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Finally.
Instead, when the door opens, I find myself staring at the man from the other day. My brows wrinkle as I try to remember his name.
Vito?
I’m pretty sure that’s what I’d heard Maximo call him, though the distaste in his voice stuck out more than anything. He doesn’t like this man and from what I could tell, the feeling is mutual.
I climb to my feet, my shoulders tense as I will my hands to stay relaxed at my sides.
I don’t trust this man, but reacting too quickly could be costly.
Vito’s gaze moves over me, from head to toe. He steps closer and without meaning to, I ball my fists up. Vito doesn’t miss the movement, looking at my fists before looking back at me and shaking his head. “This is a bad idea.” he states bluntly.
I swallow.
The look of disgust on Vito’s face feels way too personal for someone who doesn’t actually know me.
“I keep telling everyone, and by everyone, I mean Givoanni. He didn’t listen, so it’ll be my job to fix the mess you leave behind when this proves to be a horrible idea.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, huffing out another breath. I think I hear him mutter something about having his own problems, but he quickly speaks again as he beckons me forward. “Come with me.”
He turns around, his steps quick and short as he moves out of the room, expecting me to follow him. I do so at a cautious pace.
He leads me down the hall and down the stairs. I haven’t had a chance to explore the house, but as we continue to move through the house, I recognize the hallway that leads to the office we met with Giovanni in the other day.
Vito types in a passcode and there’s a click before he pushes the door open.
Again, I expect to see Maximo but he’s absent from his brother’s office. Giovanni sits behind his desk, his hands crossed in front of him. There’s a shot glass sitting on the desk, but it’s empty. His sharp eyes follow me as I sit down in the seat that Vito gestures to.
The air is thick with tension.
Stay relaxed. Stay relaxed.
I repeat the mantra in my head, despite so many factors signaling me to do the opposite.
I don’t like being in a room where someone is standing behind me, especially if there’s already someone else in front of me.
“You can relax,” Giovanni says, observing me. There’s something so cold to his voice and the way that he looks at me, that it makes Maximo seem like sunshine.
I want to tell him that ordering me to relax isn’t going to actually work, but instead I just keep my mouth closed.
His eyes continue to roam over me before he leans back in his chair. His jaw is tight, but I can’t help to observe the fact that he and Maximo look so much alike. Maximo is lankier and taller, his hair longer, and his cheekbones sharper, but their eyes, nose, and lips are almost identical.
“My brother has a lot of bad ideas,” Giovanni tells me matter of factly. “He does a lot of shit that not only gets him in trouble, but me.” He taps his fingers along the arm of his chair as he continues to make eye contact with me. “But I think, for once, he may have a good idea.”
“You see, not too long ago we were with the seven quad gang and we lost a lot of man power because of it.” I’ve heard of the gang before, though I’ve never had any run ins with them.
“And just last week, my bodyguard took a bullet to the head after getting involved in some dumb shit that didn’t pertain to the family.” He moves just an inch, the movement so subtle thatI almost miss it. When his head tips to the side, I know he’s waiting for my reaction.
But if he expects me to be afraid of meeting the same fate, he’s wrong. I’ve looked into the dark hollows of a gun without flinching.
Death doesn’t scare me.
It’s inevitable.
Giovanni nods. “We’ll test you out, see if you’re a good fit. Typically, we don’t allow anyone into the family who isn’t of blood or legacy. But if you’ve heard of us, I’m sure you know the last thing you want to do is betray us.”
I read the threat for exactly what it is.
I nod, finally speaking, “I understand.”
