“Maybe so. This goddamn war is costing us a fortune.”
“I always heard our thing is recession-proof.” He chuckles, tiredly. After I admitted Dante’s role in Sofia’s escape to him, I’m grateful we’re still on speaking terms.
The call ends on a less tense note as Dante walks in the room. “Thank fuck, you didn’t open your mouth just now. If Carlo heard your voice…”
“Fuck him,” my brother says, irritably. “I should go to New York, chop off his cheating dick and slit his lying throat for dishonoring the princess.”
“Princess?”
“I met with a former member of that pissant MC today like you asked," he says, ignoring my question.
“And?”
“They worked as hired guns and mules, taking jobs her father wasn't willing to risk his regular crew on, but one of them got cozy with Cosima years ago."
"Cozy?"
"Cosima and Antonio had a different sort of trio. According to this biker, Cosima enjoyed being with larger, rougher men when it came to sex. Her favorite loved bragging about his bedroom escapades with a thirsty cougar of a mob wife… while her husband watched.”
People can be into all sorts of things, but murderous rage fills me at the very thought of another man touching my wife. “The men who attacked the limo had tattoos we didn’t recognize, but a small motorcycle chapter from a different city…”
“Yeah. Want me to take some men and destroy them?”
“If they plotted the attack on my family with Cosima, I’ll personally burn them and their clubhouse to the ground.”
"I get to help."
"Of course, you get to help."
My brother smiles, darkly, eager for blood as always. “I’m glad being Capo hasn’t eliminated your bloodlust, Nico. Does this mean you’ll bring Matilde and the kids home now? You’re a grumpy bastard without your pretty wife around. Some think you’ve done her in.”
“What?!”
“The Capo’s wife has disappeared. It fuels speculation.”
“Well, they can believe whatever they want. She’s staying where she is, and I don’t want anyone who doesn’t need to know to know where that is.”
“For how long?”
“Until I’m certain they’re safe.”
“You want guarantees? Newsflash, Nico – Life is full of uncertainties, especiallyourlives. Didn’t Margareta’s death at a goddamn wedding reception make that clear to you? If it’s not the Bratva or civil war or some fuckers in balaclavas, it could be a car accident, falling down a well, drowning in a swimming pool, catching a horrible virus or-”
“Sometimes, I fucking hate you, Dante,” I growl, triggered by the images he slings at me so callously.
“Sometimes, the feeling is mutual. I shouldn't have… I don't want anything horrible happening to them either. I'd die for the rugrats and your wife, but you have something I'll never have – a loving family. Stop letting guilt and fear of losing them fuck with you or you'll blow it.”
There’s a lost look in his eyes that snuffs out my remaining anger. “You have family that loves you, too, Dante.Camminerò fino all’inferno per te.”
Our eyes meet, our bond unbroken by rash choices or harsh words. “I will walk to hell for you, too, Nico. I’ve been thinking about who your Consigliere should be.”
“Who better to advise me than my brother?”
He shakes his head. “You don’t want me in that role. I was going to suggest Eros. He’s our uncle’s second son, so he won’t succeed his father as Underboss in Detroit, but he’s too clever not to make better use of than a foot soldier."
Pondering the suggestion, I nod. “Yes, Eros could be a good Consigliere with some seasoning. He’d be a better choice than Ritchie Barzetti ever was for our father for sure. I was thinking of another young man who might be put to better use for the Trio, too.”
Dante raises his eyebrows, and I share my thoughts regarding Primo with him.
