Page 20 of Dance of Ruin

We grew up hearing stories about the one exactly like it that Dad had back in the proverbial day. But that one got shot to shit and then torched in a gangland war the Italians had with the Puerto Ricans in the early 80s.

“Sitting on a flatbed around the corner,” my brother murmurs in a low, conspiratorial voice. “Soon as everyone’s here, they’re dropping it off out front.”

“He’s going to lose hisshit,” I grin.

Carmine nods. “Well, Bianca claims she went above and beyond this year for a birthday present, too, so we’ll see.”

“Above and beyond her usual ‘coupon for a daddy-daughter date’, whichDadpays for? Sounds like a low fucking bar.”

Carmine chuckles deeply as we both head around the corner into the fray.

“Nico!”

Tempest, one of my top two favorite sisters-in-law, rushes over and gives me a big hug. When she pulls away, her husband, my other brother Dante, comes over and grabs me in a big bear hug.

We’re, as Dad likes to say, a family of strays. Although, if we’re getting technical, only Carmine and I are the original package. Dante and Bianca are the upgrades that came later. Their dad, Bruno Sartorre, was dad’s personal tailor, friend, and one of his top confidants. So, when he and their mom passed away young, Bianca, Dante, and their older sister Claudia came to live with us.

The lapsed Catholic in me taps my chest in a vague cross when I think of that last name. Claudia was taken far too young, a victim of violence at the hands of men she trusted.

Even thinking about it today still gets my blood boiling. But at least Dante tracked down every single one of them and made them pay.

Veryslowly, andextremelypainfully. Dante’s good people.

He also runs Club Venom, which istheplace in New York for the city’s most connected, influential, and powerful, especially if they have…devianttastes.

That’s a nice way of saying Club Venom is a sex club. But…you know…classy asfuck, and super exclusive.

“Car here yet?” Dante mutters into my ear.

I shake my head. “Carmine’s got it coming after we’re all here.”

“Cannotwaitto see that baby,” he groans.

I chuckle. “So, what’d you guys get him?”

“The house.”

I frown. “House?”

Dante smirks, and my brows shoot way up.

“Fuck me,yourhouse? In Long Island?”

It’s not like Vito doesn’t have money—the man probably has more of it than the rest of us combined. But he’s beenlovingstaying out there at Dante and Tempest’s place these last few months—loves the house, loves the pool, loves the fact that it’s ocean-facing.

Definitelyloves the fact that he can blast Sinatra as loud as he wants and sunbathe in the nude without the neighbors complaining.

Dante chuckles. “I mean, we’reneverthere. The city’s our home now, probably for a long time. And man, he fuckin’ loves it out there, so…”

“Well,shit,” I sigh. “I went Dutch on a car, and you go and get him a fucking mansion in the Hamptons. Fuck you very much.”

Dante chuckles, clapping me on the back. “We’ll add your name to the bottom of the card.”

“Dick.”

I’m pulled away from Dante’s smug grin by Lyra,alsoone of my top two favorite sisters-in-law, who gives me a big hug.

For a second, as I hug her back, it flashes through my mind that she’salsoone of Naomi’s best friends, along with Bianca.

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