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He runs his hand down his wrinkled slacks. “Come on, where?”
“We need to tell our father what you did.”
I instruct Vinny to follow me to the casino. Unsurprisingly, he bails. When we hit a main street, the coward speeds off, runs a red light, and makes a U-turn to drive in the opposite direction.
Unlike him, I won’t sit around and wait for Cristian’s retaliation.
I’ll bail him outagain.
“This stays between us,” my father says, indicating the space between us with his finger after I tell him. “If your uncle or others find out about this, they’ll further push the narrative that your brother is unfit to lead.”
I stand, facing him at his desk, and tighten my jaw before gritting out, “Have you considered that maybe he is unfit to lead?”
His back straightens in his chair. He pretends to be more offended than he truly is. “He’s my firstborn son.”
“Firstborn doesn’t mean fit to lead.”
I’m so tired of thefirstbornbullshit.
They should choose bosses based on merit, skill, and responsibility.
Not bloodline.
“Do you want to lead this family, Antonio?”
“No.” I crack my knuckles. “But I also don’t want to pay the price for his recklessness. Vinny’s actions carry consequences not just for himself. They affect every person in our family, your men’s families, and the Lombardi legacy.”
My father busted his ass to restore our family’s name, and Vinny will sabotage all his hard work.
He sweeps a hand over his wrinkled face. “My goal since I took over after my father was for this family to remain safe, respected, and not to lose nearly everything again. You’re all my responsibility until the day I die.”
“It’s also your responsibility to leave the family in capable hands when you’re gone.”
“Find your brother,” he says. “I need time to think alone.”
I turn and storm out of his office. If my father doesn’t start cutting Vinny out, there’s a chance I’m close to being done with the family. There’s too much at stake for me to lose.
My daughter. Clara. All the people I protect daily.
If Vinny takes over, I’ll always choose them over a criminal enterprise destined for ruin.
Hell, destined for ruin now after what he just did.
I hold back my anger to punch every wall while leaving the casino. As I drive away, I keep a watchful eye on my rearview mirror. That’ll become a new habit. I’ll also put extra security on Amara, and unfortunately for her, leaving the house will be limited.
Before returning home, I stop at a park to call Gigi. Her voice never fails to release the tension in my body. I’m also desperate for any information on the Vinny situation. I doubt Cristian has provided her with any details about Vinny’s fuckup, but Natalia might have confided in her.
If Vinny is smart, he’ll shoot Natalia in the head to silence her from telling Cristian anything.
Cristian doesn’t provide security for anyone he doesn’t care for or find as an asset. He also doesn’t give two fucks that Natalia is Gigi’s friend. All he cares about is that she has information on Vinny.
“Hey,” Gigi answers with obvious wariness in her voice.
“Hey.”
She doesn’t waste a second before saying, “You need to control your crazy-ass brother.”
“What do you mean?” It’s a fucking insult to her to play stupid.
