Page 23 of Ruined

“A chance to prove myself.”

He wasn’t that much of an idiot. “They’re testing you.”

“And I’m ready for it.”

“If you recognize anyone there, and you finger them, they’re dead men.”

Luca didn’t hesitate. “And?”

“And they’d be dead because of you. Men you knew. Men who helped raise you, molded you in to the man you are today.”

“And what am I?” Luca sneered. “Exactly? Who do you see when you look at me?”

He didn’t want the answer to that, not unless we were four drinks deep and circle jerking about our own shitty pasts. I tapped his forehead.

“I see an idiot with a death wish,” I said.

Luca shook me away. “Worry about yourself, Dom. Never know when someone might be lurking in your shower.”

“The Bratva would’ve pulled the trigger.” I winked. “You just waited for thebang.”

“Fuck off. I can handle myself.”

“The Bratva won’t be looking for Santino.” I lowered my voice. “They’re looking to exact their revenge onyou. You took out the Pakhan. You’re the one they’ll punish.”

“Then I hope I see them first.”

Luca was tougher than anyone I knew, but this was something else. If the Bratva were ready to start pushing boundaries, we’d need to be ahead of them, not chasing their shadow.

Luca turned on his heel, heading for the exit. “I’ll do this for the family.”

As I watched him disappear down the hall, I muttered to myself, “But you don’t have to do it alone.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, grimacing when I saw the name flashing across the screen.Harrison.

I answered, keeping my voice flat. “What now?”

“Your brothers filed another motion,” my lawyer said.

Of course they did.

“What is it this time?”

“Same nonsense. They’re claiming undue influence over the will again.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Christ. They’ll drag this out until we’re all in the ground next to my father.”

“They’re relentless,” Harrison replied.

“So am I.”

I ended the call and shoved the phone back into my pocket. My brothers were like gnats at a dinner table—annoying, but nothing I couldn’t swat away. I wasn’t losing sleep over their tantrums. Our father always said that family was worth more than the business. Family offered protection and unconditional love. Loyalty. Understanding.

Unless you happened to be gay.

Then it didn’t matter what a will said. Our father’s death should’ve been a tragedy that united my siblings. But you suck one cock and suddenly all myloyaltyto the Caruso clan meant shit. They wanted to takeeverythingfrom me.

It was all a distraction.

---