complete screw-up.

Money and position were the only things Made Men cared about. So what if the couple wasn't compatible? As long as they don't kill each other all was well. That's how they saw it.

The concept arranged marriages was a fucking joke for Elio.

Now when he met Savannah even more than before.

Fabro came down the stairs, greeting his brother with a smirk. Whatever percentage of asshole Elio was, Fabro went beyond one hundred without much trouble. He extended his hand, stopping the man from going further into the house.

"Father knows about the waitress," he murmured.

Fuck.

Elio knew that going to Ecstasy could end up biting him in the ass. Especially when they'd come across its owner, Coluccio. The man was a big gossip and he couldn't help himself from mentioning that he had seen the man's son in the club.

Normally, it wouldn't be as much of a problem. It wasn't even the first time he took a girl there. With that, he could easily maneuver his way out of uncomfortable questions. However, the look Fabro was giving him told him that they knew it wasn't just another whore. And with Father's plans to look like one big happy family who worked together, there would be hell to pay for that evening.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Fabro shrugged. "I want to see what you're going to come up with."

They moved towards the dining room. Laid out on the long oak table was a ridiculous amount of food that would last at least several more days. At the sight of the delicacies, almost anyone’s mouth would water. Mother had outdone herself which only meant that she was nervous. She knew that this dinner might not go well, depending on how Elio planned on playing off the waitress card.

He looked down at his hip where his knife was ready to be used. Just in case. It had become a habit for him to be careful in Father's company. And he only wished that fucking Coluccio would be here so that he could kill two birds with one stone. Almost literally.

His face was cold stone.

He wasn't afraid.

Not when he had survived with this monster for twenty-one years. Besides, it made it easier to know that his Capo actually wasn't as keen on the Capodecina he’d first thought. Whatever was to happen today wouldn't be supported by Noah in the long run. And as much of a dickhead as his father was, he would think twice before running into fire because of one stupid rumor that Elio had no intention of admitting.

At least not the way it really was.

Gastone was sitting in one of the chairs at one end of the table. His hands were crossed over his chest as his eyes scrutinized his son the moment he stepped into the room. He wanted to look tough and scary without realizing that Elio didn't respect him enough to think twice before putting a blade in his eye. Then the other one for good measure.

Respect had come when he was eleven and he'd seen Father killing one of his brothers for stealing money from him.

Famiglia was more important than blood.

Elio had admired it.

Until it was Mother who was laying on the floor in the bedroom, naked with a broken jaw and countless bruises covering her body.

That was the first time he knew that his moral compass was broken beyond repair. Because making their family strong was also the way to make the Famiglia strong. And Gastone destroyed it all, enforcing his sick ideas of what was right or wrong.

Just like a previous Capo dei Capi had.

Father never said 'I love you'. He wasn't one of those parents who spun their children around by their arms until they were dizzy. He didn't build him a go-cart or dance with him to rock 'n' roll. He watched after his money, power and position. He toughened him enough that it could reflect badly on him if his own son overthrew him.

And that wasn't actually such a far-fetched possibility.

Elio was wiser, stronger and, even if only few, he had morals.

The only thing stopping him was his loyalty to the Famiglia. And it didn't go hand in hand with questioning his Capodecina, no matter what. So unless the Capo dei Capi decided to do another deep-cleaning he was stuck as Father's bitch for the foreseeable future.

He hated that.

"What have you told that fucking waitress?" Gastone snapped.

Elio sat down in his usual, nonchalant manner. "Since when do I tell anything to the women I fuck?"

He swallowed the desire to slash Father's throat for the way he talked about Savannah. Even if he wasn't much better. The difference was - Gastone wouldn't waver to kill the girl, and Elio only wanted to protect her.

That was the kind of thank-you she would get for warning them about Hunter's betrayal.

That was how fucked up the man's rules were.

The Capodecina's eyebrow rose. He didn't believe his Enforcer's words. "Is that so? Then explain to me why she came to you in the first place?"

Fabro smirked. "You can dispense with saying something about the magic your cock works."

His twin knew exactly what was running through Elio's head. As arrogant as he was, those were the words that were escaping his lips. "Then maybe you should do a little research as to why it doesn't work that well for you, brother," he snorted.

Fabro made towards his brother, hands in fists.

A futile gesture since he barely used violence. All he knew was how to pull the trigger and talk shit. He would lose.

"Enough!" yelled Father, standing up.

At once, both men listened and stopped in their tracks. They were only eyeing each other in case one would still decide to go against a direct order.

"Elio, Fabro, try to be more respectful towards each other," said Mother from behind, however, as Gastone raised his hand to silence her she backed away. Those were exactly the moments Elio just couldn't swallow. She was giving up without a fight even though she should have

Вы читаете Crossfire (Rarissime Book 1)
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