Page 73 of Twisted Knight

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest at the reminder—a reminder I didn't really need to be honest; I was living daily with this guilt.

“It’s helpful though,” Matteo continued, oblivious to my turmoil or maybe he just didn't care which was actually the most likely option. “Not a lot of people in the famiglia know about your father's hobbies or what he subjected you to. Once it became too messy, we ensured that most, if not all the lower men who knew anything were gone.”

“Which means that the rat can only be a high member of the famiglia.”

I scratched at the tattoo on my chest, the symbol of a loyalty that was being broken at the highest level. “That’s not ideal.”

“No,” Matteo admitted, “but it’s useful. These people are fewer.”

That was true, and I knew Matteo was a man on a mission. He’d never stop until that rat was dead.

“The man who stabbed me. Did he say something?”

“Nothing useful.”

“Who is he for her?” I asked almost reluctantly.

“Was,” Matteo replied darkly. “Her brother.”

I shook my head. “You shouldn’t have killed him; he had the right to take his revenge. She killed herself because of what I did to her. I deserved it. He had every right to avenge his family.”

“Just as I have the right to protect mine,” Matteo replied sharply.

“We’re part of the Mafia, Matteo. We’re not family, not that way.”

Luca leaned back on his chair, resting his right ankle on his thigh. “Matteo, talking about family…” He trailed off.

Matteo gave him a wicked smile, and I knew it was going to sting. “Yes, family… Tell him the truth, Gianluca. Tell him why you stepped up at fourteen. Tell him why you sacrificed yourself.”

Luca glared at him. “That’s not the point, Genovese. This is not what I’m talking about.”

I turned to Luca. He was a lot of things but not an avoider. “You never said actually. In all these years, you never said what changed your mind.”

Luca looked away, as if my chest of drawers was fascinating.

“Tell me, Luca,” I insisted. I was not backing down this time. “You always said you wanted to wait until the last moment before joining the famiglia officially. That you were not ready to live by their rules and then you turn fourteen and just join them. Why?”

“Tell him, Gianluca,” Matteo taunted. “Tell him how you begged me to let you kill him.”

My heart stopped as my blood ran cold. Of all the people. “You took out my father?”

Luca gave me a sad look. “I had no choice, after I found out what he did to you. What else could I do?”

“How?” I asked, still disbelieving. It was not possible, why would the council… Why would Genovese allow that?

Matteo laughed. “He gave up his freedom.”

I looked at Luca with confusion as dread settled in the pit of my stomach.

“What did you do, Luca?”

“He gave me a favor in exchange for convincing the members of the council to go his way and authorize his induction kill as your father.”

My mind was reeling. Luca stepped up to the role he didn’t want for me? The simple son of a made man?

I opened my mouth but no sound came out. I was too shocked.

“The favor you may ask?” Matteo continued, enjoying the potential pain he was causing us, the sadistic bastard. “To take any woman that was promised to me for himself.”

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