Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“So…” Cesare said, lips twitching, after Whitney went back into my bedroom. “That’s a development.”
“He’s fucking one-hundred or something,” Brio said, smirking. “It’s about time he settled down.”
“I gotta ask, man,” Cesare started, giving me a knowing look.
He might have been newly back in the city after a long gig up in Maine after fucking a married woman in the Lombardi Family who, understandably, wanted him dead, but he knew how shit worked around here.
You didn’t keep shit from the boss man.
No exceptions.
Hell, I’d been a dick to Brio not long before because he’d been keeping shit from Lorenzo.
“I haven’t talked to him yet. This… this is new,” I said, waving toward the bedroom.
“Is it new, or did you just finally cross that final line last night?” Cesare, more astute than I gave him credit for, asked. “I’m pretty sure Lorenzo’s exact words were that you can’t fuck her. And I can see you interpreting that as you can do other shit and not be going against his order.”
“You’re not wrong,” I admitted.
“This is against Lorenzo’s orders?” Anthony asked, stiffening.
He was still relatively new to the Family. He’d joined up younger than was typical for us, but because of his connection to Emilio, who was our second-in-command, exceptions had been made.
He’d been hungry to prove himself, taking on way too many jobs. Which was likely why he’d gotten hurt so many times already. He wanted to be an important part of the organization some day. And to do that, he needed to be loyal.
He was understandably upset that I was, in a way, involving him in my own disloyalty.
“I’m heading over there now,” Brio said, shrugging. “Can get it all squared away now before it gets out and he gets pissed.”
My gaze slid down the hall. Because all I really wanted to do was go back in that room and slide inside of her again.
But it had to be done.
I had to get it over with.
“I’ll let her know you’ll be back in a little bit,” Anthony said, shrugging.
With that, I dipped into the bathroom, slipping on something more appropriate, then followed Cesare and Brio out.
Lorenzo’s house was unusually quiet when we strolled up the steps. Sensing my confusion, Brio shrugged. “Giana and the kids are over at my place. Someone in the extended family is knocked up. They’re planning a shower.”
That explained it.
And Brio’s eagerness not to be in the house.
What can I say, a place full of Costa women? Yeah, it was loud and chaotic and overwhelming.
“Salvatore,” Emilio greeted, shooting us a surprisingly easy-going smile as he walked up the center hallway in his gray slacks, matching button-up, and ridiculous, oversized belt buckle with a goddamn mermaid on it.
I hadn’t known Emilio much before he’d gone away. But for the brief period between when I’d gotten out and when his sister had been forced into a marriage with a rival Family, I’d known him as calm and boyish, someone who shirked too much responsibility, but had a good head on his shoulders.
After Isabella had been forced into that marriage, though, something inside of him had cracked, broken. He’d become darker and colder and serious. He developed a workaholic mindset, and rarely had that laidback, boyish charm he’d once been so known for.
The change had been jarring to me. I couldn’t imagine how shocking it had been to those who had known him well.
Even after Isabella came to love her new husband and reconnect with her family, the changes seemed lasting in her brother.
I had to admit, it was nice to see even a glimpse of the old Emilio around.
“Brought ‘em with me,” Brio said, shrugging.
“Yeah, well, Enz definitely wants to have a word with your ass,” Emilio said, exhaling hard as he shook his head. “Was it really necessary to cut the guy’s ear off? The situation couldn’t have been handled any other way?”
“Hey, what, it’s my fault the fucker wasn’t listening to us? Figure I’d at least give him a good reason to do that shit. But think the boss man wants to talk to him first,” Brio said, jerking his head over at me.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Emilio said, letting out a tired chuckle. “What now?”
“What now, what?” Lorenzo asked, coming out from the kitchen with a mug of coffee. “You,” he said, sighing at Brio.
“Him first,” Brio said, nodding at me. “Let him take some of the heat first.”
“What? Whose ear did you cut off?” Lorenzo asked, smirking.
“I got something to confess,” I admitted, watching as the boss man stiffened, and Emilio lost his easy smile. I had to admit I felt a little guilty to be the cause of that.
“Alright. I’m listening,” Lorenzo said. “You know… because I still have both my fucking ears,” he added, and I had to let out a cough to cover my laugh as Brio just shrugged that off.