Page 2 of Revenge & Ruin

Rocco has been my brother in everything but blood since I arrived on his doorstep seventeen years ago, orphaned and alone. I’m happy that he found love, happy that he is clearly so irrevocably happy about it.

And yet…there’s that darker side of me that yearns to snatch it away from him, to claim something of it as my own.

But that’s the thing about brothers, I suppose. We always want what the other has.

“I want to thank so many of you for joining us here today,” Rocco continues when the noise dies down. “I appreciate that it has been an unsteady time for the Guild as of late. But we hope that today will be cause for a multitude of celebrations.”

Despite my previous dismissal, I instantly lock eyes with Alessandro in the crowd, hoping my expression alone is enough to stop him from heckling anyone. I watch with no small amount of satisfaction as Alessandro slides further down his chair.

“As many of you know, in a few short months, Cas and I will be expecting a baby boy.”

This is met with another, far louder round of applause.

“And so, it is my privilege to announce that, in preparation for his arrival, I will be taking a sabbatical. Indefinitely.”

All sound is immediately sucked out of the room. It’s as if somehow we’d all been launched into space without warning, with nothing to tether us back to reality.

“Rocco,” I hiss desperately. “What are you talking about?”

But he doesn’t acknowledge me. It’s Cas who reaches over to give my hand a comforting squeeze, but something glows in her eyes that tells me she knew this was coming.

“My father’s legacy is not one I care to repeat. He was neither a good don nor a good father, although an attempt was made at both achievements. And now, the time has come for me to choose which I will be.”

As Rocco breathes, you can hear a pin drop.

“The Guild deserves a leader who will be able to put them first, and I can no longer make that claim in good conscience. My heart will forever belong to my wife and my son, and I will not risk their safety to protect yours.”

A murmur begins to break out at the back of the room, but Rocco raises his hand to silence them.

“Therefore, until such a time that I am willing and capable to return, I will be appointing a new leader of the Guild.”

A hollow sense of dread suddenly grabs hold of me as Cas squeezes my hand once more. I stare at her, not quite ready to accept what I know Rocco is about to say.

“Teo Vitale. My brother, we owe you our lives.”

I force myself to look away from Cas’ watery smile to Rocco’s earnest stare.

“There is no one else I trust more to lead the Guild into a new era.”

My heart stutters to a stop. He has to be joking. This has to be some kind of elaborate prank.

I don’t know how long I sit there, gaping at them both, but I can feel the piercing gazes of everyone in the room practically nipping at my skin.

I should say something. I should accept. I should tell Rocco to shove his proclamation right up his ass. I should punch him in the face and tell him to knock it off. I should run away and not look back.

My savior comes in the form of Dante Grasso, my fellow groomsman and the man chuckling at my other side.

Without warning, he grabs my wrist and pulls us both up and out of our seats, hoisting my arm in the air and declaring. “Teo Vitale!”

There’s a beat of tense silence before…

“Teo Vitale!” the room echoes back.

The sheer level of noise hits me like a tsunami. Without Dante’s firm grip, I would have certainly staggered back a few steps.

The aftermath leaves me with a ringing in my ears. I’m vaguely aware that Dante slaps me on the back, guiding me back to my seat. On my other side, Rocco continues talking, but try as I might, I can’t listen.

What is happening? What is happening? What is happening?

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