Page 57 of King

Santino walks into breakfast, to my surprise, and I stiffen. Zina senses the shift in my body language and turns to see him.

“Santino, did you come to join us?” I ask.

Zina stands up, moving off my lap, her mouth set tightly as she takes her seat again.

“I was going to try - but this is a fucking shit show.” He snaps.

“Come on, man.” I snap too. “Just sit down and have some fucking breakfast.”

“Are you two a couple now?” he throws the accusation at me, his eyes boring into me like drills.

“Sit down.” I insist. “Where is Romeo? Breakfast is getting cold.”

“Are you two a couple?” he shouts.

I glance at Zina, her eyes are tight on me as well.

“No.” I answer quietly.

“You could’ve fooled me.” Santino snaps angrily and storms from the room.

Tears spill from Zina’s eyes as she watches me, silent and hurt.

She stands up.

“Zina - “ I call her name, but she ignores me, walking out of the dining room just as Dante and Guido arrive.

“Mom?” Guido says, looking at his mother with concern.

“It’s ok, man, give her some space.” I sigh, gesturing for both of them to sit down.

My appetite is gone, but I force myself to eat, trying to create a normal environment for the two sons that have decided to join me.

When they get up and leave I lean back in my seat and groan loudly in frustration. What the fuck is going on in this house? Everything is falling apart.

“Giovanni?” Fabio sticks his head in the dining room, leaning through the doorway. “Am I interrupting breakfast.”

I shrug with my hands high in the air, pulling my face tight and gesturing for him to look around. “What breakfast, no one is interested in breakfast anymore.” I huff.

He chuckles, a dry laugh with no genuine joy in it.

Fabio walks into the room and drags Santino’s chair out from under the table, sitting down he lets out a deep breath.

“What is it?” I ask, “Did you find something?”

“No. But I think we need to talk.”

When he looks at me his has that expression in his eyes that tells me I’m about to hear something I might not want to hear.

I clench my jaw and fold my arms over my chest.

Everyone else is pissed off with me - why wouldn’t Fabio be as well.

I nod my chin towards him. Go ahead.

He pulls his mouth tight, pressing his lips together and nodding too.

“It’s about the girl - Zina.” He sighs. “I think you’re unable to see clearly. Whatever she has over you - it’s clouding your judgment.”

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