your argument around whether I would choose family when family was endangered.”
Pause.
“Of course I would.”
That landed.
Because the trap required me to feel ashamed of the answer.
I did not.
Then Carlo asked the question Grant feared most.
“What happens to his command?”
I looked at my brother.
Every eye followed.
May you like
Grant had spent months teaching men to imagine him finishing my sentences.
Now he had to wait for mine.
