Page 74 of Revenge & Ruin

There, in the flesh, stands the Guild’s ex-don. Judging by his slight tan and lazy stance, he must have just returned from his honeymoon.

He grins at me easily. “You really got time to work up a sweat?”

“Who says I’m sweating,” I reply as I duck under the ropes to clasp his arm.

He pulls me into a hug with a laugh. “Damn, you weren’t joking.”

“What are you doing here?” I say as I pull away.

“Thought I’d come to see if you’d burned the place down yet.”

“Your vote of confidence is always so appreciated.”

Rocco waves at Dante as he approaches to lean over the rail. “Come to save us from his idiocy, boss?”

“I’myour boss, asshole,” I snap back, throwing my gloves at his face.

“Still an idiot, though.”

I turn back to Rocco. “You see what I’m dealing with here? Come on, let's head to the office.”

It still feels odd to call itmyoffice, but it is slowly becoming more familiar. There are little traces of me all over now, and I can safely spend an entire day without thinking of the man who had sat behind this desk for most of my life.

It helped when I had Giuliano Moretti’s portrait removed from the back wall.

Rocco follows behind me, only stopping to briefly greet a few people on our way in, earning us more than a few speculative glances.

Though I suppose the Guild has never had a past and present don who were on speaking terms before.

“Do you think we should stage a fight?” I joke once the office door has closed behind us. “I think they’re half expecting it.”

“This is a good thing, Teo. We’re setting a precedent for the future. Guild leadership doesn’t need to be dictated by violence.”

I wave him off. Same old Rocco, singing his old tune. The only difference now, is that as we take a seat, I’m the one sitting in the padded chair behind the desk.

“How was the honeymoon?” I ask.

“Good. Great, actually.” He gets a faraway look in his eye. “You know, for the longest time, I never thought I’d ever be this happy. I didn’t think we deserved it.”

“We?” I snort.

He gives me a look. “This life has taken a lot from us all.”

“And given us more in return,” I counter. “The Guild is my family. Always has been.”

“Not always.”

We stare at each other for a moment.

I sigh. “What have you heard?”

“That you’ve become close with the Natali girl.”

If only you knew.“Yes, well, she’s our closest lead to Ida.”

“Teo.”

“She’s…complicated, okay?” I concede. “Stubborn to a fault. Reckless as anything, hell-bent on antagonizing me at every available opportunity. Everything that comes out of her mouth is manipulation wrapped in malicious intent.”

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