Page 72 of Inherting the Mafia

Vito instantly stood and started toward me.

"Wait," Carmine called out as he stood. "Where are you going?"

"To tell the guards you brought with you to stand down before someone gets killed."

"You can't go out there."

I rolled my eyes as I turned to look at Carmine, eliciting a small chuckle from Vito. "And why not?"

"You'll be killed."

He was worried about my safety?

I wasn't buying it.

"Look, whether you like it or not, I am going to go out there and try to stop an all out war. My body count is already high enough. I don't need to add to it."

Carmine's brow flickered. "Your body count?"

I turned and continued out of the room without saying a word. I was so not going to explain my last few days to this guy.

"Wait!" Carmine called out as he hurried after me and Vito.

Nope, not waiting.

Luca met us at the front door, the look on his face fierce, but determined. "I've got men stationed around the estate, but they won't do anything without my say so. I'll wait here for you to deal with your men, but if they breach the perimeter I will take them out."

I nodded. "Understood."

Luca really was being gracious in allowing me to deal with this situation considering this was where his family lived.

Vito stayed right by my side as I walked down the steps and then the driveway to the main gate. We stopped right on the other side of the gate, waiting for the guard to open it.

"Try not to get dead," I advised Vito.

"Me? You're the adventurous one in this relationship."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Are you saying you don't like my adventurous side?"

Vito gulped. "I didn't say that."

I didn't think so.

"I'm hoping most of this will blow over once they see you, and once you tell them who I am, I can deal with them. I'm sure they are all geared up for a battle so watch your words. We don't need some trigger happy moron going off."

"I try very hard not to have morons in our organization."

"Explain Mateo."

Vito winced as if I had just jabbed him with the tip of my knife. "I can't."

"I trust you, Vito." I waved my hand toward the small crowd of men waiting for us when the gate began to open. "I don't trust them."

"Why don't you let me speak first?" Vito asked. "See if I can defuse the situation?"

I nodded my agreement and stayed where I was once the gate fully opened. My eyes widened when I saw everyone standing there. That was a lot of guns pointed in our direction.

"Vito."

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