Page 90 of Revenge Vows

Bunny sighs. “Nothing I say is changing your mind, is it?”

I shake my head.

“Your funeral, follow my lead.”

***

Antonio

I can hear them talking on the other side of the door. I struggle against my restraints but they aren’t budging.

Giovanni chuckles as he reads through the documents I assume he’s holding in his hands.

“You’ve gotten what you wanted. Our business is done now.” It’s Donatello’s voice and I feel sadness lance through me.

Giovanni groans dramatically. Oh, how I hate his guts. I despise how everything is a game to him. But I knew that there was no one else on these streets who could take my brother down.

“That’s my problem with you, Russos. So snappy and always quick to tell others what to do,” Giovanni says to Donatello. I hear him clapping my brother on the back.

“C’mon buddy, live a little. We’ve been planning this heist for five months. The least you could do is share a drink and celebrate our win.”

“Gee, thanks, Giovanni,” Donatello replies sardonically. “I’d rather not drink with you.”

“Oh, you must be mistaken. You seem to think it’s a request.” There’s a brief silence and then he says, “It’s not.”

I glance at the guards surrounding me and struggle with the bonds some more. I need to get free and end this right now.

“Oh, don’t worry about him. You have my word; I won’t hurt him,” Giovanni says next. “When you first came to me asking for my help to take your brother out, my first thought was that I was being played. I mean—Antonio was a shitty friend—to put it mildly, but he gave his life for you brats.”

“Rubbing it in, I see,” Donatello mutters.

Giovanni chuckles. “You’re getting cheeky, and I like it.”

The bottle cork flies out with a loud pop, and he cheers to himself.

“What are you looking at? Go find us some glasses,” he snaps. He must be talking to his guards because I hear footsteps in the room as someone leaves to do his bidding. “Where was I? Oh yes, we were talking about you being a snake.” I hear him laughing and then the sounds of wine being poured into glasses.

How could my brother betray me like this? I trusted both him and Bunny, and it seems like they both turned on me in the end. My heart starts to feel like it’s breaking into a million pieces.

“But then, when you suggested the girl, the plans started to fall into place. I was astonished; who knew Russo junior had it in him?”

“Thank you for believing in me, I guess,” Donatello says ruefully.

“You know I stopped caring about this a long time ago,” Giovanni says suddenly.

“That was the deal. I get you the documents, and you help subdue my brother. What more do you want?”

“I admit, the thrill of watching Viper being stabbed in the back by his own thrilled me a bit too much,” Giovanni admits. “But in truth, the moment doesn’t feel that exhilarating now that it’s here. Sincerely, I thought I would have to try harder. I am only human. Contentment is a myth, after all. Enrique, give him his glass.”

“So what do you want?” Donatello demands.

“Now, be polite. You can’t refuse your drink,” Giovanni croons.

Donatello must have taken a drink because I hear Giovanni make a satisfied noise.

“Beautiful! Now for what I want, it’s simple. I want to kill your brother,” he says.

“You must be out of your mind or something.”

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