Page 106 of Vicious Addictions

“He’s eighteen, Jude.”

“For fuck’s sake, Dad—”

“Enough. My heart grows weary of the topic, and I do not want to sour our Annamaria’s night.”

Accepting his words as the end of this conversation, I tread lightly while broaching the topic I’m truly curious about. “Gio told me that Crane called you.”

“He did,” my father replies ominously.

“I thought you two weren’t on speaking terms,” I state flatly, hoping my father will end my misery and tell me every detail discussed in that phone call.

“Your mother called him a few years back, and let’s just say we came to an understanding,” he continues to explain cryptically.

“Mom called Victor?” I ask, surprised, my gaze going straight to the source of my bafflement when my father nods in affirmation.

This time, I find my mother laughing away as the twins do a little song and dance for Annamaria.

Why did she call Crane?

Did she talk to Mina?

Does my mother know what happened between us?

The table before me is filled with joy and laughter, completely unaware that my heart is rattling away in the cage I locked it in. At any second, I fear it might break through the iron bars I so carefully hammered around it, just to be trampled on the floor under my brothers’ blackminionboots.

“Wh… at,” I begin to stammer, needing a minute to collect myself. “What did they talk about?”

My father tilts his head to his side, staring at my mother like she hung the moon and stars for him.

“You’ll have to ask her.”

Fuck!!!

I breathe through my nose and place an aloof grin on my lips.

“Fair enough. And will I also have to ask my mother why Crane called you today, too?”

“Don’t get smart with me, boy,” my father rebukes, having very little patience with my insolence.

My father is a good man. An honorable man. One of the best men I know. But test his patience with insubordination, and the ruthless syndicate boss comes out.

Good.

Maybehe’llfinally tell me what I want to know.

My father pinches the bridge of his nose, a tell-tale sign that he’s trying not to lose his shit. My mother would raise hell if his bad mood ruined any of her children’s birthdays. My mother might love my father with all her heart, but mess with her cubs and the lioness will emerge.

“Come with me,” he orders, pulling back his chair and walking to the bar.

I fall in line and step away from the table, too.

“Where are you going?” I hear my mother call out.

“Our boy and I are just going to get something stiffer to drink,Tesoro.We’ll be right back.”

She offers him a nod and returns her attention back to her kids.

“I thought you said we don’t lie to each other,” I goad, requiring the boss to remain present.

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