Page 58 of Spider Demon's Kiss

“I get it, Dante. I get it,” he said holding up his hands.

It took a second, but Dante relaxed. I looked around at the people who had stopped to stare at us.

“He thought he was choking,” I told everyone watching us. “False alarm. You are dismissed.”

Eventually everyone returned to their meal and everyone at our table relaxed.

“So, I hear that you are the one responsible for Dante and my marriage,” I asked refocusing on why we had come.

“And it looks like you two should be thanking me,” he said proudly.

“You think anything that happens between Kuroi and me lets you off the hook for the crazy shit you pulled.”

“You know why I did it, Dante,” Matteo said defensively.

“Why did you do it?” I asked curiously.

Matteo turned to me.

“Because that fucker messed up my friend’s little sister,” Matteo said immediately angered.

“Messed up how?”

“Messed up in the way that gets you killed,” Matteo explained. “You should know something about that.”

“So, you’re saying he deserved it?”

“He was practically asking for it.”

“Is that why you took a shot at Dante? Was he asking for it too?”

“What are you talking about? Who took a shot at you?” Matteo asked his brother.

“Don’t play dumb. We know you took a shot at him,” I continued.

“What the fuck is he talking about, Dante?”

A reluctant Dante leaned forward with his elbows on the table and said, “I think what Kuroi is trying to ask you is, where were you when I went to Sato’s? Did you follow me up there?”

“Follow you up there? Why would I follow you up there?”

“To take a shot at me when I was leaving.”

“To take a shot at you? Why would I try to shoot you?” he asked confused.

“Maybe you were ordered to,” Dante suggested.

Matteo stared at Dante not answering.

“Pa didn’t ask me to take you out,” he replied soberly.

Sensing that there was more to his story like I did, Dante asked, “What did he ask you to do?”

Matteo looked down unable to maintain eye contact with either of us.

“Ya know, you shouldn’t have cut Pa out like you do. He doesn’t like it.”

“What did he ask you to do, Matteo?”

---