Page 98 of Single Malt Drama

Dante shouted, “There are other ways to get your wife back.”

Leo and Gabe exchanged glances.

Enzo sucked a breath between his teeth. “Marco, he’s right. There are easier ways to get her back. You two are married. There are rules about other men’s wives.”

I wasn’t going to sit there and debate my decision. Stepping up as capo gave me more power, and with it came leverage. “That will take too long. I’m doing this.”

“I refuse to step down. Are you going to kill me for it?” Gabe folded his arms. “You and Nico were married in a church by a priest, right?”

“Yes.” My head pounded hard enough to blur my vision.

He held his arms out at his sides. “Then Pietro Lazio has broken the code of honor. I will demand he return Nico at once.”

“It’s more complicated than that.” I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath to get a grip on my physical pain. “Lazio accused Alessio and Maria Grasso of stealing over a million dollars.”

Leo cursed under his breath.

“Let me guess, Nico took the money?” Gabe frowned.

I nodded and wished I hadn’t. The slight movement made me see stars. “To give Maria and Alessio a fresh start.”

“So she confesses and returns it, or better yet, Pietro can take it out of her trust fund.” Gabe rested his hand on my shoulder. “I understand what you’re going through. When Maggie was missing, I thought I’d lose my mind. But you don’t have to be capo to get her back. Let us help you.”

“He’s right. You have grounds to demand Pietro Lazio return your wife.” Leo forced a smile. “Thank God, you two married in a church.”

“None of that matters.” Our mother sighed and pulled an envelope from her pocket. “Marco must become the capo of this family and vow to remain in the Cosa Nostra before Pietro Lazio will return Nico.”

“Of course.” I figured she’d have an ace up her sleeve. Nothing she did at that point would have surprised me.

Gabe ground his teeth. “What are you up to now, Ma?”

“Me? I may have told one little white lie, but I’m not the one who’s been lying to you for months.” She gave him an innocent smile, unfolded the contents of the envelope and set the contract Nico and I had signed on the desk in front of me.

I jerked away from it. How in the hell had she gotten her hands on the agreement? I struggled to remember the last time I’d seen it.

Nico. I’d given it to Nico to sign.

Evelyn made a show of staring at each of my brothers in turn. “You want out of this life so bad? That’s fine. Go, but you shouldn’t underestimate Marco. He’s more like your father than any of you.”

My world tilted. She’d not only set me up, she’d plotted to turn my brothers against me. Before my mother was through, I’d be locked into the position tighter than a camel’s ass in a sandstorm.

“What the hell is this?” Gabe grabbed the paper, skimmed it, and tossed it on the desk. “The marriage is a sham?”

Leo threw up his hands. “Is this true? You’ve been fucking lying to us?”

Dante hung his head.

“In the beginning, yes.” I stared at my mother, wondering how to make the woman who’d given me life pay. “But not anymore. We agreed to tear up the contract. I love her.”

Gabe ran his hands over his head. “But you didn’t?”

“No. We didn’t realize we wanted to stay married until we were at the cabin. I’ll tear it up now.”

He pointed at the paper. “That’s a copy. Where’s the original?”

I turned to my mother.

She glanced at each of my brothers before settling on me. “Pietro Lazio has it. Someone in this house betrayed you.”

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