Page 109 of Forced Vows

Sev's is already more efficient and pervasive. When he is godfather, he'll expand it.

"I thought Captain Playboy didn't do committed relationships." Henry can't stand being left out of the conversation.

Salvatore looks at Henry like the little pissant he is. "She is mine."

Well, fuck. Does my cousin realize he sounds just like Sev talking about Catalina? That's not temporary until duty calls him to the altar stuff.

Salvatore is showing signs of falling in love. If I didn't see it for myself, I wouldn't believe it, but he's hung up on this girl. My cousin's every bit as gone over this Bianca chick as Sev is over Catalina.

After what happened when Salvatore got made, I thought those emotions died alone along with the traitorous bitch he had to kill.

Fuck. Another De Luca brought to his knees by a woman.

That will never be me.

An image of kneeling to eat out Róise pussy flashes in my brain and I shove it away. After appreciating that pretty pink pussy for a few seconds.

That's sex. Not love.

Don Caruso chastises Salvatore for not protecting Bianca. No way is he transferring blame to us for his nephew's men acting without sanction in our territory.

"Only a fool doesn't protect what is important to him," Don Caruso criticizes.

Salvatore's eyes light with victory. "I'm glad you see it that way, Godfather, since I killed the three men who tried to harm her."

Henry about chokes on his own breath. He knows his uncle just hung him out to dry.

It's time to step in. I look directly into Don Caruso's eyes when I speak. "Regardless of their target, your capo's men were in our territory and they tried to kill someone without Severu's approval."

He's both don and godfather. Every action of a Lucchese soldier ultimately lays at his feet. And he knows it.

"Was it a hit?" Salvatore asks Henry.

The giamope pales, sweat gleaming on his forehead. "No."

Either he's scared shitless of being accused, or he's lying when he says no. Henry Caruso needs to be watched more closely.

His uncle sighs. "Does your don seek reparations?"

"Uncle—"

"Shut it," Don Caruso cuts his nephew off. "You need to control your men."

He glares at me next. "And your brother needs to prove his strength if he wants my support to take my place."

My shrug disguises the rage his words invoke.

"Severu's inclination is to wipe out your nephew and all his men in retaliation for this act of aggression. I thought you would be against it, but if you're sanctioning retribution…" I let my voice trail off with insolence I would not have shown this man a year ago.

Don Caruso swells with fury, but even that is muted in this sickly old man.

I would offer him nothing but respect, despite his physical weakness. But he made a huge mistake implying Sev doesn't have the ruthlessness to run the Genovese, much less the Cosa Nostra.

"My uncle said reparations not retribution," Henry splutters.

I ignore him like the pathetic buzzing fly he is and stare down our once powerful godfather.

"My nephew will pay a tithe to Severu for three months." Don Caruso looks with disgust on his nephew's dead men. "One for each man on his crew he could not control."

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