Page 48 of Blood and Lies (A Twisted Duet 1)

He lifted his chin toward the door behind me. “Is that where you keep her?”

Warning bells chimed in the back of my head, my skin crawling as my defenses went on high alert.

I took an intimidating step forward, never taking my eyes off his. “Let’s get one thing straight, cousin. I don’t like you, never have. Why my little brother has the need to always be around you is beyond me. But if I so much as suspect you’re dragging your ugly ass into my business, I will cut you in fucking half.”

That twisted, ugly-ass smile of his didn’t falter as I spewed out my threat. In fact, the little shit took a step toward me, not backing down in the slightest.

“You don’t have what it takes to be a Boss, Castello. Everyone knows it. The only person keeping your ass from being tossed down to Capo is your mother.”

My muscles twitched, my veins bulged, and my fist tightened. With a tick in my jaw, I ground my teeth, thinking about how fucking gratifying it would be to slam my fist into his ugly motherfucking face.

A throat cleared, and both Nicollo and I looked in the direction. Uncle Gino was standing a few feet away, staring at us.

“Nicollo, your father is looking for you.”

Reluctantly, my cousin backed down and straightened the lapels of his suit jacket, glared my way with a promise that we weren’t done, then made his way down the hall.

Muscles relaxed, the tick in my jaw eased, yet my fist remained balled and the anger still simmered. “I don’t trust him.”

Uncle Gino smiled. “I don’t think anyone trusts Nicollo. The key is to always keep your eyes open whenever he’s around, make sure that what’s yours is protected at all times.”

I narrowed my eyes, staring at him with confusion. “Like what?”

Uncle Gino shrugged. “Like whatever you deem as yours.”

“Which in this case is…?”

He feigned a look of ignorance. “I have no idea. But I’m sure you do.”

Shifting from one leg to the other, feeling agitated and annoyed, bordering on losing my shit after the whirlwind of fuck-ups this night has conjured so far, I rubbed the back of my neck rather than punching my fist into the damn wall.

“Tell me, Uncle Gino, you jumped in to save the day three times tonight. Why?”

He cocked a brow. “Three times? I only know of two.”

The knowing look he gave me proved he knew exactly when the third time was…back in the goddamn bathroom when I was a split second away from kissing Tatum’s lips raw, which would have been a bloody catastrophe. As if it weren’t enough that I had my fingers inside her, then jerking off while she watched, I wanted to completely devour that delicious-looking mouth of hers. I was such a greedy bastard.

“Listen, Castello,” he stepped closer, “I know this is all hard on you, but—”

“What gives you the idea that this is hard on me?”

He snorted. “Stop the bullshit, Castello. You’re not made for the curse of the new role you got shoved into overnight.”

Bitterness coated my tongue. “So you agree with Nicollo that I don’t have what it takes to be the Boss?”

“I do, yes. But not for the same reasons.”

Newly lit anger flared fiercely inside my chest. I’d always been fond of Uncle Gino, even though he could be annoying as shit sometimes, but right now he was pissing me off.

“Mind enlightening me as to what your reasons are?”

He stepped closer, not caring that I was nearly combusting with anger, putting him in the line of fire.

“You are a lot of things, Castello. But you are not the ruthless monster your mother is trying to turn you into.”

I recoiled. “My mother?”

“Yes, your mother. She has poisoned you with her hate, infected you with her need for revenge. All this anger, this rage, and need for retaliation you’re feeling isn’t yours. It’s hers.”

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