Reign (The Syndicate: Crime and Passion Book 2) Read Online Free

seen in the usually detached Maxim.
    “Do you think it will come to that?” I asked.
    “It will if Santo steps out of line.”
    “And you’re banking on him doing so?” I asked. “This is all just an elaborate trap for you. You’re waiting for the moment that Santo fucks up?”
    “No. But if that moment presents itself, I won’t hesitate to capitalize on it,” Maxim said.
    “So this marriage was meaningless?” I said, frowning. I didn’t want distractions, and some part of me recognized Daniela Carmelli would be one if I let her, probably still would be despite my best efforts.
    “Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Santo’s most recent brush with death has opened his eyes. Maybe you and Daniela will live a long and peaceful life together. I don’t know,” Maxim said.
    “And you don’t care?” I replied.
    “I care to the extent that if that happens, it means things have gone according to plan, but if they deviate, I won’t lose any sleep over it,” Maxim said.
    I laughed. “And here I was, thinking my feelings mattered.”
    “Well now that I’ve corrected that erroneous perception, what do you plan to do?”
    Maxim folded his arms behind him and looked at me, clearly ready to talk business.
    I laughed again but then sobered. Wedding or not, I had work to do, and I would never do anything to make Maxim regret giving me the responsibility he had so far or hesitate to give me more in the future.
    “Still trying to get an understanding of the business because it’s sloppy, way too lose, but so far, it’s nothing the Syndicate would ordinarily concern itself with,” I said.
    “Yes. It’s my understanding Santo expends a great deal of energy on insignificant things,” Maxim said.
    “Yes, gambling, whores, protection, some pills here and there. All petty bullshit that doesn’t make big profits,” I said.
    Maxim shook his head, his expression brimming with disgust. I had known Maxim for almost all of my life, but I’d never seen this level of disdain for anyone. There were people he disliked, more he didn’t respect, but none got this level of hatred.
    I understood it. Santo had threatened Senna. If given the chance, I would kill the asshole myself. She was a good person, one of the few that I cared about in the entire world, and to have her threatened by Santo, or anyone else, was something that enraged me.
    Maxim scowled but then returned the subject back to business. “Nonsense. Is there anything of value in Santo’s poor excuse of an operation?” he asked.
    “The gambling has potential with the right leadership, and Santo has some ties with a few state officials,” I said.
    Maxim didn’t look pleased, but he said, “Work those then, see if something useful comes out of them.”
    I wanted to pump my fist but stayed still, knowing Maxim wouldn’t appreciate the gesture. Still, this was a good day. The Syndicate operated at the highest levels of organized crime, and so some local gambling and a few state officials wouldn’t get his attention. I wasn’t all that excited about it either, but I saw this for what it was.
    Maxim was giving me a chance.
    If I handled this right, kept Santo under control, turned his pitiful business into something that might be worthy of the Syndicate’s time and attention, Maxim would reward me with the chance to move up, do real work, and maybe, one day, his respect.
    That was all I’d ever wanted.
    I’d spent my life moving up, having gone from street enforcer to a part of Maxim’s inner circle. Now there was a prime opportunity for real responsibility, and I would not let it pass.
    A moment later, there was a knock on the door and both Maxim and I stood. “Come in, Senna,” Maxim said.
    As the door slowly opened, Maxim walked toward it, intently focused on the woman who walked in.
    “He’s awake,” Senna said, coming to a stop in front of Maxim.
    Maxim took the small bundle from Senna’s arms, a smile ghosting on his face. It quickly cleared,