Page 7 of Frayed Bonds

I raise my brow at his sudden appearance. We specifically took his name off as a pallbearer because we wanted Mamá to have one of us by her side at all times.

“She’s with Ariella, she said we can’t wait for Gus any longer.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets and I watch him purposely avoid meeting Adriano's gaze. When I look up, I find it on me instead. His green eyes pour into mine, and I can see the desperation in them as he attempts to silently converse with me. When my stare remains indifferent he sighs.

“We can’t leave him out of this,” he says, and I can hear the slight hint of begging in his tone.

“He was there when papá died, nothing has changed since then, he can fall in when he gets here,” I say, making the final decision.

His gaze hardens. Adriano is the only brother I'm currently on good terms with, but he would go to war with anyone for his twin, and right now, I'm at the top of his shitlist.

The day I got the call to say that my father died from an unexpected heart attack, I found out that Gus was there, and didn’t do anything to get him to the hospital. I nearly broke out into a fit of rage because of it. Augustus has been very careful to avoid me since I got home yesterday.

“Stand in front,” I order Antonio. We left the spot specifically for Gus, knowing he went through the most with my father’s death, but since he isn't here, Antonio will have to step in.

“You’re leading this family now, it’s only fair you should lead us in,” Enzo says, and I don't miss the jealousy in his tone. Our fathers started Vitale Holdings together and although his father heads the smaller division in Sicily, I suppose he assumed there might’ve been a chance for him to take over as CEO instead of me. With his multiple degrees and years of experience, anyone would assume he would’ve stood a chance, except for the fact that both he and his father are a pair of lying assholes.

The lump in my throat triples in size at his words. I am the head now. My decisions do not only affect my immediate family but also every single person who works for the company.

Becoming the CEO was never part of my plan, at least not this soon. Even though my father forced me to work up the ranks for years, I still feel that this is all too much, too soon. My father’s sudden death took us all by surprise, but filling his shoes is something none of my brothers can relate to. I’m dealing with all the pressure, alone. Shouldering the responsibility of the entire family is more suffocating than I could ever have imagined.

I swallow the lump and take my spot as the doors to the church open for the procession to begin.

As Uncle Luca steps up to the podium, I let out a shaky breath. He was my father’s best friend, so his eulogy is highly expected to trigger the waterworks. As he greets everyone, a deep groan echoes through the church, and my heart drops into my ass. I, and the rest of the church, turn to see who could be stupid enough to interrupt Luciano Vitale’s funeral.

“Christ,” I breathe out as I stare at Augustus slumped against the door. His tie undone, shirt untucked and hair a mess.

Gasps begin leaving family members' lips as more and more people recognize who it is. The only gasp that truly registers is my mamá’s as he attempts to walk down the aisle. He stumbles and stops to grab the pew bench in the last row.

I clench my jaw as I stare at him, but I know this isn't the right time for me to attempt to kill my brother. I look over my mamá's head and meet Adriano’s eyes.

“Go,” I mouth to him, and he exits the pew in the opposite direction.

I gently usher my mamá to face the front again, she looks up at me and her eyes are flooded with tears. Wrapping her arms around me, she bursts into tears. I pat her back lightly, attempting to console her.

When I look to the back, I see Adriano helping Augustus out of the church.

The rest of the service breezes past and finishes without any further interruptions, but also with a void of the Vitale twins. Their absence doesn't go unnoticed, especially as the whispers grow louder when two of my father’s co-workers have to take their places as pallbearers, since Antonio is busy consoling my mother again.

Groups of crying females being consoled by their husbands make their way into the courtyard, where the coffin is being loaded into the hearse. I stand and hold my mamá in my arms as she sobs for her husband, the bile in my throat rises with the tears I refuse to cry. Uncle Luca thankfully takes over and allows me to join my brothers on the other side of the courtyard.

I fiddle with my rings. The edges of the gold barbed wire ring prick my skin as I watch the hearse drive off.

What a way to spend my 32nd birthday.

Chapter four

Ambrose

The wrought iron of the balcony’s railing digs into my forearms as I watch the vast majority of the Vitale family gather in the courtyard of my villa after the funeral.

Servers walk around carrying trays of the world's most expensive champagne. It’s a waste on the females of this family who throw it back like cheap vodka on a night out.

“Why is the birthday boy hiding up here?” A voice asks. I turn to see Kaia standing in the doorway.

She walks over, heels in one hand, a nearly empty champagne glass in the other. Knowing Kaia, it isn't her first glass either. She slips a bit as she steps onto the balcony, and I rush to help steady her, but with a wave of her hand, she brushes me off and grabs the railing instead.

Scoffing, I bring my whiskey up to my lips and savour the slight burn that travels down my throat.

“Not much to celebrate. What are you doing up here, Cinderella?” I ask as my eyes gaze around the courtyard observing the guests.

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