Page 63 of Wrathful King
Marchetti’s brows scrunched. “Ma che cazzo!” he muttered. What the fuck. “You were right to protest, Amon. Don’t bring her in front of the Omertà like this. She’ll get herself shot if she loses her shit in front of all of them like that. We’ll wait a bit.”
“Enrico.” Isla tugged on her husband’s sleeve. “You cannot seriously mean that. She’s been through enough.”
“She’s never appearing in front of the Omertà,” I gritted. “Not even when she’s better.”
“You know patricide is forbidden. The Omertà knows she killed Angelo. If we let it go, it will open the doors for others to do the same.”
My jaw clenched. “You won’t put her through more shit just to prove your point,” I gritted. The Omertà better watch out because I stop at nothing to protect what’s mine. “Angelo showed up at her apartment. She didn’t seek him out. So fuck you, and fuck the Omertà. Reina won’t be judged by anyone. Now, kindly get the fuck out so that Reina can get some rest.”
Dante chose to make his entrance at that very moment, his eyes landing on Reina.
“What the fuck happened? And why is she sedated again?”
Raven answered him. “She asked about Phoenix and…” Her voice trailed off and I caught Marchetti’s wife giving a subtle shake of her head. “It went downhill from there.”
“What else?” Marchetti demanded.
Raven’s shoulders slumped. “We talked about Sofia Volkov’s illegitimate daughter. Reina said she was auctioned before her.”
Dante narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t we fucking say don’t upset her?” he growled. He was becoming more protective of his half sister. “I swear to God, if you cannot follow simple rules and keep Reina calm when you visit, you’ll be cut out. Friendship or no.”
“You have no right to make a decision like that,” Raven snapped, her hands on her hips. “She’s capable of making her own decisions. We can’t keep hiding shit from her, and in case you haven’t noticed”—she gave me a pointed look—“hiding the fact that we have no fucking clue where Phoenix is only makes things worse.”
She might have had a point there.
“Okay, whatever the case might be, Reina has to answer to the heads of the Omertà for Angelo’s murder.” Marchetti was clearly getting annoyed with all of us. “I don’t give a shit whether you two agree or not.”
“And I don’t give a shit about the Omertà,” I glowered. “You can take the whole organization and shove it up your ass for all I care. Reina won’t be answering for anything.”
“Ah, I see my brother’s already embracing the rules of the Omertà.” God, his sarcasm had the worst fucking timing. “When will you get the tattoo that we all carry?”
“Fuck off,” Marchetti and I answered at the same time.
The Omertà tattoo wouldn’t happen, not unless the organization could guarantee Reina’s safety.
“Hold on,” Raven exclaimed. “You guys have matching tattoos? That’s so stinking cute.”
“Definitely not what I was going for,” Marchetti grumbled, turning to face Romero. “I suggest you bring your son up to speed on the significance of our rules. I’m taking my wife home.”
“Amon’s taking over my seat and has the freedom to do what he thinks is the best for his family,” Romero answered diplomatically. “And I also agree with his sentiment. My daughter here has been through enough, and I still have to find my other one. The Omertà rules are the last thing I care about. I won’t stand back and watch you pass judgment on Reina.”
Well said. No wonder Reina had stuck by him all these years despite his failings.
“Well, Marchetti, sayonara. I wish I could say I was sorry to see you go, but we all know I’d be lying.” I let my gaze travel over the room. “Girls, please say your goodbyes. I'll get in touch when Reina’s up for visitors again.”
I didn't need a disaster whirling around my wife.
Isla turned to her husband and set her hands on her hips. “Enrico, you and I need to talk.”
“Not now,dolcezza.”
“Yes,now.” Her eyes darted to her friends, and the three of them shared a glance.
“Just fucking tell him,” Raven hissed. “If he wants to be an ass to Reina, he’ll have to be an ass to all of us.”
“I already like the sound of that,” Dante remarked dryly. “I was going to be on my way, but I’m eager to hear this before I hit the road.”
Athena smiled shakily. “It might be better if you weren’t here.”
