Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“I’m restless,” I said simply because it was true. “A war like that would have finally sated my blood lust.”
“Or it would have made you addicted,” Nino said.
“It’s not in our nature to sit around like a domesticated house cat and wait to be fed. We need to hunt.”
“You’re going on raids with Alessio and Massimo all the time, and you have jobs for the Camorra. You don’t have to restrain yourself very often,” Nino said.
Dad glowered. “If you’re so desperate for war, go to Italy and help the Camorra there.”
That piqued my interest. I knew the Camorra was attacked from all sides in Italy. The police and the other Italian mob families and clans from other countries like Albania or Serbia.
“Your father didn’t mean it,” Nino said. “And your mother would never forgive him if he sent you there.”
Dad grasped my shoulder, his expression hard, but his eyes were imploring, almost gentle. “Just get a fucking grip, Nevio. For the sake of our family, and if that’s not enough, for Aurora’s sake.”
After a tense dinner, I tried to talk to Aurora alone, which proved difficult, with Fabiano and Dad watching us like hawks. But she had been nervous all through dinner, and someone would catch on if she kept it up.
Eventually, Massimo, Alessio, Aurora, and I headed for the garden, and I used my chance to corner Rory. “You need to stop acting suspicious,” I murmured.
She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t like lying to everyone. I’m stacking up lies for you, and I hate it. Not to mention that Carlotta is angry with me because she has to babysit your kid now too. This house of lies will collapse on us.”
“Not if we’re careful.”
She shook her head with a sigh. “Everyone’s going to be angry when they find out because we lied to them.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “I’ll figure it out.”
“What are you two talking about?” Alessio asked from where he and Massimo chilled on the couch. He couldn’t have overheard anything. “Maybe Nevio’s desire is to fly to Italy to play war for the Camorra there?”
I sent him a scowl. Asshole. Aurora’s shocked gaze slammed into me. “What?”
“He’s full of shit.”
“Is he?” she muttered.
“Dad suggested I could go there to let off some steam, but I never agreed.”
“You can’t agree because you have a fucking son to take care of!”
It was the first time I heard Rory curse like that.
“If you leave me here with him, without telling your family about him, you’re dead to me.”
“And if I told them and then left, would you be happy to be free of me?”
Aurora swallowed and looked away. “You have to tell them. Take responsibility.”
She turned on her heel and walked toward the house. “I should return to the apartment. I don’t want to leave Carlotta alone with this.”
I headed over to Alessio and Massimo.
“If you leave for Italy, Aurora will move on. She’ll find someone new, and if she’s clever, it’ll be someone from the Camorra.”
Dad wouldn’t allow me to kill one of our men because of this. It would set a bad example, especially since Rory wasn’t mine officially. She was absolutely mine in my head, but I had never claimed her as mine in any way that would make our circles take notice. We were friends, full stop.
Massimo shook his head. “You should not even consider it. Killing that barista was stupid but not really relevant in the great scheme of things, but attacking someone from the Camorra’s racing crew was even stupider, but still not causing any major ripples. But if you start killing off our own men, that won’t go unnoticed. Our soldiers will demand an explanation, and I fear you won’t have one that’s acceptable for anyone without your erratic disposition. So if you leave, you must accept that Rory might move on with someone from our world, and you’d be unable to do anything against it.”
I didn’t say anything because Massimo wouldn’t have liked my answer. Maybe he knew it too because his eyes were full of warning.
The following day, Massimo, Alessio, and I had to visit two of our less productive drug labs to increase their motivation.
After finishing our jobs around eight in the evening, I decided to grab dinner and head for Aurora. “Where are you going?” Massimo asked when I dropped him and Alessio off at the mansion but didn’t get out myself.
“To Aurora, where else?” Alessio said.
It would be futile to deny it as I’d be caught on camera anyway. “Just bringing them dinner and making sure they’re safe.”
“We could come along,” Massimo said.
“You’ve been attached to my hip all day. I need some me time away from you fuckers.”
“Sure, that’s what it’s about.” Alessio rolled his eyes, then he gave a shrug and lit up a cigarette. “Not that I have any interest to go there. Mom made lasagna, so I’m going to stuff my face, then chill in my room.”