Page 35 of His Broken Queen

“We’re a match.” He placed the results back in the envelope, and shoved them in his pocket.

“It’s really not a shock, right?” Gio looked at me. “It’s what we suspected.”

“Seeing it in black and white makes it real, you know?” Rocco took a breath. “When I told my mother I was getting the test, she left to visit some cousins in France. No one has any idea when she’s coming back.”

Fucking bitch.

“I guess she already knew what these results would be,” Rocco said.

“I don’t know what to say.” Gio approached him. “I mean, should I shake your hand, hug you?”

“Not sure.”

“Welcome to the family, man.” Gio patted his back.

“Thanks.” Rocco shrugged. “This is a lot to process.”

“You’re awfully quiet.” Gio motioned toward me. “This is big news.”

What does he want me to say?

“It’s a lot for all of us,” Rocco said. “I’ll leave you two alone so you can discuss it.”

“You don’t have anything to say to him?” Gio asked. “This isn’t his fault.”

“Oh, I have plenty to say, but I’m not sure ourbrotherwants to hear it.” I stood from the desk, and came around to where Gio and Rocco were. I was still the head of this family, and I would speak my mind.

“Ignore him.” Gio went to the shelves in the corner of the room and took out the decanter filled with the expensive vodka. “He’s in a bad mood because he got shot and he has to wear that sling.”

“We still don’t know who did that.” I looked at Rocco. “Any ideas?”

“If you’re asking if I had anything to do with it, I didn’t.”

“Maybe not you, but what about the rest of your family?” There had been chaos among the leading families for weeks, so the feud between us and the Torrios had been shelved, but I hadn’t forgotten what they had done. “That piece of paper doesn’t mean I’m going to automatically trust you.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Rocco took a glass from Gio. “I don’t trust you either.”

“There’s bad blood between our families. I can’t easily forget that bullshit alliance, even if I did benefit from it.”

Gio set my glass of vodka on the desk.

“Which brings me to my next point,” I said. “You’ve treated my wife like she didn’t matter her whole life.”

“I’ve always cared for Lu,” Rocco defended.

“You were young when she came to live with you, and you were influenced by the way your parents treated her, but you did know that Vincent planned to drug her and take her away from me. Am I supposed to forget that?”

“I didn’t know he was going to drug her,” he said. “But I agree, we didn’t treat her right. I didn’t want her to marry you, but now I know that was the best thing for her. That shit alliance was a stupid plan, but it led Lu to you, so I won’t regret my part in it.”

“I don’t trust easily, but I can’t deny that Bilotti blood runs through your veins. I don’t know what you’re going to do with that, but you have been there for us these last few days. You took care of Morgan, and you helped with the police search the other night.”

“I did what I could.” He took a sip of his drink. “My father…” He cleared his throat. “Antonio told me Agent Morgan is being transferred. His replacement is going to be more appropriate when it comes to our business. The Senator confirmed that yesterday.”

“I hope so.” I raised my glass. “This is going to be an adjustment for all of us.”

Gio and Rocco raised their glasses.

“I want to get to know the two of you,” Rocco said. “I want to know where I come from, but I can’t forget who I’ve been all these years. I can’t walk away from my family.”

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