Nico stepped closer to her, mesmerised by the sheer, calculating fire radiating from the woman he loved. "What currency?"
"The southern shipping ports," Mara said without missing a beat. "The ones Bruno currently controls. The ones Greco uses to smuggle weapons. If we offer Morozov exclusive, untaxed access to the southern ports for the next ten years, he instantly becomes the most powerful trafficker in the Mediterranean. It gives him the economic dominance he craves without tying him to our bloodline."
Luca let out a low whistle. "It's a massive concession. We'd be giving up billions in tariff revenue."
"Money we don't currently have," Mara pointed out sharply. "We are offering him Bruno's money to fund our war. We give him the ports, and we keep the throne completely autonomous."
Rosa stared at Mara in awe, crossing herself again, but this time in reverence rather than fear. "She is brilliant. Giovanni chose a genius."
