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"Wha –" David stuttered, finally looking up. But Nicholas continued, unfazed by the interruption.
"I'm sorry for your loss. He was a strong man and we'll all mourn his passing."
"Dead?" David's voice cracked, and I could see the storm of emotions brewing behind his eyes. Grief, rage, disbelief – they all swirled together in a tempest threatening to break free. A part of me wished I could reach out and comfort him, but I knew that once the storm began, there would be no calming it. And there was no telling what kind of destruction it would leave in its wake.
"I didn't think it would happen so soon," I said.
Nicholas walked to me and took me in his arms. "He died peacefully, in his sleep, just as you asked for."
"Peacefully in his sleep, you say?" David sneered, downing the last of his whiskey in one gulp. "I suppose that's something."
My heart ached as I watched my brother struggle with the news. The thought of losing our father so suddenly and unexpectedly was almost too much to bear, even for someone as strong-willed and stubborn as David. But despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a small, treacherous flicker of relief at the knowledge that my father had passed without suffering.
"Nicholas, did you...?" David's words trailed off, but the insinuation was clear.
"David," I interjected, my voice firm. "You know this was what we agreed on. We couldn't expect real justice from the authorities."
"Agreed upon?" David slurred, his eyes narrowing as they filled with a venomous glare. "So, you admit to killing my father? Our father?"
"David," Nicholas said, his voice cold and unwavering. "We made a difficult choice together, for the sake of our family's future."
"Difficult choice?" David repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His fists clenched at his sides, and I knew from experience that he was barely holding back his rage.
"Please David, calm down. This isn't the time or place," I pleaded, trying to maintain my composure despite the turmoil raging within me.
But David ignored me. In one swift movement, he lunged at Nicholas, his fist aimed directly at his face. My heart caught in my throat as I watched the two men, but I knew better than to intervene. Instead, I stepped back, giving them space to work through their anger.
With surprising agility, Nicholas dodged the blow and pushed David back down onto the couch. For a moment, I saw something flash across my husband's eyes - perhaps regret or disappointment - but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Enough, David," Nicholas warned, his voice low and menacing. "Let's not turn this into something we'll both regret."
"Regret?" David spat, glaring at both of us with unbridled fury. "The only thing I regret is ever trusting you, Nicholas. You've made an enemy tonight. Remember that."
"David, please," I implored, my voice shaking with emotion. "Don't do this. Not over something we all agreed was necessary for our family."
But my words fell on deaf ears. David's expression remained hard and unyielding, his eyes never leaving Nicholas' face. The tension in the room was palpable, a living thing that threatened to suffocate us all.
The air in the room crackled with tension, a palpable force that threatened to suffocate me. Nicholas, jaw clenched and eyes blazing, regarded David with a mix of frustration and concern. "Go upstairs, David," he commanded, his voice firm but measured. "Sleep it off. We'll talk about this after Christmas dinner tomorrow."
"Like hell I will!" David spat, his face flushed with anger. "I won't be spoken to like I'm a child, especially not by you!"
"Then stop behaving like one," Nicholas retorted, his tone unyielding.
I could feel the storm brewing between them, the mounting fury ready to explode into violence. Desperate to prevent a physical confrontation, I stepped between the two men, my body trembling with fear and determination. The love I held for both of them fueled my courage, even as I knew how dangerous it was to stand between these powerful, volatile forces.
"Enough!" I shouted, my voice quivering but strong. "Both of you, please. This isn't helping anyone."
The fire in their eyes dimmed slightly, their expressions shifting from rage to surprise at my sudden intervention. Neither man would willingly put me in danger, their love and loyalty toward me outweighing their own animosity.
"Fine," David muttered, his gaze locked on mine as he fought to control his temper. "I'll go pack my things. I'm moving into the Ricci house now that I'm the new don."
The air hung heavy with tension as David's words echoed in the room. I exchanged glances with Nicholas, my eyes wide with concern. I knew my brother could be impulsive, but the thought of him hurting himself in his current state haunted me.
"David," Nicholas spoke up, his voice cold steel in the quiet room. "You are not the new don of the Ricci family. I am adding the Ricci businesses to the Romano empire."
A vein throbbed in David's temple as he stared down Nicholas, his anger barely contained. But before he could react, the Paulie stepped into the doorway, his presence a sudden relief to me. Ever since David had come back from rehab, Paulie was the one man who knew how to calm him down.
"David," Paulie said, stepping inside. "Why don't you and I go for a walk? Clear our heads a bit, huh?"
