Chapter 79: Who Are They Targeting?

"It’s more than that though, isn’t it?" Mike stood, joined him at the window. "They’re both in love with people who’ll never love them back. Enzo with Isabella. Isabella with you. That kind of shared pain, it creates loyalty. Bonds."

"Are you saying they’re a threat?"

"I’m saying they’re unpredictable. And unpredictable is more dangerous than outright hostile." Mike put a hand on Dimitri’s shoulder. "You need to know what they’re planning. Before it blows up in all our faces."

A knock at the door interrupted them.

Marco entered, his expression tense.

"Boss. Mike. We’ve got intel."

"On?" Dimitri turned.

"Enzo and Isabella. They met with Alexei Volkov tonight. Celestial Club. Two hours ago." Marco pulled out his phone, showed them surveillance photos. "It wasn’t exploratory. It was a deal. They signed contracts."

Dimitri’s blood went cold.

"Contracts for what?"

"Territory. The Volkovs are backing a new organization. Valentino-Russo Enterprises. Equal partnership between Enzo and Isabella. Seed funding of fifty million euros. Infrastructure support. And..." Marco’s expression darkened. "Access to Volkov’s weapons and trafficking networks."

"Jesus Christ," Mike breathed. "They’re actually doing it. Building their own empire."

"Who are they targeting?" Dimitri asked, his voice deadly calm.

"Initially? Neutral territories. Businesses that aren’t under anyone’s direct protection. They’re being smart, not going after you or your father or Lorenzo directly. Not yet." Marco scrolled through more information. "But their growth model is aggressive. Within six months, they’ll need to expand. And when they do...."

"They’ll come for our territories," Mike finished. "They have to. There’s nowhere else to go."

Dimitri stared at the photos.

Enzo. His brother. The boy he’d grown up with, protected, tried to shield from Antonio’s cruelty.

And Isabella. The woman he’d been promised to since childhood.

Together, building something designed to rival everything Dimitri had built.

"What do you want to do?" Mike asked quietly.

Dimitri was silent for a long moment, thinking.

He could crush this before it started. Send a message. Destroy their credibility, sabotage their deals, make it clear that going against him was suicide.

But that would start a war. With Enzo. With Isabella. With the Volkovs.

And wars had casualties.

Eve could become a casualty.

"We watch," Dimitri said finally. "We monitor their movements. We track their deals. We let them think they’re succeeding."

"And when they come for our territory?"

"Then we remind them why people call me the Devil." Dimitri’s voice was ice. "But not before. Right now, they’re not a direct threat. The second they become one....."

"You end them," Mike finished.

"Exactly." Dimitri turned to Marco. "I want eyes on both of them. Twenty-four seven. Every meeting, every contact, every conversation. I want to know what they’re planning before they know it themselves."

"Already in motion, boss."

"Good." Dimitri grabbed his jacket. "Anything else?"

"One more thing," Marco said. "The Volkov contract includes a clause about expansion targets. I managed to get a partial copy." He pulled up a document. "They’re specifically avoiding territories held by you, Antonio, and Lorenzo. But..."

"But what?"

"There’s a notation. ’Potential pressure points for leverage.’" Marco’s expression was grim. "They’re building a list. People connected to you who aren’t directly under your protection."

Dimitri’s stomach dropped. "Show me."

Marco pulled up the list.

Three names.

Maya. Eve’s best friend.

Phoenix Talent Agency. Eve’s company.

And at the bottom...

Mike Thorne.

"Fuck," Mike breathed.

Dimitri’s hands clenched into fists. "They’re going after the people I care about. Not to kill them. To use them as leverage."

"To make you choose," Mike said. "Between protecting your empire and protecting your family."

"They think I’ll fold. That sentiment will make me weak." Dimitri’s voice was absolutely zero. "They have no idea what I’m capable of when someone threatens my family."

"What do you want to do?" Mike asked.

"First, we lock down security. Maya gets protection whether she wants it or not. Phoenix Talent gets a full security overhaul. And Mike...."

"I can handle myself."

"I know you can. But I’m doubling your security anyway." Dimitri’s eyes were hard. "Enzo and Isabella want to play games? Fine. But they’re about to learn that there are consequences for threatening what’s mine."

"What about the Volkovs?" Marco asked.

"Send a message. Polite but firm. Let Alexei know that if his new partners make moves against my interests, I’ll consider it an act of war by the Volkov family. See how committed he is to this alliance when he realizes it could cost him everything."

"On it."

Dimitri headed for the door, Mike falling into step beside him.

"You’re going home to Eve," Mike said. Not a question.

"Yes."

"Good. She’ll want to know about this. And Dimitri..." Mike stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "I meant what I said. I’m here. Whatever you need. Whoever you need me to handle. We’re brothers. In blood and in business."

"I know." Dimitri gripped Mike’s shoulder in return. "And Mike? Thank you. For accepting this. For accepting her. For standing with me even when you don’t agree with my choices."

"That’s what family does." Mike smiled slightly. "Besides, I’ve never seen you this happy. And if Eve’s the reason for that, if she’s making you more human, more alive.....then I owe her everything."

They walked out of Sinners together, into the night, ready for whatever war was coming.

Because it was coming.

Enzo and Isabella had drawn their lines.

And now Dimitri would draw his.

***

POV: EVE

Eve was curled up on the sofa with her laptop when Dimitri came through the door at midnight.

She took one look at his face and closed the computer.

"What happened?"

He crossed to her, pulled her into his arms, held her like she was the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Enzo and Isabella formed an alliance. They’re building their own organization with backing from the Volkov family. And they’ve identified you...your friends, your company and Mike as potential pressure points."

Eve’s breath caught. "They’re coming after Maya?"

"Not directly. But they’re watching. Planning. Building leverage." He pulled back, framed her face with his hands. "I’m not going to let them touch you or anyone you care about. But Eve.....this is going to get worse before it gets better."

"I know." She covered his hands with hers. "What do you need from me?"

"I need you to let me protect you. Your company gets a full security overhaul. Maya gets protection. And you...." His voice roughened. "You don’t go anywhere without Marco and at least two others. No exceptions."

"Okay."

"Okay?" He looked surprised. "No argument?"

"Why would I argue? You’re protecting the people I love. That’s what you do." She kissed him softly. "But Dimitri I need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Don’t lose yourself in this. Don’t become so focused on protecting me that you forget to live. We fought too hard to be together to let them steal our happiness."

He kissed her then and the kiss left her breathing hard.

"They can’t steal what they’ll never touch," he murmured against her mouth. "You’re mine, Eve Thorne. And I protect what’s mine."

"Always so possessive."

"Always." He lifted her, carried her toward the bedroom. "Now let me show you exactly how much you mean to me."