Page 73 of Toxic

My father's eyes darken. "How are you pulling that off?"

Gianni and I exchange a glance, and my stomach flips. Papà isn't going to be happy when he learns we've already started putting things in motion, but at this point, it's best just to come clean.

"Delfino and Gilberto Rossi are already in the dungeon."

Red fills my father's cheeks. A long time ago, he stopped going into the dungeon. He leaves it to my brothers and me to handle. However, it's a clear rule he's supposed to be updated about who is down there. He seethes, "You bring Rossis into my house and don't disclose it? Are my own sons betraying me?"

"Don't get dramatic," Gianni snaps, and I want to punch him. Saying that to my father isn't the right response.

I quickly interject. "We're keeping our options open, that's all."

"For something I never approved," Papà roars.

"We were hoping you'd come to your senses and let us execute," I fib, knowing that Gianni convinced me a week ago not to give my father the option to shoot our plan down.

"And now you lie to me," Papà barks.

I grind my molars.

Gianni taps his finger on the map. "This is an issue. You've not given us any reason to believe you're going to handle it. The port needs to be secure. You were too pissed we picked up Michelotto as soon as we did to think rationally. You know what happened to the Sardonis. I'll be damned if I let the Marinos be next, with or without your approval."

My father jumps off his seat, slams his hands on the desk, and leans over. His face turns purple. "Your ignorance is going to be your downfall. What you seem to forget is every action has a consequence."

I scrub my face and blurt out, "We have bullets and guns with Rossi fingerprints on them. It's not like we've not thought this through."

Papà's head jerks toward me. "You're not ready to lead if you can't follow my orders. There's a chain of command for a reason. And while I expect hotheaded moves from your brother, I thought you had more control than him."

"Gee, thanks," Gianni mutters, but I don't have to look at him to know he's bored with this conversation and not taking Papà's warning as seriously as he should.

I sigh. "I do have control. That's why I haven't authorized anything yet."

"Authorized?" my father booms. "You don't authorize unless I do."

Gianni rises, and his chair scrapes against the wood floor. "Your ego will be the downfall of our family. Is it because it was my idea and not yours? What exactly is the problem with our plan?"

My father sarcastically laughs. "You don't listen, do you?"

Gianni sniffs hard. "It gets pretty hard to hear the same thing over and over when all you see are people coming after your family. And I never thought I'd see the day where you'd be a coward and back down."

"Gianni!" I snap.

His dark slits focus on me. "What? Now you're going to return to his side on this issue?"

"No. I didn't say—"

"Get out. Both of you get out. And if you execute any portion of this idea of yours without my approval, you'll be answering to me," Papà warns.

"What are you going to do? Kick us out of the family? Put us in the dungeon?" Gianni taunts.

"Jesus, Gianni!" I scold.

Papà flies around the desk and grabs Gianni by the shirt. "You do not disrespect me in my house."

Gianni glares at him, clenching his jaw.

"Gianni, let's go," I order, wanting to end this confrontation before it escalates any higher. My heart beats harder as time seems to stand still.

My father finally releases Gianni and gives us a final warning. "Do not do anything without my permission."

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