Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 691 -

*Caterina*

"She is equal to me," Elio was saying.

I tried to look away so Franky couldn't see the smug smile take over my face as he said it. I loved seeing Elio put Franky in his place. I was sick and tired of these old-school guys treating me like I was a delicate flower who would easily be crushed. Or worse, they treated me like I was genuinely too stupid to be a part of things.

I didn't know how it was possible that these men had been raised by women and yet still have such archaic beliefs about our capabilities. I understood the protective desire to keep me safe, but Franky wasn't just worried about my safety. He clearly had some other issues with me being here, and it was infuriating.

I managed to wipe the smile off my face before turning back, but my heart was soaring. I couldn't lie; it did something to me to see Elio basically tell Franky to shut the hell up when it came to me. I would've had no problem standing up for myself and telling Franky to stick it where the sun doesn't shine, but having Elio do it for me made me feel even better.

It showed me that he really meant it when he said he wanted me there. After fighting for so long to get Elio to stop trying to shelter me from the mafia life, it was refreshing to see him stand up for me.

It was obvious that Franky was still uncomfortable with my presence, no matter what Elio said, but that was too damn bad. I'd fought far too hard to get to this point to allow an old cranky Italian to push me back out.

With one final irritated glance my way, Franky finally dropped it and stopped pushing Elio on it. Discussion about logistics was more important than about whether I deserved to be there, although I suspected that this wouldn't be the last time Franky felt the need to voice his sexist opinions. I wondered if all of Alessandro's men felt the same way.

"My men are ready when you are," Franky told Elio. "They've been instructed to stay conflict-ready at all times, so it shouldn't take them long to mobilize."

"Alright, we need them poised and ready to strike at the safe house. We don't know where Junior is, but if we can get Antonio, I know it'll draw Junior out," Elio said. "He doesn't do anything of his own accord. He's just the puppet, and his dad is the one pulling the strings."

"I know Junior stayed close. A few of my men have managed to catch glimpses of his car. He just always throws us off," Leo added, "which makes me think that Antonio told him to stick around for some reason."

Franky nodded. "Good. That means when we get his dad, and we get him. He's not smart enough to know it's a trap. He'll fall for it right away. I have a feeling he'll come around in just a few days, trying to get his dad back."

"He's not as stupid as he seems," I interrupted, worried that they were underestimating Junior's prowess. "After all, he managed to fool us all. Even Elio met him and thought he was just a regular guy. I know he seems like he only does what Antonio tells him to do, but we don't really know that. He could be more in charge than we realize."

"It would be stupid if we underestimated Junior after getting this far," Leo said, nodding in my direction to show his support. "The last thing I want is to take out Antonio only to replace out that Junior was the real brains behind it all."

I gave him an appreciative smile. Franky might think I was an idiot who would fall for any man who gave me the time of day, but Elio and Leo knew me. They knew that 'Paul' had woven an intricate web of deceit and I had found myself caught right in the middle. I

t wasn't because I was stupid, it was because Junior was calculating and knew exactly how to catch me in his trap. He'd spent a long time just getting to know me and acting like he was my friend before he ever showed me the darker side of his personality.

"Junior has the patience to pull off a long con," I said. "He might not just go in guns blazing for his father. I think Antonio is more dangerous, but Junior is a close second."

"I agree," Elio said, "But I still think Antonio is more important anyway. Who would you feel safer having walk free, Antonio or Junior?"

"Junior," I answered automatically. "Antonio is definitely the bigger threat right now."

He was right. Eliminating the threat that was Antonio was the right move, even though I was sure it would result in Junior disappearing for good.

I just didn't have the same level of confidence that the guys had that Junior would for sure come back for his dad. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he disappeared and we never found or heard from him again. He was a coward, and that would be the coward's way out.

"I have a team of men at my disposal. They've been watching Antonio and they're poised to strike whenever I give them the word. Just let me know," Franky said.

