Page 57 of Righteous Deceit

An observant Salvatore is thelastthing I need right now.

“Everything okay?” I bring his attention back to me.

Heaviness has settled on his shoulders, and he rolls them to release the coil of tension. He’s frowning, which isn’t unusual for my twin brother, but worry creases in prominent lines around his eyes.

“I have a matter I would like your advice on.” He shifts his chair backward, giving himself room to cross one leg over the other. He picks at the invisible lint on his dark pants.

I put my fork down. “Of course.”

Dragging his bottom lip into his mouth, he’s quiet for a moment. “I have a ranking member keeping secrets.”

That piques my interest, and my concerns about Salvatore looking too closely at my new furniture abate immediately. “What kind of secrets?”

“They’re flaunting their affairs across the country.”

Confusion settles on my face, and I’m quiet as I consider what he’s said and how I should respond. “We don’t tend to concern ourselves with extracurricular affairs of family members.”

He dips his chin in silent agreement but says nothing further.

Salvatore doesn’t talk in riddles. He speaks with full transparency and is known for his directness. He demands the same within his outfit. Yet he’s skirting around the issue he has brought to me, and it tells me everything I need to know. He’s uncertain, and my brother is never anything but absolute.

The ranking member causing disharmony is someone he trusts, and he trustsveryfew people in this world. For obvious reasons.

“Narciso?” I test. “Because if he’s fucking around on Elizabeth, I will personally castrate him.”

He shakes his head. “Not Narciso.”

“Salvatore.” I sigh. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I came here to ask you the same fucking thing.” He’s shifted from contemplative to furious in a blink of an eye. The leg crossed over his knee has moved, both feet planted on the floor, his elbows braced on my dining table, his face looming as close as he can manage with the inanimate object between us.

My brows kiss with surprise, and I rear my head back. “Me?”

His jaw ticks in anger. “Tell me why I’m dealing with disharmonywithinmy ranks because of the fuck buddies you choose to keep.”

“Watch your tone when you speak to me,” I grit through my teeth.

His eyes darken with rage.

My chest heaves with fury.

“How dare you come into my home and accuse me of something so preposterous? How dare you come into my home and speak to me with such blatant disrespect,” I yell.

“How dareI?” he bellows. “How dare I come here with questions? How dareyouundermine what we’re building for a quick fuck?”

Anger might have claimed me, but hurt pulsates through my chest. My brother hasneverspoken to me with such animosity. He’s never looked me in the eye with censure and disgust.

“I have photos, Alessia,” he grits, fighting to regain control of his ire. “Black and white fucking stills delivered to my office of you with not only CJ Lincoln butDiego fucking Grecoas well!” he roars.

Fuck.

I stand, unsure what else to do. A single heartbeat and sweat clings to my skin. My stomach churns, my lunch begging to come back up. I swallow, ignoring the way I’m shaking.

Fuck.

I pick up my bowl and reach for Salvatore’s plate.

He grabs my wrist.

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