Page 117 of Single Malt Drama

Marco

In the movies,the hero grinds his teeth, or hisses, when a blade bites into his flesh. Unfortunately for me, Hollywood got that wrong, too. It hurt like a bitch when Tommaso Abruzzo sliced my palm open and forced me to bleed on what looked like a tarot card with a freaking skull on it.

“Welcome to the Fratellanza.” Abruzzo wrapped my wound with a bandage, kissed my cheeks, and hugged me.

I glanced at my father over the other man’s shoulder.

He gave me a quick nod and slow smile. “Welcome to the brotherhood. My son is now my capo.”

The men in the room, with the exception of Pietro Lazio, laughed and took turns kissing my cheeks. I hadn’t endured that much back slapping and congratulatory nonsense since I’d scored the winning goal on my college soccer team.

When it was my father’s turn, I leaned down and whispered, “How are you holding up?”

“Well enough to enjoy the fireworks.” He croaked out a chuckle.

That’s my cue. I turned to face the men in the room. “Before we join our families for breakfast, I’d like to invite a special guest to speak to you. I believe you will find what she has to say very…enlightening.”

Pietro Lazio choked on his own spit or tongue or disbelief, it was hard to tell which. “I object!”

My father, God love him, flubbed his lips. “Shut the fuck up. This isn’t a goddamned courtroom.”

Lazio continued to bellow as I walked to the door, poked my head out, and motioned to Leo.

He nodded and strode away.

Raising my voice over the din, I said, “I understand there was a vote regarding my brother, Gabriel, breaking the Omertá.”

Miquel Salvo, a capo who tended to side with the Abruzzos, frowned. “The vote is final unless there is new evidence.”

Nodding, I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I don’t have new evidence. I only want to go on record as saying that my father”—I motioned to my dad—“and my brother did what they had to do to prevent another family from taking over our territory.”

Tommaso Abruzzo’s eyes widened as if the news surprised him. Odd, considering Tara had told them all Sophia had blackmailed her into trying to take out my entire family.

Lazio glared, but there was no mistaking the fear in his eyes.

Outside the room, a woman screamed.

Everything went quiet for a heartbeat, before more people shouted.

I lunged for the door at the same time Leo opened it and ushered Vittoria Lazio, Nico, and Sophia-freaking Abruzzo inside.

Leo gave me a hard look, nodded in the direction they’d come, and mouthed, “Fucking chaos.”

The people outside the room might have freaked out when a supposedly dead woman walked into the hall, but the men inside had gone stone still. Even my father stared as if he’d seen a freaking ghost.

Tommaso stood. “Vittoria?”

Her gaze fell on him, and she brought her hands to her mouth and nodded.

Nico stood on one side of her, Sophia on the other. Between the two of them, I wasn’t sure who was more likely to break the no violence rule.

“Where…how…” Tommaso turned his head toward Lazio. “What did you do to her?”

Pietro had the sense to lower his head.

“Why don’t we have a seat and allow Vittoria to tell us what she’s been through.” I motioned to the table with the bloody skull card.

Tommaso nodded several times, grabbed the closest chair, and collapsed into it.

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