Page 115 of Cruelest Contract
A spasm of pain causes Grimaldi’s face to contort. He twists in his chair. One of his minions was standing just outside the door and rushes to his side.
“Back the fuck off,” Grimaldi says through clenched teeth. The guy scampers away.
Angelo glances up from his phone and frowns. He’s subtle when he checks the weapon holstered at his side but I’m uneasy that the thought even crossed his mind at a family dinner.
The vibe in here is rapidly sending off my alarm signals. I’m armed but there’s Cecilia to consider. If tempers get high, she’s my priority. I’m starting to wish I’d kept our soldiers close.
Gabe sits tensely on the edge of his seat. He glances at his sister and then at their grandfather. I wouldn’t count on him for any help.
“Maybe we can talk business later,” I say, trying to placate the old man. “There should be some opportunities for our families to work together.”
Grimaldi’s stare is pure acid. “I’m not a dog. Keep that in mind when you try to throw me some scraps. It seems you Tempestas have forgotten your old friends now that you’re making new ones.”
So that’s how it is. Grimaldi has presided over the slow destruction of his own family and now he’s lashing out. I don’t need my father’s input to know we’ll never trust the Grimaldis with anything serious. In light of our history and our new connection we’d be willing to toss a few crumbs their way and that’s all. Grimaldi would be wise not to piss all over our goodwill.
Cecilia has set her fork down. The look she gives me is filled with worry. Grimaldi is a mean bastard with a temper and she knows it.
I give her knee a reassuring pat under the table. “We’ll have this conversation another time,” I say and my tone leaves no room for argument.
Grimaldi grunts and his glare only deepens. “It’s easy to make demands when you’ve got Vittorio Messina in your back pocket. What were you cooking up out there in Sicily, you and Messina and my grandson?”
“What?” Cecilia looks at her brothers in confusion.
“Matthias,” Grimaldi snaps. He flails and tries to bang a fragile fist on the wood. “He should be sitting here at MY FUCKING TABLE!”
“What does Matthias have to do with anything?” Cecilia is staring at me now. “Did you see him in Sicily, Julian?”
I didn’t mention the time I spent in Matthias’s unpleasant company because I have nothing nice to say about him. As Vittorio Messina’s new favorite grim reaper, Cecilia’s oldest brother is every bit as ornery and violent as he seems. Hearing this would hurt her.
Vittorio was amused by the tension between me and Matthias. Shoving my volatile brother-in-law right in my face was a petty way to inflict a little payback after my father’s stunt. I kept my wits and ignored Matthias whenever possible. And the trip ended as a success. Vittorio wanted access to our port influence here in the states and we wanted the two Las Vegas casino projects Vittorio acquired after the latest mob wars.
But now my wife is frowning as she realizes I’ve failed to share a vital piece of information about my recent overseas travels.
“I did see Matthias,” I tell her. “It was just business.”
“What does that mean? And why didn’t you tell me?”
“Don’t interrupt, little girl,” Grimaldi snarls. “This isn’t your concern.”
Cecilia whirls to confront her grandfather. “Dead wrong. Matthias is my brother and Julian is my husband. I’m not under your thumb anymore and I’ll ask all the questions I want.”
The look he gives her is full of disgust. “Count yourself lucky that a man was willing to take you. Shouldn’t have let you go off to college. Like all women, you couldn’t wait to whore around and ruin yourself the first chance you got.”
Cecilia’s gasp of mortification claws at my soul. She’s so stunned she can’t even speak.
I don’t give a fuck who Grimaldi is. No one gets away with treating her like this.
“You better keep your sick fucking mouth shut about my wife,” I say with deadly finality. “You know nothing about her.”
“Really?” he sneers. “Tell us, Julian. Was there blood on the sheets on your wedding night or was that slut’s cherry busted long before you gave her a ring?”
I’m going to kill him. I’m really going to fucking kill him. Benvolio Grimaldi has just buried himself.
“Aw shit,” Angelo mutters, clearly annoyed that all this family drama is spoiling his video game.
Gabriel just gawks like a useless cartoon character.
Cecilia must have some notion where my mind is going. The instant I push my chair back she grabs my arm. “Julian, look at me. Just look at me.”
