"Then don't let it leak."
Leo's gaze sharpened, the unyielding aura of a leader emerging in full force.
"I'll handle this deal. I'll take the fall."
Murphy looked at Leo, a skeptical expression on his face. "You? Leo, don't get me wrong, I know you're very capable, but you're not even a Senator. You're just a Mayor. What makes you think those K Street crocodiles will sit down and listen to you?"
"Because I'm the Mayor of Pittsburgh." Leo's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried weight. "Because I hold the Industrial Revival Alliance in my hands, along with the contracts for over a dozen cities in Pennsylvania and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers."
"The executive power I wield is far greater than you imagine."
"You don't need to be the one at the table. You just need to open the door for me."
"John."
Leo reached out and placed a hand on Murphy's shoulder.
