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“Fuck you, Ria,” she muttered, finally walking away.
“Right back at you, love,” Ilaria winked.
Aella smacked her arm sharply. “I know you two have your differences, but that was fucked up. She didn’t deserve that.”
“We don’t deserve to be harassed by a stranger, but here we are. Fuck her, Elle. Brax is good for starting shit, but when she gets it back, suddenly she’s a victim. I hope her stupid ass sits at home crying about it for the rest of the night.”
Aella bit back her response, knowing it would do no good. Ilaria and Braxton both harbored ill feelings about Braxton’s existence but refused to take it up with the man who created the situation. Instead, they took most of their lives taking shots at and insulting one another.
“Ria, none of this is ideal, but you could at least have empathy for her.”
“For what? Because her mother was a side chick who never bothered to tell Daddy he’d fathered her child?”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with Braxton. She didn’t ask to be here, and she missed out on a lot of things we got to experience.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you’re the outside child.”
“You—”
“Why the fuck are you defending her?” Ilaria snapped. “Do you remember what it was like around the house when Ma and Daddy first found out about her?”
“Of course,” Aella replied gently. “I also remember how empty the house felt when Mama left for a little while. But that’s Daddy’s fault. He’s the one who created the situation, not Brax. She’s a victim too.”
“Hmm,” Ilaria tapped her chin. “That’s funny. Every time we cross paths, it seems she’s less of a victim and more of a bitch begging to get punched in the mouth that she never closes.”
Biting back her response, Aella sat back. Continuing to argue the point would do no good when Ilaria had made up her mind. Not only was she stubborn, but she was just as bitter as Braxton. She laughed, thinking about how alike the two were. If they could bury the hatchet and get past the bullshit, they’d probably be the best of friends.
“I don’t think I’m feeling lunch after this,” Ilaria announced after being silent for so long that they were at the counter to pay for their services. “Seeing Brax put me in a bad mood, and I wouldn’t be good company.”
“Oh, I know you well enough to know that was coming. I’m surprised it took you this long to say something.”
Dropping her head onto Aella’s shoulder, Ilaria delivered a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry for being such a bitch.”
Aella kissed the top of her head. “You’re forgiven on my end. But I’m honestly not the one you should be apologizing to, Ria.”
“Well, if you mean that girl we allegedly share DNA with, it’ll be a cold day in hell before she ever gets it.”
Chuckling, Aella returned her card to her wallet and signed the receipt before leaving a tip for each tech. “Girl, you are something else.”
“That I am, but you love me, though,” Ilaria grinned as they exited the shop.
“That I do.”
Adjusting the collar of his button-up shirt, Cassius carefully surveyed each person who walked through the door as bosses, underbosses, and advisors representing pieces of the empire that helped found Whiskey Creek stepped into the room. He’d be a fool to think he could immediately place those at the source of the deception in the Family ranks, but he could surely gather an idea of where to start weeding out the problem areas.
As promised, he’d called a meeting at Sinsation, the same place where nearly every major decision in Whiskey Creek had been made since the town’s earliest days. At the center of the room stood a pentagon-shaped table carved from rich walnut, each side reserved for one of the five families. Two chairs sat at every segment, the seats of the boss and underboss, while the advisors stood behind them in silent formation, permitted to speak only when addressed or granted explicit permission.
Although it wasn’t customary since he hadn’t completed the rite of passage to be welcomed into the fold officially, Cassius sat on his father’s left with Mars parked behind them. The room fell silent as the last person trailed in, and only with his father’s signal did Cassius stand, adjust his tie, and begin the meeting.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” he paused to adjust his tie and deliver a grin to Isabella Martinelli. “And the Queen.”
She rolled her eyes, but he didn’t miss how the corners of her burgundy-painted mouth twitched as though she wanted to grin. “You’re shameless.”
Isabella was as beautiful as she was dangerous, and from the time he’d been old enough to learn that, Cassius always regarded her with the respect she demanded and deserved.
He chuckled deeply before growing serious and continuing. “I’m aware that it’s been a while since some of you have seen my face, and from the surprised looks on some of yours, you had no idea that I’d be attending tonight’s meeting,” he began. “To clear up any confusion, while my father is the one who officially called for this gathering, it was at my request. Would anyone like to share the details of what’s been happening in my absence?”
The question was a test he was sure at least one person would fail. And sure enough, one of the Cavataio Family’s advisors stepped forward. Antonio nodded, giving the all-clear that it was okay for him to address Cassius’ question.
