Francesco scoffed unnecessarily loudly. “Trust me, nobody hates his father more than I do. Abusive, fucked up, homophobic asshat?—”
“Okay, can we just talk about what you just saw, Milano?” Adriano interrupted, shoving past Francesco to return to his bedroom and distance himself from me.
That was an evident sign of anxiety—over what I did not know. I had seen Adriano naked plenty of times, and I did not mind; he was not visually displeasing, and we had shared enough women that seeing him involved in a sexual act was not shocking.
I gestured to Francesco as I followed. “You were having sex with Francesco.”
“Why are you saying it like that?” he snapped.
“Like what?”
He turned to face me, still remaining as far from me as he could. “Like it’s…fine.”
My face became uncomfortable as I tried to understand what he was referencing. I did not understand, and Ialwaysunderstood my friend.
“Well,” I began. “He is wearingtwoearrings. That is an unacceptable fashion choice, but one that I shall endeavor to ignore if Francesco is to become a frequent visitor of our home.”
Francesco let out a deep chuckle as he settled back onto the bed and into the pillows, but Adriano did not move. I walked across the room slowly, closing the space between us. It was then that I noticed his hands shaking. I reached over and clasped my fingers around his wrists like he always did for me.
He did everything for me.
“Milan.” Adriano seethed, shaking his head. “You’re my Capo. What you just saw is a punishable offence inyour Famiglia.”
“Sex?” I said, squeezing his hands. “I had sex with my wife before I came here; does that mean I should also be harmed?”
“No!” Adriano growled, his body shuddering. His hands ripped from mine and tore at his hair as he raised his voice and shouted, “She’s yourwife.She’s a woman. I-I loveFrancesco!”
The bed creaked as Francesco shuffled uncomfortably, clearing his throat like he too had anxiety over this statement.
Adriano had taken many lovers in his lifetime, but never had he allowed them into his bed afterward or looked at them the way he had Francesco tonight. He and I were alike in many ways, and that was how I knew that Adriano loved his partner.
He looked at him like I looked at Sicily.
“Congratulations,” I said, the corners of my lips turning upward. “This is most pleasing. We have dinner together as a family each night, Francesco; you will be required to attend.”
“Milan,” Adrian bit out, gritting the words between his teeth.
“Adrian?”
“I’m telling you I’m gay.”
My forehead creased uncomfortably. “I am aware of the term that describes a male’s sexuality. This information is irrelevant to me unless you are now about to inform me that you wish to engage in sexual intercourse withme…Do you?”
Adriano gaped, his eyes widening by the second, but his shoulders slumped as though this was a weight he had carried with him for years. “No. Absolutely not.”
“That is preferable.” I cleared my throat and raised my voice to be obvious. “If I observe that Francesco decreases your indicators of happiness, I will eliminate him.”
Francesco’s smirk turned to a wide smile, but Adriano simply nodded, tears gathering in his eyes.
“I find myself insulted that you did not consider informing me of your preferences as it evidently held importance to you to express this,” I said. “You appear to have believed I would approach this revelation with prejudice.”
“I just… I’m aware of the rules.” He sighed.
“I am Capo dei Capi,” I took and squeezed his fingers. “Imake the rules now, and I will change them. Allow me some time and I will amend things for you.”
It was a crime to be gay in theFamiglia, and many had met their end from being discovered this way. I found it no different from a woman and a man entering a relationship; I did not care any more or less, though I suspected the barrier was the thought of not continuing a legacy and not producing an heir.
Many Dons would not induct non-biological children of their men and would treat them as outcasts.
