Page 49 of The Shadow King's Brother

Another silence, thicker than before. Inside, the fragile melody swells.She said yes.

Vinny’s eyes narrow. “What the hell is that look? You look like you won the lottery. The Shadow King doesn’t win the lottery.”

I can’t help it. My lips twitch. “Nica and I are getting married.”

Vinny’s face goes slack. He coughs and sprays water across the island. “Married? What in the holy fuck?”

“Yeah,” I say, and I can’t keep my lips from curling upwards.

“Someone get the celebratory whiskey…”

I scoff. “I love your sarcasm.”

“Shit, I’m happy for you.”

“Happy or are you just trying to be civil?” I say, but the words don’t have the bite I want.

“I’m pleased,” he says, and for a second, I almost believe him. “But the fucking smile? Annoying as shit. Wipe it off. Elio De Luca doesn’t smile.”

I reach for the decanter, the amber catching the light like blood in the sun. I need this. I pour two heavy measures into the lowball glasses, the liquid sloshing thick and slow. I slide one across the island to Vinny.

“You don’t have to,” he says.

“Just shut up and drink.”

We down it in silence, the whiskey burning a familiar path down my throat—sharp, unrelenting.

But the fire doesn’t melt the ice in my chest. Not when it comes to Vinny. I watch him, waiting for a flicker—envy, hate, anything.

Nothing. Just… weariness. And somehow, that’s worse.

Finally, I break the silence. “Wanna go to the hospital?” I ask, my voice carefully neutral. “See our new sister?”

My mother wanted it, and he’ll be protected, by me.

I rub the tea cup tattoo unconsciously while I think about Alana. Celeste is not your replacement, I repeat in my mind.

Vinny’s gaze flicks to Angelo, then to the new guy, Marco, then back to me. “Now?” He swallows. “Is this a test?”

I shrug. “It’s something.”

He studies me, like he’s trying to solve an equation. “So… am I forgiven?”

I snort. “Hell no.”

Then quieter: “But I believe you. About someone targeting our family.” I meet his eyes, letting the weight of it sink in. “And I need you. I need your brain, your dirt, your paranoia—whatever you’ve got. Because I’ll burn the world to keep Nica and that baby safe.”

The wordbabystill feels foreign in my mouth. A sister I never expected.

Vinny nods, slow and deliberate. “Alrigh’.”

I grab my phone, scrolling through contacts. “Let’s go.”

Angelo is already moving, silent and efficient as always.

I’m already dressed to go— jeans, button-up rolled at the sleeves that I never took off upstairs. My boots are at the door.

I snatch my jacket from the rack, then the Glock 17 from the drawer beneath it.

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