He cracked his knuckles ominously. Although he was getting on my last nerve today, I could see why Alessandro had chosen him to come to the States and mentor Elio. He was a terrifying man, built to kill.

Elio wasn't afraid to back down from a challenge, and I had seen him first-hand dealing with the more brutal side of being a mafia leader, but I also knew that not growing up in the life made Elio have gentler instincts than someone like Franky. Franky was the kind of guy who would shoot first and ask questions later. Elio was more likely to try to negotiate with people. Both ways were needed at different times. Today, it was time to do things Franky's way. We'd tried to sit back and let things play out with Antonio for far too long.

"How long will it take your men to fully mobilize?" Elio asked Franky.

"They can be ready by tonight, I'd say around eight PM."

Elio looked at me, and for a moment I didn't understand why. But then I realized he was asking me permission to proceed. The sheer power I felt in that moment was overwhelming.

The future leader of the United States branch of the Valentino mafia family was asking me to approve his next move. And suddenly, his earlier words hit me.

"She is equal to me," he had said.

Equal-not his partner, not his girlfriend, his equal.

Did he really mean that he wanted me to lead this with him? It appeared that was exactly what he meant.

I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.

Elio nodded back, then turned to Franky. "Do it."

Franky turned away and pulled his phone out as he left the warehouse. Big plans had been put into motion, and it was all because of me. I reached out for Elio's hand, needing something to steady myself. Each new revelation threatened to send me to my knees. I had been demanding this for so long, but now that I finally had what I wanted, I almost didn't know what to do with myself.

"Man, I bet Franky's fun at parties," Leo said with a smirk.

His joke pulled me back to reality, and I forced myself to focus.

The three of us walked back toward our cars, Elio pulling me along by the hand.

"Will you get in touch with the lawyer? I need to make sure we don't have anything to worry about with all that," Elio said to Leo.

Leo nodded and pulled away from us to make his own phone calls. Elio opened my door and helped me into the car as he always did before walking around and getting in himself.

"How are you doing?" he asked quietly once we were back in the privacy of his car.

"I'm okay," I said, surprised to realize that I was telling the truth.

Being a part of the meeting had been a lot, but I was okay. I was proud of how I'd handled it.

"Don't let what Franky said get you down. He'll be gone soon anyway. You know that Leo and I have all the respect in the world for you," Elio said, taking my hand in his and bringing it gently to his lips. "You are so amazing."

"It means so much to me to finally have your support, Elio," I said, fighting to keep from choking up. "This is all I've wanted for so long. I finally feel like I belong somewhere. I know that I'm meant to be doing this. I'm meant to follow in my father's footsteps."

"I agree. You're a natural. It's in your blood. The way you read people, the way you know how to talk to them so they do what you want them to do-it's like you're a weapon specifically created to do this."

I smiled, his words hitting a deep desire in my heart that I hadn't even realized was there. I wanted to make my dad's memory proud. I belonged here, doing this work, being a part of this life.

Elio leaned over and pressed a kiss to my forehead, his tender reminder that he supported me, one hundred percent. I laid my hand against his cheek and stroked his skin with my thumb.

There was nobody I would rather have at my side than Elio. He had made all this possible. Although it had taken a while for me to convince him that I should get to be a part of this, it was clear now that he wasn't going to try to fight me on it anymore.

We were a team, an unstoppable force.

Nothing would get in the way of our success now, not Antonio, not Franky, not anybody. We were going to lead the Valentino family into a new era, one where they easily took control of America, thanks to us.

I could see it all so clearly-a large table filled with mafia members, and at the head, Elio and me, working together to make plans and hand out orders, neither of us more important than the other, both equal halves to the same whole.

Our first order of business was to take down Antonio. He was the only thing standing in our way, and he'd been free for far too long. I couldn't believe how close we finally were to bringing him to justice.

If everything went to plan, by tomorrow, Antonio would be gone, and Elio and I would be one step closer to finally making our dreams come true.