Page 13 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

“How much?”

“One point five million,” Enzo tells me the number.

I let it sit, not because it surprises me.

I mean, it's exactly where he was meant to end up.

I gave the instruction myself weeks to let him play when I saw her moving towards him, begging to be seen by him.

I told them to let him win just enough to believe it was skill. And let him lose slowly enough not to feel it mounting.

Until it does.

Until it chokes.

“Bring him,” I order and take my seat behind the desk.

Enzo nods once, already turning, already moving. My right hand in every sense that matters.

If only he knew what he just placed in my hands.

It's not just a man.

Not just a debt.

It's something far more useful.

A few minutes later, the door opens again.

Daniel walks in like a man already losing.

There’s a stiffness to him, the kind that comes from trying to hold together something that’s already cracking. His eyes flick around the room before landing on me, trying to assess, to understand where he stands.

He doesn’t.

Not yet.

“Sit,” I clip.

He does a little too quickly.

I take my time before speaking again, letting the silence span enough to make him feel it.

“You’ve had a difficult night.” I lean back in my seat.

“Yeah.” He exhales, forcing a laugh that sounds anything but. “You could say that.”

“Numbers don’t lie.”

“About that.” His fingers twitch slightly against his leg. “I can fix it,” he adds quickly. “I just need time.”

“Time,” I repeat, like I’m considering it.

I’m not.

“I have assets,” he continues. “Things I can liquidate…”

“You’ve already tried that the last time, Daniel.”