A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

it is Gianna’s father after getting a good glance at him. His eyes are on me, watching me curiously, seeing as how we have met before.

Dante gestures to the table behind him,  motioning for us to sit so we can begin. We take our places, us on one side and them on the other. While Jace is throwing theoretical daggers at Marina and Gianna’s father looking at me quizzically, Dante and Nico stare at each other.

"So why are you here? Why did you request this meeting Nicoli? I had half a mind to deny you but my curiosity was too much to decline."

"I have a proposition for you."

Leaning back in his seat, he watches Nico. "I'm listening."

"I'm proposing an alliance between our Families."

Dantes laughter roars out throughout the room. "And why the fuck would we want to ally with you?"

Nico’s chair scrapes back as he stands. “Are you trying to offend me Dante?” His tone is harsh.

Oh shit.

“Sit down!” Dante bellows across the table.

“You do not order me around, I don’t care whose territory we are in.”

A gun clicks as all of our heads whip to Jace. A gun raised at the potential threat to his boss. Like a chain reaction everyone around the table draws their guns. No one speaks as we stare at each other in a tense and strangled silence. After a moment Marina sets hers down on the table. Holding up her hands in a truce.

She takes her turn speaking up. Everyone is listening even though no one's eyes have moved from the guns still in the air. "Let's be adults shall we? Dante, you are in an alliance with the Chicago Outfit and you would rather cut your balls off than have to deal with their ridiculous requests now that Enzo has taken over." His brows draw as she continues. "I'm sure he already has, hasn't he? I also know you need their alliance for support should you need a Familia to back you in a war."

"I need no one!" Dante pridefully slams his fist on the table as he raises his voice at her.

She slowly walks over to him and all eyes watch her movements. Sitting against the table in front of him she places her hands down leaning back on them comfortably. Unfazed that a gun is merely inches from her body. "Everyone needs someone Dante. Being a leader of your statue must be hard to uphold. You have to make sure you do and make the right choices while not risking looking weak and losing face, that can't be easy to do." She reaches out toying with the end of his tie. "It's rather impressive."

He seems to be thrown by her presence. I’m a bit shocked as he lowers his gun. Settling back in his chair at her appraisal of him, making me and Jace roll our eyes. He is clearly a prideful man. Nico drops his own gun, as does everyone else. The curtain of tension falls and I’m baffled at how Marina can manage to settle a room full of pissed off Mafia men into submission.

"I do hate the alliance with the Outfit. I won't deny it, but why would an alliance with you be any different?"

"Because we have resources you don't. We cover the east coast while you the west, imagine what kind of goods we could shuffle through at each other's disposal. We have an unlimited stretch over northern states, and those resources could be at your disposal as well."

"You're not actually buying what this fucking concubine is saying, are you?" Jace says, in an unbelieving voice.

"J.D, be silent!" He roars out at his companion before turning back to Marina. "What's in it for you? Why do you want this?"

"We are allowed your resources and allowed to pass shipments through a few times a year. In return you are allowed the same entities. "

"That is all?"

"That is all." He watches us warily as he debates our proposal. "It's a tempting offer but I don't know." He ponders over what Marina has offered before turning his attention to Nico. "After all I am well aware of whom your wife is Nicoli. I'm curious how that came to be." His gaze hardens on us.

Nico tenses beside me at the mention of Liliana. "Her father had stolen from me and she was given to me as payment for his life to be spared."

"So you planned on killing him on my territory?"

"You would have done the same thing Dante, don't bother denying it. That man is a traitorous coward and deserved death. I wish I had killed him instead of allowing him to live."

"Hmm, yes, it's a shame that he has run away,  denying us both the opportunity for retribution." He pauses, thinking. "Well, we already have an alliance of sorts with your marriage, though it doesn’t hold much standing considering her ties to us were severed when her father left."

Nico nods. "Speaking of Antonio, I have something for you. Consider it a celebratory gift should you accept. Daveon do you mind getting it?" I nod having stayed silent through this whole exchange. It's not my place to make negotiations, nor is it my strong suit. I'm better at the violent side of things. Making my way to the car where Ciro is waiting I tap on the window. Opening the car we grab out the man, who tries to wrestle his way free. Dragging him back into the restaurant we toss him onto the floor in front of Dante. His forehead pinches in confusion as he stares at the heap of a man, with his head covered on the ground.

"What is this?"

"When I heard that he disappeared, I thought it would be wise to track him down. After all, he did steal from me. I was going to kill him myself but he is yours to do as you please. Consider it a gift in regards to our new alliance." Marina pushes off the table, grabbing the bag over the man's