Chapter 149: Meeting Giovanni

Giovanni’s expression didn’t change, but Dimitri saw the calculation in his eyes.

"That’s... bold. Approaching your father’s weapons supplier. In his territory. With an offer to betray him."

"I prefer to think of it as offering you options."

"Options." Giovanni leaned back in his chair. "And what makes you think I’m interested in options? Antonio and I have a profitable arrangement. Why would I risk that for promises from his son?"

"Because you’re smart enough to know that my father’s empire is built on foundations that won’t last." Dimitri pulled out his phone, set it on the desk between them. "And because I know things about your operation that Antonio doesn’t."

He pulled up the satellite imagery Eve had found. The villa. The underground construction. The weapons cache.

Giovanni’s face went very still.

"Three million euros in construction," Dimitri said conversationally. "Underground expansion. Reinforced walls. Industrial ventilation. And inside...." He swiped to the next image, thermal imaging that showed the heat signatures of stored weapons. "Approximately 40 million euros worth of illegal arms. Stored here. Without my father’s knowledge."

"How did you..."

"I’m very good at finding things people want to keep hidden." Dimitri leaned forward. "Here’s what I know, Giovanni. You’re storing weapons for multiple clients. Not just Antonio. You’re double-dealing. Keeping inventory here that belongs to other buyers. Skimming profits. Building your own empire on the side."

Giovanni’s jaw clenched. "If Antonio knew...."

"He’d kill you. Slowly. After taking everything you own." Dimitri’s voice was calm. "But here’s the thing. I don’t care that you’re double-dealing. I actually respect it. It shows ambition. Intelligence. The kind of strategic thinking I value."

"So what do you want?"

"I want you on my side when I move against my father. I want your weapons. Your connections. Your networks. And in exchange..." Dimitri smiled. "I’ll give you exclusive contracts. Better margins. Protection from Antonio’s retaliation. And most importantly, I’ll let you keep operating your side business without interference."

Giovanni was quiet for a long moment, processing.

"You’re offering me a better deal than Antonio. With the added bonus of not exposing my... extracurricular activities."

"Exactly."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then this conversation never happened. You go back to working for my father. And in six months...maybe a year...when I take over anyway, you’ll wish you’d chosen differently." Dimitri’s eyes were hard. "Or I make sure my father finds out about this weapons cache. And you die screaming in one of his warehouses."

"Carrot and stick."

"The world we live in."

Giovanni stood, moved to the window, looked out at his vineyards.

"Your father is not an easy man to betray. He has eyes everywhere. Resources I can’t match. If I switch sides and you fail...."

"I won’t fail." Dimitri’s voice was absolute. "I don’t make moves unless I’m certain of victory. And I am certain, Giovanni. Antonio’s time is ending. The only question is whether you’re smart enough to see it coming."

More silence.

Then Giovanni turned back.

"What would you need from me? Specifically."

"For now? Nothing. Keep working for Antonio. Keep your operations running. But when I call....when I tell you it’s time to move...you cut off his access to weapons. Immediately. No warnings. No second chances."

"That would cripple his ability to fight back."

"That’s the point." Dimitri stood. "I’m not interested in a prolonged war, Giovanni. I’m interested in a surgical strike that removes him from power before he knows what’s happening. Your cooperation makes that possible."

Giovanni studied him for a long moment.

"You’re not like your father. Antonio rules through fear and brutality. You..." He paused. "You rule through strategy. Through giving people reasons to follow you instead of forcing them."

"Is that a yes?"

"It’s a maybe." Giovanni moved back to his desk. "I need time to think. To verify that you’re as capable as you claim. To make sure switching sides won’t get me killed."

"Fair enough." Dimitri pulled out a card, set it on the desk. "Encrypted number. Only I have access. When you’re ready to decide, call. But don’t take too long, Giovanni. Windows of opportunity don’t stay open forever."

They shook hands, longer this time, more meaningful.

"One more thing," Giovanni said as Dimitri moved toward the door. "The woman. Eve Thorne. I’ve heard rumors."

Dimitri went very still. "What kind of rumors?"

"That she’s important to you. That your father sees her as leverage. That she’s the reason you’re willing to go to war." Giovanni’s expression was serious. "Be careful, Dimitri. In this world, love is the most dangerous weapon anyone can use against you."

"I know." Dimitri’s voice was quiet. "But she’s worth the risk."

"Then I hope you’re as good at protecting her as you are at strategy." Giovanni opened the door. "Safe travels back to New York. And think about what I said. Love in our world rarely ends well."

Dimitri walked out of the villa, Marco at his side, the Tuscany sunset painting the sky in blood-red and gold.

He pulled out his phone as they drove away.

One message waiting.

Mike: Safe trip. Call when you land. Eve’s been checking her phone every ten minutes.

Dimitri smiled, typed back: Meeting went well. Heading back now. Tell Eve I love her.

The response came immediately: Tell her yourself. She’s sitting right here.

His phone rang.

Eve’s voice, bright and relieved: "Hi."

"Hi yourself." Dimitri leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. "I’m on my way home."

"How did it go?"

"Better than expected. Giovanni’s considering it. Needs time to think, but I could see the wheels turning." He paused. "I’ll be home tomorrow night. Will you be waiting?"

"Always." Her voice turned soft. "I love you."

"I love you too, cara mia. So much you have no idea."

They talked for another twenty minutes....about nothing, about everything, about how much they missed each other after less than a day apart.

When Dimitri finally hung up, Marco was watching him with an expression that might have been amusement.

"What?"

"Nothing, boss. Just never seen you like this before."

"Like what?"

"Happy." Marco’s smile was slight. "It’s good. She’s good for you."

Dimitri looked out the window at the Italian countryside passing by.

She was good for him.

And he was going to tear down his father’s empire to keep her safe.

Worth it.

All of it.