Elio's hands balled into fists waiting for his brother to clearly state his intention of turning him in to the Capodecina. And he hoped that was as far as he would go. Because the worst thing was Savannah enduring a harsh interrogation if she was found dangerous for the Famiglia. Since Gastone was known for having no respect for women, that would end badly.
The mere thought made Elio's skin crawl.
"I knew that if I waited long enough you would make a fucking mistake."
Elio frowned.
"Do you think I forgot about Father's demand to pay the girl a visit? Hardly." He laughed. "I must admit, I was surprised that you waited an entire week to get together with her after the meeting. But you seriously need to work on your sexual abstinence. Is this whore's cunt that magical? Maybe I should actually go and check myself?"
The Enforcer fired at once, pinning Fabro to his car. He squeezed his throat hard with one hand while the other one fisted his t-shirt. His eyes darkened with the rage that coursed through his veins. The image of his brother disrespecting Savannah and calling her names didn't sit well with him.
Fabro didn't look half-amused. His face went red but the smirk on his lips stayed because he knew that Elio would think twice before harming him. If he wanted to live, he would let go sooner or later.
And reluctantly he did. But not before punching him in the nose.
"How long have you been fucking the waitress exactly? And also how much have you told her about our business?" Fabro asked, ignoring the move.
"I haven't told her shit. And there's really not much to tell either way. As I'd already said - our Famiglia isn't the most lowkey organization in the States. Hell, I would go as far as saying that our Capo dei Capi does more to sleep with a lion in its den."
"Somehow I don't believe you."
"May I remind you that if the Famiglia went down I would be one of those with the longest sentences because of my field of work? So why in hell would I risk it?"
He was an Enforcer. The number of people he’d had to deal with since being initiated grew rapidly. His hands were the ones to deliver heavy punishments upon others. No matter on whose orders. Only facts mattered in court. And as he had been given the tasks by word of mouth, it couldn't be traceable, while the road he had taken, the time he had left the places were much easier to find even years back.
His father and brother would still be sentenced most likely, however, not with the same severity.
He wasn't keen on the thought that the DEA or FBI might catch them red-handed. Even if their resources had been focused on the Seattle Famiglia for the last two years, that could change at any moment. However, none of it would be Savannah's doing. They didn't talk about his job. She was the one to constantly change the subject if it strayed towards uncomfortable topics. Rightfully so. She’d seen him torture and kill Hunter which had been his only slip and could bring consequences. An error in judgement. But he was willing to take his chances.
"Your excuses are desperate at best," he ticked. "Be a man and accept that you got tangled up with a poor, pathetic waitress and take the punishment given."
He swallowed another insult.
Fabro was baiting him. After years of looking at his tactics and the ideas he came up with when helping Father deal with people, Elio had no doubt about that. He wouldn't fall for it. Being a man in this case entailed sticking to his side of the story. If not for him, then to protect Savannah.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "You wouldn't be standing here if you had even a shred of proof. Going to Father with your suspicions wouldn't help much because he would turn his head in the opposite direction rather than face Noah Falcone without as much as a confirmation."
The words hit home. He went to open his car doors to drive away. Looking down at his clothes, he was glad that at the very least they were still looking somewhat wearable and not as something that could only be thrown into the fire.
"Who said anything about telling Father? I much rather would stand on the sidelines and watch it play out. It will all turn sour at some point and in the worst moment possible. I cannot fucking wait to witness it. Karma is a bitch, brother."
Then with a mocking salute, he drove away.
Elio was pissed. He was fucking fuming. He and Fabro could barely be called brothers. They usually taunted each other with this simple word. Because truthfully they couldn't be further from being siblings. Only on paper. People saw them partying together and assumed otherwise. What went on behind closed doors would come as a surprise for many. The worst part was that there wasn't even a single moment that had turned it all around for the worse. No. Millions and millions of little things, events and occurrences were to blame for their current state.
And he was done pretending that Fabro could even consider having his back.
That would never happen.
§ § §
He looked at his phone again, still not seeing any message or missed call. Which he was expecting as he had called Savannah many times in the last few hours. It made him anxious whether Fabro had decided to come back and have that chat with the girl that he was ordered to have. Elio knew that she was working but with the few five-minute breaks that all employees were entitled to in the diner, she should have been at the very least able to write him a short
