Page 132 of Vicious Addictions

My spine goes ramrod straight, my head held high as I tell him the only truth I’m comfortable with sharing.

“My father would have never insulted you by making your heir apparent an offer of induction without talking to you first. His words were very clear. He would never risk turning a friend into a foe. Jude was in charge of conveying that message to you, with the understanding that he’d have your blessing if he decided to take my father up on his offer.”

“Victor should have never made such an offer in the first place.” Vincent scoffs.

“You’d be surprised what a father would do to aid in their child’s happiness,” I say softly, too softly for anyone to hear, save for Vincent.

Vincent’s eyes suddenly widen as if everything became crystal clear.

He glances at Jude, then back to me, and leans back into his chair with the realization that he’s been played.

I’m about to confirm just that when Stella comes barging in, looking like a banshee ready to turn the world ablaze.

“Is it true,Papà?Is it?!”

“What is it,figlia?What has you so upset, Stella?” Selene rushes to her daughter’s side.

“Ask your husband,Mammà!Ask him!” Stella shouts, her eyes red from trying not to cry in anger.

“What is she talking about, Vincent?” Selene accuses, and this time, a hand in the air won’t shut her up.

“By my count, it could be all but two things,” Giovanni chimes in, holding two digits up.

“Gio—”

“They were both going to find out eventually, Vince. I say rip the band-aid off already.”

“Stronzo,” Vincent grumbles, getting up from his chair and facing the two women staring daggers in his direction.

“I overheard Rolo say that Mina is going to be the new boss of the Firm. She’s going to beboss,Papà. And you didn’t tell me!”

“And for good reason. I knew how you’d react,principessa,” Vincent explains, frustrated. “I didn’t want to see you suffering.”

“But you’re the one who is making me suffer. I’ve told you how much I want to be part of thefamiglia,and you always say that your hands are tied. That a syndicate, even one as progressive as ours, would never accept a woman in their ranks. But Mina is proof that they can,Papà!”

“Stella, sweetheart, maybe this isn’t the best time to have this conversation,” Selene begins to backpedal after she realizes why her daughter is pissed.

“If not now, when,Mammà?” her daughter yells. “I already know where you stand on the matter. But I refuse to be overlooked when Marcello is barely eighteen and is already going to take the omertà this month!”

“That’s absurd.” Selene laughs. “Tell her, Vincent, that you are not going to do such a thing?” But when neither Vincent, Giovanni, nor Jude deny the claim, Selene’s smiling face falls to the floor.

“No. Not again. Not Marcello. You’ve taken too much out of the boy as it is. I will not have it!” she shouts, looking just as pissed as her daughter.

“Tesoro—”

“Do nottesourome, Vincent Amato! Just don’t!” Selene storms off in one direction, and Stella goes the opposite way.

“I’ll talk to Stella. You talk with Selene,” Giovanni says, quickly rushing after Stella.

“I apologize for the chaos, but as you can see, my family needs me.” Vincent rushes out of his study in search of his wife, leaving me alone with Jude.

“Wow. Is it always this eventful?” I ask, realizing the downside of having such a big family.

Instead of answering, Jude charges at me and grabs my forearms, giving me a little shake.

“The fuck was that all about?”

“I have no idea what you mean,” I feign ignorance.

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