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“I want everyone at this table stripped,” I tell him. Antonio nods again and then talks into his earpiece, likely calling in reinforcements to help ensure no one in this room is armed. I push to my feet and tap on the side of my whiskey glass, getting everyone’s attention. “Antonio here is going to put a basket in the middle of the table. I want every weapon you have on your person in that basket,” I instruct, and everyone groans and grumbles in response. “If you can’t do that, then you can leave.”
“Why?” Mabilia asks.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Because I said so.”
“We’ve never done this before,” Aurora chimes in.
What is it with these teenage girls arguing with me? Fucking hell, is this really what my life has come to right now?
Antonio clears his throat and places a basket in the center of the table. “Your items will be promptly returned as soon as lunch has concluded.”
“It’s not like we’re going to shoot each other, Nonno,” Dante huffs.
“Which is why nobody should care. Now strip yourself or I’ll have someone do it for you.”
Theo is the first one to stand up. He removes two pistols from his chest and sets them on the table. He then reaches down and pulls a knife from his ankle and another pistol from his back, before placing them all in the basket and reclaiming his seat.
“Are we in a war I didn’t know about?” Matteo asks his brother, then quickly follows suit as he removes one pistol from the left side of his chest and a knife from the right side.
“A meal with your offspring is worse than war,” Theo replies.
“How’s the steak, Zio Theo?” Aurora asks him.
“If you messed with my food, Aurora, I’m gonna assign Dante and Orlando to guard duty when you go back to school,” Theo threatens her. There is nothing Aurora hates more than being watched all the time. She’s somehow managed to lose every single guy we’ve put on her tail at least twice.
“What did I do to deserve that kind of punishment?” Orlando asks Theo.
“I second that,” Dante adds.
Alessandro rises from his seat. “Can we just get this over with so I can eat my damn food already?” he growls out.
“Yes,” I tell him.
“T, why are we doing this?” Holly whispers from beside me.
“Because I’m trying to save your grandson’s life,” I whisper back. She looks right at Lorenzo, then nods her head in agreement.
ChapterThirty-Four
Everyone is here. My family, Kyla’s family… This is the perfect time to break the news that we’re together. That we are getting married.
I’m glad my grandfather is making everyone relinquish their weapons. It means I’ll have somewhat of a chance of surviving the announcement.
My Zio Romeo stands up next. He pulls out two Glocks, two knives, and a set of knuckle dusters from his pocket. I raise an eyebrow at that one, seeing as it’s not something I would have pictured him having.
Then my Zia Livvy pushes to her feet. She removes a small knife from her thigh, which shocks me more than the brass knuckles. When Zia Livvy sits down, Liliana stands up and deposits a pocketknife into the basket. It continues like this around the table as each of my family members strips themselves of various small weapons. The only ones who appear to be unarmed are the McKinleys. Kyla’s friend is sitting next to her with a very pale face. I don’t think this is the kind of lunch she had envisioned attending.
I lean into Kyla’s ear. “Is Cassie okay?”
Kyla turns to the girl. “Don’t worry, Cassie. They’re all harmless, really,” she says.
The last person to stand is Aurora. I inwardly cringe at just the thought of what the hell my sister is going to be putting into that basket. “Whatever you do, do not react. She thrives on the fear of others,” I tell Kyla, half joking, half not.
Aurora places her right foot up on the chair, digs into her boot, pulls out a pocketknife, and sets it on the table in front of her. She then sticks her hand back into her boot and removes what looks like a pen.
“Is that a tactical pen?” Dante asks her.
“Yep.”
