Page 119 of Crazed

"Tristano," I bark.

He leans closer. "Answer my question first."

"I'm on vacation with my fiancée. Now, talk," I demand.

His eyes widen. "Your fiancée?"

"Yeah. And you better not say one disrespectful word about her," I warn.

His dark eyes dart down the dock then back at me. "Are you crazy?"

I grab him by the shirt, but he pushes back, crying out, "Get off me!"

"Do not disrespect her!" I yell.

His nostrils flare. Red fills his cheeks just like when Papà gets upset. He jabs me in the chest and says, "She's working for Leo!"

My hands turn into fists. "Little brother, you're one step from getting punched off this dock," I threaten.

He doesn't back down. "It's true! She's trying to find out all the details about our business contacts!"

I clap slowly. "You haven't told me anything I don't already know."

Horror fills his expression. He takes a moment then demands, "Why are you with her, then? Tell me you haven't turned against us, Massimo."

Rage fills me. I roar, "Turned against you? And done what? Joined the Abruzzos?" I say it sarcastically, but Tristano's expression tells me everything I need to know. I seethe, "You believe I would ever be part of that family?"

Through gritted teeth, he repeats, "Then why are you here with her?"

I shake my head, stopping myself from slapping him. "We're on vacation. Not that it's your concern."

"Have you lost your marbles? She's an Abruzzo," he growls.

I reach back and am about to punch him, but Katiya grabs my arm.

"Sorry! I tried to keep her away!" Pina blurts out.

I freeze then address her. "You're here to trick Katiya?"

"Well...umm..." Pina looks guiltily at both Katiya and me.

"Goddamn it, Pina! You work for Dante! Not Tristano!" I remind her.

She winces.

More disappointment fills me. "Dante knows why you're here?"

"He is my boss," she replies and cringes. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but honestly, Massimo. What the heck are you doing?" She puts her hand on her hip and arches her eyebrows like I'm her child.

"Fuck off, Pina. And mind your own business," I fume.

"Don't talk to her like that," Tristano warns.

"Or what? You're both out of line," I assert.

"You just admitted she's an Abruzzo trying to betray us," Tristano says and glares at Katiya.

I pull my dolce into my side. I'm so pissed, I can't think to reason. I roar, "So what?"

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