Page 38 of Crazed

"You heard me—no pay for a month."

"You can't be serious," I state in shock.

He glances at Tully. "My sons seem to think they're immune to the law of this family."

"I'm not someone you hired off the street," I seethe.

Papà steps closer and lowers his voice. "Let me make this clear, Massimo. If you continue to put this family in jeopardy with your bad decisions, you'll no longer have us to lean on."

More shock pummels through me. The silent tension in the air grows thicker.

"Out! Everyone out but Tully," Papà orders.

I leave the room, still stunned, not understanding how this is all happening.

Why won't my family trust me about Katiya?

The door to Papà's office shuts, and Tristano asks, "Bro, you okay?"

I say nothing and make my way up the stairs.

"Massimo," Gianni calls after me.

I don't stop. I go to my suite, pack several suitcases of clothes and personal items, then order one of our workers to haul them to my car.

"What's going on?" Gianni asks when the last bag is gone and I'm shutting the door to my wing.

"I'm doing what I should have done a long time ago," I claim, still pissed.

"What's that?" he asks.

"Moving out."

He opens his mouth, but I cut him off.

"Save it." I stalk past him and don't stop until I'm outside of the gates. Only then do I pull over, slam my hand on the steering wheel, and take a minute to digest everything.

For the first time in my life, I don't know if I still want to be a Marino.

8

Katiya

"Here's the next batch,"my supervisor Alicia announces, wheeling a cart overflowing with books next to the current one I'm emptying.

Ask her.

Not yet.

Massimo is going to get upset if I don't at least ask.

She turns to walk away, and I call out, "Alicia."

She spins, raising her eyebrows. "Yes?"

I put the book on the shelf then rise. My gut twists. "Ummm..." I swallow the lump in my throat then clear it. "I was wondering if I get any vacation time."

Her smile fades. "Didn't HR review the employee benefits package with you after they offered you the job?"

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