My brows knitted. “Well, you didn’t exactly give me a good list. But Saudi Arabia is out if you’re planning on wearing this bathing suit.” I folded it and put it away.“Have you met him?” she asked, walking past me with a zebra-printed robe.I knew she meant her future husband.I hesitated. “Yes. He’s, uh . . . real nice.”“Where am I going to fit all my props?” She threw her hands on her hips and stared into her small suitcase like she’d just realized it wasn’t a Mary Poppins bag.“I think they’re going to have to stay here.”Her face scrunched up like she was about to cry. “But I love my costumes.” Tears were running now. “And what about Mr. Rabbit?” She grabbed the giant rabbit’s head off the bed and held it next to her own.“Well . . . I’m not sure about North Korea’s shipping policies, but I’m betting Mr. Rabbit won’t pass.”She threw herself on the bed and whined, “What about Cuba?” “It’s probably a better possibility.”She nodded like that was good. “I have an Alice in Wonderla
Condensation dripped down crystal glasses, and silverware glinted in the bright sunlight. It was a hot July afternoon, but the steady breeze was the perfect interlude.Lights wound around the wooden slats of the patio cover, and my mamma’s rose bushes were flourishing. The chairs were soft and the food was good, but it could only be so comfortable having lunch with a bunch of strangers. However, the seventies ad sitting across from me didn’t seem to share the same opinion.“Anyway, the cop let me go and he didn’t even take my coke—” “Gianna.” The word was a low warning from Nicolas’s spot at thetable.She rolled her eyes and took a deep drink of wine, but she spoke no more.I wondered why Nicolas had chastised her and what their relationship was. Siblings? They did appear to find each other annoying, but I was sure I’d heard somewhere that Nicolas was an only child. Gianna’s senior citizen of a husband sitting next to her hadn’t said a word, except for some oddly-timed chuckling. I w
Conversation quieted, and Gianna pushed her broccoli around on her plate like she was seven and did not like vegetables. Her husband chuckled at absolutely nothing. She rolled her eyes and took a large gulp of wine. Lunch continued with meaningless chatter, good food and drink, but the tension never dissipated. It sat there, uninterrupted. Like an echo before the words were even spoken. My brother leaned back in his chair, a ring sounding as he ran his finger around his wine glass. Adriana ate as though a large man she did not know and was marrying in three weeks was not sitting next to her. Papà mentioned that he had bought an old shooting range, and conversation on that drifted down the table like a domino effect. They had just served tiramisu for dessert, and I was ready for this lunch to end. But unfortunately, that uncomfortable tension was about to twist its way out of the inevitable. It began with an innocent suggestion between the men to visit the range. And then I watched
The gunshot echoed in the air, and the tension was louder than silverware against porcelain plates. The Abellis cast me cautious glances, while my family kept their eyes downcast on their desserts, stiffer than the chairs they sat on.Leaning back, I rested a forearm on the table and focused my gaze on the cigarette I rolled between my fingers. The anger was strong enough I had to choke it down. It burned in my throat, in my chest, and marred my vision with a red mist.My eyes skimmed up an inch to find Luca, my underboss and only reliable cousin, wiping a hand across his mouth in a poor attempt to hide his amusement. My gaze darkened, conveying I might just go for shooting two cousins today. He sat back in his chair, his humor fading.He’d just won a bet that we couldn’t get away without any altercations today. And won double because anything involving the Sweet Abelli had been a bonus. My family gambled on everything— everything. Any possible chance to gain a buck, they exploited it
I wasn’t usually a sadist, but Jesus, it was kind of hot. A reluctant rush of heat ran to my groin.Talking about sadists, my gaze found my cousin Lorenzo a couple seats down. He was staring at the girl like it was his job. And not any job I’d given him—because he was good at turning those to shit—but like a vocation or something. You’d never know looking atthe man nor talking to him, but the bastard had an inclination for S&M. Knowing that and watching him stare at Mira Abelli, a sliver of irritation ran through me.She probably liked it sweet and vanilla.Probably preferred the man to get on his knees and beg a bit.Lorenzo would.I’d rather shut my dick in a car door.She’d glared at me at church today, and I’d wondered what the Sweet Abelli could have against me. I’d known the nickname before I even met the girl. It was an innocent pet name that became well-known—well, among men—because not only was she sweet, she had the sweetest body around.I’d heard more about this girl’s ass
“Right or left?”Tony’s jaw ticked but he didn’t say a word, just sat in the chair across from his papà’s desk like he was at a board meeting. Blood dripped from his lip onto his white dress shirt, though he still wore a darkly entertained expression.So I hit him. Again.A burn traveled through my cracked knuckles.His teeth clenched, but he took it without a sound. Tony was one of those men who were so high on their own shit they couldn’t feel pain. He’d fucking feel something before I left this room.Rays of sun shone through the blinds into Salvatore’s office, lighting dust particles in the air. All the guests had filed out, and it was safe to say this lunch was a failure. Which only meant more lunches and parties I’d have to attend. None of the families wanted to risk acquainting everyone at such a large event, because shit like today could happen, before escalating into a bloodbath with women and children present.Luca stood in front of the door, his cold eyes focused on the bac
Honestly, it was hard to feel sorry for Tony. He’d cheated on Jenny with that servant, Gabriella, and I wouldn’t doubt others. I didn’t take Nicolas as a man to sleep with other men’s girlfriends for the hell of it, though, and I had a feeling... “What did you do to him?” A not-so-nice smile tugged at Tony’s lips. And there it was. There were always two sides to every story. He took another pull, and with a frown, I watched the blood drip down the side of the island and collect into a small pool. Drinking was only going to make him bleed more. I pushed off the counter and pulled the bottle straight from his lips. Whiskey splashed down his chin and chest. His eyes narrowed, but his next words were slurred. “Jesus, Mira.” He looked wasted, or really close to passing out. I unwound the shirt from his hand and recoiled. “Oh my god! You have to go to the hospital, Tony!” A bullet-shaped hole went straight through his hand, like the barrel had been placed directly in it. I covered my mouth,
His gaze flicked to the TV.“He deserved worse.”This man was going to watch the news with a fistful of my hair? My God. Maybe it was due to my head being at an awkward angle and my blood not circulating as well, but my brain wasn’t getting enough oxygen. And the fact that he smelled so good, like clean soap and man, made the corners of my vision hazy.“You’re not a judge and jury,” I breathed. His gaze came down to me.“He almost got you killed, yet you stick up for him?”“He’s my brother.” His expression hardened.“He’s an idiot.” My mamma’s voice filtered into the room from down the hall, and slowly, he unwound his fist from my hair and took a step back. A moment later, she entered the room.“Nico, I didn’t know you were coming today.” Mamma’s tone was tight.She didn’t like that he’d shot Tony either, but she must have known it was coming and hid in her room all night.“Will you be staying for lunch?”“I’m sure he’s got plenty of stuff to do, Mam.”“That sounds great, Celia.”“Gre