Page 139 of Crazed

"What else are all of you hiding from me?" Papà interrogates.

"I'm not hiding anything," Dante asserts. He goes over to the bar and pours himself a scotch. He takes a large mouthful, swallows, and grimaces. "And I'm with you on this, Papà. None of you can continue to make these decisions without approval. It's irresponsible."

I sneer. "Now you side with Papà? It was fine when you wanted us to blow up the sex club when Papà instructed us not to."

Dante's face hardens. "Shut up, Massimo."

"Why? Because you're next in line? It's okay for you to go against Papà's orders, but we can't make our own decisions?" I hurl.

Papà slams his hand on the desk. "None of you—and I mean none..." he pauses, locks eyes on Dante, then continues, "...are to touch any crime family head unless I approve it. From this point forward, if I catch any of you going against me, that's it. You're out!"

"Out?" Gianni questions.

It only angers Papà more. He shouts, "Yes! Out! All privileges revoked. No more taking part in any family business. And you'll move out of this house. Does that clarify?"

"You can't do that," Tristano mutters.

Papà's dark eyes gleam black. He grits his teeth and threatens, "Watch me."

The tension in the room grows. The more time that passes, the redder Papà's cheeks turn. He never flinches, assessing each of my brothers and me.

I decide I need to move this conversation on. I sniff hard and state, "Leo needs to die. He'll come after Katiya."

Papà turns back toward me, seething, "Did you ever stop to think? If you came to me, we could have solved this together."

My chest tightens. I didn't expect this response from Papà, just another lecture on not taking out the head of crime families.

Gianni comes to my defense. "Maybe if you weren't constantly saying no to everything, we'd bring things to you."

"It's my job to say yes or no," Papà asserts.

"You don't trust us," Gianni points out.

Papà sarcastically laughs. "Trust you? Sometimes I wonder if the four of you are trying to test me. You have more power than I did at your age, yet it seems to only result in your arrogance. You all think you know better than me."

"Leo needs to die," I reiterate, not into the lecture.

Papà spins to me and jabs my chest. "Now that you've done what you have, there's no other choice, is there?"

"No, there isn't," I agree, happy he's cornered, then add, "But why are you so pissed about it?"

"There are ramifications when you take someone out," Papà declares.

"Not this again," Tristano mutters.

"You! Out!" Papà roars, pointing at him, then continues, "All of you except Massimo. Get out!"

My brothers give me a sympathetic glance and go to leave. When Tristano opens the door, Tully steps inside.

As soon as I see him, I demand, "Where's Katiya's money?"

The smile I hate so much appears on his lips. In his equally annoying voice, he replies, "Is that any way to welcome me to your house?"

"Cut the shit, Tully."

"Do not disrespect him," Papà barks.

I refrain from saying anything. Papà's idea of who should have respect and who shouldn't is different from my and my brother's opinion.

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