Chapter 16 - THE KING'S WAR
Caprice survived.
The bullet missed the artery by inches.
But Diamond changed.
He stopped pretending the war could be avoided.
He called every ally.
Every captain.
Every lieutenant.
Every man who owed the Kelly family a favor.
The city shifted overnight.
Marcus had expected a weakened king.
Instead, he had awakened something worse.
A man who finally had something worth protecting.
Diamond sat at the head of the conference table.
Levi placed a map before him.
"Marcus controls three warehouses."
"Take two."
"And the third?"
"Leave it."
Levi frowned.
"Why?"
"Because that's where he'll expect us."
A pause.
"Then where?"
Diamond pointed at the map.
"The old courthouse."
Levi stared.
"That's insane."
Diamond smiled.
"Exactly."
Caprice watched from the doorway.
"You know you're terrifying when you smile like that."
Diamond looked at her.
"You should be resting."
"So should you."
She walked toward him.
"I heard the plan."
"I need you out of this."
"No."
"Caprice."
"You don't get to shut me out because I got shot."
"You got shot because of me."
"No."
She touched his chest.
"I got shot because I stepped in front of a bullet."
His eyes softened.
"And I'd do it again."
Diamond shook his head.
"Don't say that."
"Why?"
"Because I can't survive losing you."
She leaned forward.
"Then don't lose me."
They kissed.
But neither noticed Levi watching from the doorway.
For the first time, even he understood.
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This wasn't Diamond's weakness.
It was his strength.
