I disconnected the call and waited. Dante knew I wasn't playing, and within moments, his feet hit the landing. Rusted metal stairs creaked under his weight as he pounded down the steps. Fifty-three seconds after I'd made the demand, a six-foot-two disgruntled Italian stormed toward us. His feet were bare, and as he walked, he buttoned his rumpled shirt.
"D'Angelo. Bones." He nodded to each of us in turn, as little sparks of anger ignited in his eyes. Dante had our father's temper, but not the old man's power. If he didn't learn to rein it in, the kid would be pushing up daisies in no time. As his big brother, it was my job to set him straight and serve him a little piece of humble pie.
Talking on the street was out of the question, even in times of peace between the families. I greeted my brother and ushered him into the front seat of the Hummer before settling myself back behind the wheel.
Bones climbed into the back. "Where's Pietro?" he asked Dante.
Pietro was my brother's full-time security guard, and the son of one of Father's soldiers.
"How am I supposed to know?" Dante asked.
I leveled a glare at him. "Answer the goddamn question."
"I sent him to go get us weed. I wanted a little privacy with my girl and could use a relax. No big deal."
I shook my head, chuckling. Adamo was back in town, father was on edge, and my little brother was without a guard so the two of them could get high. It was the very definition of a big deal. "So, you're alone inthisneighborhood at night? Might wanna call Father and reassure him it's cool. Especially since you're supposed to be working with Renzo tonight."
Dante swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down with the effort. "Renzo's got it handled. He doesn't need me."
"Renzo's family and you're supposed to have his back. He's out there down a man and one of our old enemies is in town. Father and Uncle Carlo send us out in groups for our protection... so we don't end up outgunned and sittin' in a wheelchair or gutted and dumped in a goddamn landfill. What the fuck makes you think you're man enough to set your own schedule and leave our cousin vulnerable?"
"I hear ya. I get it. It was stupid. I won't do it again."
Rehearsed, meaningless words and I didn't buy them for a second. I flicked them aside with a wave. "Tell me about this broad you're with."
"What girl?" Dante asked. His gaze flickered toward the apartment before returning to me.
I chuckled. "My guess? The one you're trying to be alone with."
He sighed. "All right, fine, there's a girl. We're just having fun."
"Having so much fun you paid both her rentandher car payment last month?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"Father says you need to end it. Yesterday."
He paled. "What? Why?"
"Your buddy Rodge has been skimping on what he's been sending up to Father. The old man confronted him about it and Rodge rolled over on you. He says you shacked up with his best girl and now she's not showing up to work. Not only are you slackin', but your broad's slackin', too."
He glanced up at the apartment window. "Mia and I are together now. I don't want her hooking anymore."
If only it were that easy. "Everything comes with a price, bro, you know that." I leaned closer to him, lowering my voice. "You and me, we're privileged. We drive fast cars, we wear designer clothes, chicks throw themselves at us, we get whatever we want. But it all comes with a price. We have to play the game by his rules. Father says end it, and you damn well better end it."
"Yeah? Well, I'm sick of playing by his rules."
Bones cracked his neck and leaned forward, putting a hand on my brother's shoulder.
Dante rolled his eyes. "You can quit flexing, Bones. You wouldn't hurt me. Neither of you would."
Curious, I cocked my head. "Why don't you think I'd hurt you?" I asked.
"We're family. Father would never allow it."
Bones and I both got a good chuckle out of that.
"What?" Dante asked.
