Page 44 of Righteous Deceit

Smiles.

My own mother just smiled at the thought of my death.

“They will do no such thing,” my brother says quietly, his voice morphing into one of menace and violence. “BecauseIkilled him.”

My mother frowns.

“I killed that worthless piece of shit.” He kicks the toe of his boot against Edoardo’s leg. “I saw him attacking Alessia, and I stepped in.”

“She’s covered in blood.”

“I also didn’t like the way he ruled.” He ignores her. “He was old and obsolete. He was ruining everything our family has built. His death means that I’m next in line.”

“You’re seventeen.”

Salvatore shrugs.

“They’ll kill you both.”

“Then so be it,” he answers.

“You won’t get away with this.” She points a finger in my face. “I’ll make certain of it.”

“Mama,” I start, but Salvatore lifts a hand to silence me.

Our mother turns on her heel and rushes from the room.

“Salvatore,” I murmur. “Why did you do that? This ismysin.”

“We’re a pair.”

My vision blurs, and I don’t attempt to wipe the tears from my eyes.

Dropping to a crouch beside our father, my brother grabs his jaw, turning his head one way and then the other, his brow creased in thought.

“What?”

Moving to straddle the body, he wastes no time in lifting a fist and slamming it into our father’s face.

“What are you doing?”

“Making it more believable,” he says evenly, punching him again.

He stares at our father for a moment longer before reaching down to his ankle. Lifting his trousers, he removes the combat knife he keeps strapped to his body.

“Salvatore,” I whisper.

Holding the knife tightly in his grasp, he slides it into the corner of Edoardo’s mouth, resting it for a split second before using his might to slice upward.

I gasp.

He repeats the action on the other side.

Throwing the weapon to the carpet, he grins. “Now, who’s smiling, fuckface?”

He rises, rolling his shoulders and standing in front of me.

My eyes remain on the body on the floor, shock lacerating through me at the hideous smile carved into his lax face.

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