Page 39 of Isle of Beauty

“It’s not a coincidence after our last shipment was attacked and two of our men died.” Julian supplies.

His eyes throw daggers at me like I killed them with my own hands. After years of sunshine smiles and belly laughter, his suspicion is like a knife at my throat. It holds me captive until I want nothing more than to help him.

“I can help you look into it.”

“And how do you plan to do that, pinzutu? Use your government-licensed systems to snoop places you shouldn’t?” Lana mocks.

“Yes.” The simple answer shuts her up. Victory tastes so sweet on my tongue even if it’s over a petty argument. The flash of red on her cheeks is too pretty not to admire. I can feel her rage wafting off of her in waves that warm my decaying soul.

My father stands and claps a hand on my shoulder. “Then, it’s settled. Julian, help your brother with this before joining us for dinner.”

Lana storms out, the click of her heels on the wooden floor echoing in my entire body. The rest of the men follow until only Julian and I are left.

Suddenly, the room seems too small, my clothes too tight.

Julian crosses his arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow at me. His silence is worse than if he’d shouted or even punched me. Behind his frustrated intake of air and the glare of his eyes, an ember of hurt flares. I need to put it out before it becomes a fire that can annihilate our relationship.

I won’t apologise for what I’ve done but I can explain and hope he understands. The truth is the most precious thing I can give him right now. At least, part of it. He’s the only one who deserves it.

“Lana and I met three years ago.”

His eyes widen and his arms fall back along his body. “So, you’re that guy. The one she met in London?”

I nod.

“Fuck me,” he sighs heavily, his anger deflating like it was never there.

I’ll call that a win. I need him in my corner, not just because he’s Lana’s best friend and my father’s right man, knowing all their secrets, but because I need him to know I’m doing this for him too. “I want you to know I’ll protect you and Igor.”

He clasps a hand on my shoulder, his hand warm with acceptance and understanding, and laughs. “Don’t insult me, pinzutu.”

“Jules, by taking on the crown, I’m diverting the target from your back. I have a lot more to learn about mafia politics but I know if we make enemies and they want to take us down, they’ll go after me. You can be with anyone you want.”

His face softens and he takes my face in his hands. “I appreciate you doing this for me, fratellu, though I don’t need it. One thing you should know about Lana and I, is that we always have a plan.”

My brother has never been shy when it comes to showing his love. I’ve admired that about him ever since I met him. Now, with his hands on me, I feel unworthy of it more than ever. I just have to hope he’ll forgive me when I’m through.

He lets me go and sobers. “So you didn’t come here for revenge? To break her heart because she broke yours? Because as much as I love you as my brother, I’ll kill for her. That means you as well. She’s been through enough.”

I don’t know what he means by that and I frown, searching his eyes. “That’s not my story to tell.”

“She didn’t break my heart,” I tell him.

Julian tilts his head to the side. I’m not sure if he’s trying to figure out if I’m lying or if he’s pressing for me to admit that she did.

She didn’t. Of course, she didn’t. It happened too fast for her to break anything.

Maybe if I repeat the words enough times, they’ll stick to my thick stupid skull.

“I’m doing this for you.”

“Sure. We can set up that fancy surveillance you got tomorrow, go get your girl.”

“She’s not my girl,” I protest.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, brother,” he throws behind his shoulder, his back already turned, and heads to the living room where my pretty fiancée looks on with a glare I can’t help but be excited about.

There’s fire in her green irises. The same fire I saw three years ago. Lana Moretti is always in control but right now, I’m pulling at it, thread by thread.

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