Page 35 of Crazed

"You're going to play this game with me?" Dante glowers.

I match his stance, crossing my arms. I fume, "I'm not a mind reader, so spit it out, bro."

His nostrils flare, and his intimidating expression irritates me further. I'm not one of his little minions who gets scared or backs down. He may be next in line to rule our empire, but he'll always be my brother first. He glances around us then steps closer. His voice lowers. "Did you think Ettore wouldn't call Papà?"

My gut flips. I wasn't planning on telling Papà and lied to Ettore. Yet I didn't think he'd rat me out within twenty-four hours. I fib, "He didn't give me a chance to tell him."

"Bullshit. You weren't going to tell Papà anything, were you?" Dante accuses.

"Is there a point to this conversation?" I hurl, sick of my brothers interfering in my business.

Dante's scowl grows. "Massimo, when did you stop using your brain?"

"Shut up," I retort.

His face darkens. "This woman you're seeing, she's making you do things you normally wouldn't."

I scoff. "Her name is Katiya. She doesn't make me do anything. And your assumptions about her are just that—false notions."

"She's working for the Abruzzos! You took her to our family jeweler!" he snarls.

I groan and scrub my face. "When are you going to stop stating untruths? She's not an Abruzzo."

"She lives in the same complex Gianni and you snuck into so you could rescue Cara!"

"There are eight buildings in that complex. She's not even near the one where Uberto held Cara hostage. It's a coincidence," I insist, pushing the nagging feeling away. When we pulled up to the building to rescue Cara, I felt sick. But I had it out with Katiya, and I believe her. She even showed me her lease. It's through a slum lord with no ties to the Abruzzos. I did a full background check on him and had my guy follow him for a month. He's not even Italian.

"Jesus! Stop using your dick instead of your brain!" Dante barks.

"Fuck off," I hurl at him, turn, and walk down the hall.

Dante follows, grabs my arm, and tugs.

I spin, warning, "Don't touch me!"

"Why did you take her to Ettore?"

"Papà didn't tell you?"

"No. So what's he going to say?"

Everything feels out of control around my family these days. This conversation only makes it worse. To take back some control and piss Dante off further, I shake out of his grasp, fuming, "I guess you'll find out soon enough." I open the door to the wing of the house Papà's office is in and make my way to it.

Dante follows, cautioning, "You're close to making irrevocable mistakes."

I spin, jabbing him in the chest. "Are you threatening me?"

His eyes turn to slits. "This family runs on trust."

My pulse beats hard in my neck. "So now you don't trust me?"

"Give me a reason I should go into Papà's office and back you up," he asserts.

I step closer and match his leer. In a low voice, I reply, "I shouldn't have to give you a reason, brother."

"This girl—"

"Is innocent. What they did to her—"

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