Page 3 of Titan

“A Villetti has to be in charge, Gil.”

“You’re a Villetti too.”

He shook his head at me stating the obvious.

“As loath as I am to admit this, you’re far more qualified to run the mafia than I am. The men know you. They will follow you far more willingly than me.”

“Only because you didn’t want to learn or be a part of it.”

He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. Because Zayn and I were close and family, I allowed it. If someone I didn’t know put their hands on me, I would have them on the ground with my boot to their back faster than they could say hello.

“I’m sorry I placed that burden on you. Now you know why. I’m sure you understand my reasons.”

I knew all right. Our father had put our mother in a coma and kept her there for nigh on ten years. Her funeral had only been last week. It was something I didn’t like thinking about because it made me feel. I didn’t like to feel. It made life harder for me.

I stepped back from him and crossed my arms over my chest.

“The head of the family has always run things, Zayn. What you’re suggesting goes against everything we’ve ever known, though I’m hardly surprised you don’t want to follow tradition.”

“Just because it goes against tradition, doesn’t mean it won’t work.”

Zayn wanted me to be head of the mafia while he remained head of our family and the man who ran London behind the scenes. I understood why. He didn’t have time to do everything. I was pretty sure Ari would have his head for it as well. He might be in charge, but his woman was a force to be reckoned with. Even I couldn’t deny she was good for my brother.

“You’ll have free rein. I won’t interfere unless you need me to.”

“It doesn’t mean I won’t still answer to you like everyone else in this city.Papáwas the only one who didn’t bow to you. Now he’s gone, and this looks like you’re placing me at the head of the table as your puppet.”

Zayn looked away, his brow furrowing slightly.

“It wouldn’t work like that, Gil. We’re family. I trust you, and I know you trust me. Make them eat their words if you have to. Show them you’re no puppet whose strings are held by your own brother. You’re more than capable of it.”

I didn’t realise my brother had that much faith in me. Our father certainly hadn’t. He might have treated me like his heir in place of Zayn, but it didn’t mean he appreciated the way I was. Probably why I’d kept my true self hidden under a mask of indifference for so long. It was the only way to survive Gennaro Villetti.

“You want me to deliberately go against your wishes to prove a point?”

“No. I want you to do whatever it takes to make sure our family remains on top. It’s the only way to keep us all safe.”

It hardly came as a surprise to me, him wanting to protect us all. What I wasn’t expecting was for him to ask me for help in achieving his goal. Zayn rarely asked anyone for assistance, except for Arlo. He dealt with everything himself. Perhaps having Ari in his life had mellowed him out somewhat. He certainly appeared to be more flexible in his approach to things.

“Okay.”

Zayn looked at me again.

“Okay? Does that mean yes?”

What other choice did I have in the matter? Zayn needed me to do this for him. I’d been groomed to take over from our father in case Zayn didn’t come back into the fold. It wasn’t as if I didn’t know how to be the mafia boss. I’d never decided whether I really wanted the role or not. I honestly didn’t know what I wanted from life. Having a father like Gennaro Villetti meant you didn’t get to make decisions about your life. The path was already laid out for you to follow. I wasn’t sure who I was now my father was gone, nor who I wanted to be, but I could do this.

“Yes.”

Zayn looked almost relieved by my answer.

“Good. I’ll leave you to deal with the men. They’re getting restless.”

The older members wouldn’t take kindly to this situation, but I would have to make sure they knew who they answered to.

“And we’ll go see Dino and Gian together.”

I flinched at the mention of our cousins. They were our great uncle Nevio’s children. He had two sons and two daughters, all married with children of their own. Dino was head of their side of the Villetti family. He and Gian were the other two Villetti mafia bosses, though my father had always been top dog. I wondered if that would be me now. They may well resent a twenty-eight-year-old who wasn’t even head of my side of the family being more powerful than they were.

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