The men gathered in the front room. Elijah was anxious to end this thing and get back to Siena. Every fight jacked him up. He always wanted sex after a battle, and the adrenaline coursed through him. Still, they had to get everything in order. That meant bringing Alonzo in the rest of the way and setting Joshua up.

“You go to Pete, Joshua, tell him how sorry you are about his niece. You offer to pay for her care, for the counselors she’s going to need. Tell him you hate that shit, and none of your boys will ever do anything like that. Then you tell him he, his business and his family are under your protection. No, you don’t want money. He’s in your neighborhood. No one fucks with your neighbors or your friends. You spend some time building relationships with the businesses. Use them. Feed them money. Get your crew under control and have them always treat the neighbors with respect.”

Joshua nodded. Elijah’s gaze cut to Alonzo. “You listening to this? Because you’re up next. You’re going to take over the Arnotto territory. I’m standing for you in the council. Siena is naming you as her business manager.”

Alonzo shook his head. “Not my gig, brother. I told you. I’m not a king.”

“You will be when we finish with you,” Elijah said. “Look around you. This is our lair. We’re familia. The people in this room are the people you can trust. A few more. Jake, his crew. The rest of Drake’s crew. Tomas. We stick together and we’ve got this. You’re needed, Alonzo.”

“I told you, I’m Siena’s soldier,” Alonzo reiterated stubbornly.

Elijah nodded. “I get that. She gets that. This is what her soldier needs to do to keep her safe. You’re that man for her, Alonzo. She needs to name a business manager. She’ll take over running the winery. I’ll give you lessons in running everything else. We’ll all help you.”

Alonzo shook his head. “My cat needs to fight sometimes, Elijah. Don’t like to admit it, but so do I. I don’t want to end up like those men we destroyed, their animals ruling them. I’m a soldier.”

“You think I’m not like you? Or Joshua? Or Joaquin? Even Drake? I can give you more, Alonzo, but you need to know the further in you go, the deeper you’re in and you can’t ever walk away.”