Page 148 of Crazed

Anytime I try to approach the subject of Pina with Tristano, he clams up. I even asked him what happened with Dante the night we got back from the Maldives, but he refused to tell me. All he said was, "Keep Pina's and my business to yourself and tell Katiya to do the same. Dante isn't to know anything until Pina is ready to tell him."

Since it isn't my business, and I have enough of my own problems, I did what he asked. And while I agree with Papà that he needs to come clean to Dante, I'm not in their shoes. From what I could tell in the Maldives, Pina's the one stopping Tristano from telling Dante, but I don't know her reasons for keeping it a secret.

Still, I feel bad for my brother. I'm pretty sure Dante isn't going to be okay with their relationship. I know what it's like not to have our family on board with your decisions. Plus, I'm unhappy with Luca. I wonder if there will ever be a point where he chooses our confidence over Papà's. So I break the tension, interjecting, "Let's have this conversation another time. We've got a limited window of time to take Leo out."

Papà and Tristano glare at each other another minute, then Papà steps back. "Leo's already on his way here."

"What are you talking about?" I inquire.

"I sent Dante and Gianni to take care of it. They left an hour ago with their crew."

My pulse shoots toward the ceiling. I fume, "Leo is mine. I've made it clear from the start."

"Your brother's team will handle picking him up," Papà asserts.

I step closer, barking, "He raped my wife."

Papà lowers his voice and says, "Which is why I didn't send you."

"That makes zero sense," I claim.

Papà's lips curve into a sinister smile. "Doesn't it?"

My chest tightens as the air in my lungs turns stale. I shake my head, insisting, "No, it doesn't."

Papà's phone rings. He glances at it then looks at Luca. "Why don't you explain it. This is Giuseppe. I need to speak with him in private."

"So he can promise more things that'll never happen," Tristano mutters.

"Do not disrespect Giuseppe!" Papà roars.

"Let's go," Luca states, pointing toward the door.

My brother and I leave as Papà answers the phone in Italian. As soon as his office door shuts, I spin to Luca. "Are you ever going to have our backs?"

Luca clenches his jaw, giving me a peeved expression. He finally answers, "Do you really think it's wise for me to ignore Angelo's orders? Or did you forget he runs this family?"

"You could have said something," Tristano claims.

Luca stands taller. "No, I couldn't have. So stop blaming me. Take this out with your papà. He's the boss. I'm not. It's pretty clear, so get with the program."

I take a few calculated breaths, trying to calm down. Everything Luca is saying is correct, yet I hate how he kept this from Tristano and me. Fat Tony was one of our first recruits. He's been with our family for years.

"Are you over your pissy fit so I can tell you why your papà didn't send you?"

"Fine. Tell us," Tristano orders.

Luca points between us. "You two would have shot the place up, including Fat Tony and Leo."

"Give us some credit," Tristano claims.

Leo scoffs then focuses on me, arching his eyebrows.

I glance at Tristano, stay quiet, and clench my jaw tight. I can't deny that it could have happened.

Luca continues, "I thought you wanted to make Leo pay for his sins."

"Of course I do," I state.

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