Page 108 of Single Malt Drama

Leo rubbed the creases between his eyebrows. “Does it matter? Are they really going to send an assassin to kill a dying man?”

Dante’s mouth fell open. Our baby brother lived in a constant, but comfortable state of denial when it came to our father’s lung cancer. “How can you be so crass?”

“It’s the truth.” Leo turned to our father.

Pops’ expression darkened. “It isn’t me they want. It’s Gabe.”

My brothers let out a collective gasp, followed by muttered curses.

“Why me?” His voice cracked, and he took a step back as if to maintain his balance. I hadn’t seen Gabe so visibly shaken since Maggie had gone missing.

“Because, like Leo said, Pops is terminally ill, and they will have their pound of flesh. Since you were the capo, and your wife wrote the press release, you are responsible.” I hated every word I said, but it was the truth.

Pops broke into a coughing fit that silenced all of us. When he regained his breath, he said, “Marco is right.”

“How do we stop this?” I set my hand on my thigh to keep it from bouncing.

“By breaking the Omertá again.” Pops grinned.

Gabe threw up his hands and proceeded to pace the deck. “Christ. First the bullshit with the Lazios, and Abruzzos, and Ma…now this?”

Leo went to him, slung his arm around Gabe’s shoulders, and whispered something I couldn’t hear.

Shell-shocked, Dante stood and walked to the bar.

I moved my chair closer to my father and lowered my voice. “Go on.”

He gave me an appraising look. “You’ve changed.”

“I’m the capo, a married man, and possibly a soon-to-be father. I had no choice.”

His eyes widened a fraction of an inch before he narrowed them. “Does your father-in-law know Nico might be pregnant?”

Puzzled by his reaction, I said, “I don’t know, but I doubt it.”

Pops let out a long slow breath. “He’s going to go ballistic—”

“It’s none of his business.” My words came out more defensive than I’d intended, but this wasn’t the reaction I’d been hoping for from my dad. Not to mention, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what Pietro Lazio thought about it.

“He will say some terrible things. I need you to know they aren’t true.” He shook his head. “There have been too damned many secrets.”

“Maybe it’s time to share them.”

“You’re right. It’s past time.”

Squeezing his hand, I said, “Spill your guts, old man.”

Pops hacked out a laugh. “They aren’t all my secrets, son. Some aren’t mine to tell and some belong to your father-in-law.”

Even better. I nodded.

His tone grew serious. “You will need to convince one of Nicolina’s brothers to go with you to the convent in Riesi. They will need to speak to the Mother Superior.”

“You’ve lost me. What does Lazio have to do with nuns?”

He gave me a patient smile. “One of them knows Pietro’s secrets. He couldn’t have her murdered, so he put her away twenty-six years ago.”

Holy shit. Pun intended. “How do you know this?”

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