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So the things Icancontrol are mine, held tightly in my grip, and I’ll fight to the death before I let them go.
I take the cannoli from Mario and take a big bite. “God, you Rossis make the best damn cannoli.” Crispy outer shell, creamy, mildly sweet filling. “Listen, this place isn’t just for my own kinky pursuits.”
Flo comes around and winds her arm around my neck.
“Tell us, baby. What’s it for, then?”
Pride swells my chest.
There’s a reason I chose Boston. I love my home. “Because Boston’s the home of rebels,” I say with conviction. “Because we started a fuckingnation.We pioneered the end of slavery. We kicked Puritan ass yet here we are in 2023 , and we haveno kink clubs.Why? It’s about time people have a place where they can explore their fantasies.”
“Jesus. Are you really trying to make this out to be some kind ofmoralthing?” Timeo says, his eyes wide as he shakes his head. “Only Sergio could make opening a brand-new kink club sound like an act of defiance and altruism.”
He dodges my fist with a laugh and ducks behind the bar where I can’t reach him.For now.
“Didn’t even fuckin’ know he knew whataltruismwas,” Romeo says.
“He doesn’t,” I mutter, as the rest wander off to explore the club and I’m left with Romeo. “Probably today’s Wordle.”
I’m scrolling through emails on my phone when I finally realize Romeo’s gone quiet. I give him a curious look. I get the distinct feeling he has something to say and isn’t sure how to bring it up.
“Spill, Rome. You got something you need to talk to me about?”
“How do you do that?” He shakes his head. “You can read people like Marialena reads palms.”
I shrug. “It’s not as hard as it seems. Let’s hear it.”
Romeo holds my gaze for a minute before he cuts directly to the chase. “You need a wife.”
“Wow. Maybe you should start with something a little heavier.”
“I’m serious, Sergio.”
I blow out a breath. “I know.”
The slight upturn of his brows is the only indication he’s surprised by my reaction.
“You’re not gonna give me shit for bringing it up again?”
I shake my head. “No. We’ve got enemies rising, and that means we need to strengthen our syndicate. We both know that. We’ve bothknownthat. And it’s been long enough since my family joined yours and I took over as the Montavio family Don.”
My older brother Ricco, in the aftermath of our brother Niccolo’s death, only held the position of Don for a short time before his wife was diagnosed with stage three cancer.
We may be ruthless, we may break the law, we may have our own code of ethics which defies people’s conventional understanding of right and wrong, but the Montavios have one guiding principle that trumps all else: Family first.
I knew Ricco couldn’t dedicated himself totally to his wife and totally to the rest of us at the same time without diluting his attention. I knew it was up to me to step up.
I’ve been head of the family ever since.
The Rossis were the most powerful family in New England when my sister Vivia married Dario, a non-blood relative and recruit of the Rossis. Forging an alliance between our two families makes us the most powerful mob in America… and also makes us prime targets.
But there’s one catch. Our grandfathers agreed, back when they’d come to a mutual decision in Tuscany, that the only way men of our caliber could ascend in rank was to marry and have children. For better or for worse, our families are steeped in tradition. We’ve modified the rules—it doesn’t matter who you marry, it’s the growth of the family that is paramount. My grandfather likened family and children to stronger roots in the family tree.
“So you’re not opposed?” Romeo asks quietly.
“No.” I take another sip of my drink. “Of course not. I knew the time would come. But I’m not doing anything fancy. I’m not dating or romancing anyone. And with all due respect, the whole devotion thing you guys do is not my thing.” My cousins have chosen to go the traditional route—with love and engagement rings and undying devotion.
I don’t have time for that bullshit.
