Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Just what I needed. More complications to an already difficult day. “Thanks.”
Frowning, I make my way to the living room, wondering who came to visit me unannounced, but when I see my own damn brother’s face, my frown lights up.
“Glad to see you’re still in one piece,” he says, chuckling as he walks toward me to give me a big hug.
“Angelo, what are you doing here?”
“Not even a hello?” He slaps my shoulder. “Always the serious one.”
He waltzes off and pilfers my bar until he finds an empty glass and a bottle of liquor. “The Russian stuff? That’s unlike you.”
“It’s just vodka,” I say, sighing.
He pours himself a drink and takes a sip. “Whatever you say, Ruski.”
Ruski?
My face contorts.
I’m a goddamn De Silva Italian through and through, and of course he knows exactly how to taunt me.
“Don’t play me, the Limoncello is right there next to that bottle. What do you want, Angelo?”
“Can’t I visit my brother?” He shrugs, then takes another sip.
“Not without an ulterior motive, you don’t,” I retort.
He raises his glass. “Touché.”
“How’s Dad doing?” I ask.
“Fine.” He takes another sip of his vodka. “If you call hiding in the bedroom fine.”
“He needs to go outside,” I tell him.
He glances at me. “So do you.”
I raise a brow at him. “I’m not the one hiding in my bedroom while Mom’s killer is still at large.”
“No, you’re just channeling your grief into raging violence.” He smiles. “I know you.”
I fold my arms. “So that’s what you came to do here? To scold me?”
“I came because Dad asked me to come check on you.”
I raise a brow. “And he couldn’t do that himself?”
“You know what he’s like.”
Of course. If there’s anything my dad can do to avoid confrontation, he’ll take the chance, no matter the cost to his own family.
“Dad had to hear from his mole in the Costa family that you attacked Lucio at his wedding.” He hands me his glass. “Take a sip.”
I do what he says, but only because I need to feel my insides burn or I’ll shout. “He’s angry.”
“That’s an understatement,” he states. “Take another sip.”
I roll my eyes but do as he says.
“He wants you to cease all fighting.”
I nearly crush the glass in my hand. “No fucking way.”
“It’s going to cause a war between families. You know that, right?”
“Too late,” I say. “I already cut off several of his fingers.”
Angelo nearly chokes on his drink. “Well, that escalated quicker than I thought it would.”
“I’m avenging our mother. And I thought you knew me well enough that you’d understand I will never, ever stop torturing that son of a bitch.”
He takes in a deep breath and sighs. “Another.”
I reluctantly take another sip, but he snatches the glass back from my hands and takes a sip too. “I figured you’d say that.”
I frown at him. “So what now?”
“We don’t listen.”
“We?”
The smirk on his face slowly grows bigger and bigger until it infects me too, and we both laugh out loud.
“You didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun, right?” He winks, grabs another glass, and fills it up with more vodka, then raises his, so we toast together. “Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there. No questions asked.”
“Thanks,” I say.
“What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t help you solve all your problems and pretended I was the solution all along?”
What an arrogant asshole. Reminds me too much of myself.
MATTEO
“Speaking of problems …” He eyes the edge of the staircase behind me. “Was that the girl?”
“What do you mean?”
He wriggles his brows. “The girl you stole.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Marital problems are always complicated, Matteo.” He laughs.
My lips part. “How did you—”
“Know you married her in Lucio’s stead?” He makes a tsk sound. “You should know better than to question Dad’s methods to infiltrate important … meetings.” He takes another big sip of his drink.
Hmm … That Costa mole sure knows a lot about Agostini business. No wonder they’re always fighting.
“She’s my wife, yes,” I say, glancing at the staircase for a second. “For better or worse.”
“Sounds like she’s quite the firecracker.”
“If only you knew,” I reply.
He licks his lips. “You should go talk to her.”
“She already hates me. No need to add fuel to the fire.” I turn to look at him again. “And since when is the eternal playboy giving me advice on how to deal with women?”
He grins. “You’re talking to the family Casanova.”
I nearly snort up my drink. “Wow. That’s rich, even from you.”
“I’m just saying, I know a thing or two about how to make them happy.”
“Happy enough to jump your dick.” I snort.
“Same thing. The point is, you need to keep them content to get what you want.”
“Life is all a transaction to you, isn’t it?” I mutter. “She’s a human being with a heart.”
“And you want to make it yours,” he says.