“What were you able to find out about Marlena’s brother?” I ask.
“Not a lot,” Marcello admits.
“We didn’t get a ransom demand, and we haven’t been able to confirm that Andretti has him,” Giovanni fills me in.
I shake my head. “Something’s not right.”
“If you don’t mind my asking,” Marcello begins. “Why are we spending so much time looking for some college kid who’s probably just out on a bender?”
I glare at him. He’s being incredibly insensitive. Although that’s usually not a handicap in my organization, at this moment, I wish he would show a little more concern.
“Brandon is my wife’s brother,” I explain.
“Your wife?” Marcello repeats, astonished.
“Yes,” I reply. “You knew I was engaged.”
“No, I didn’t,” he says.
“Well,” I answer, filling him in even though I thought everyone was up to speed. “I’m married. We had our wedding in Italy.”
“When were you going to tell me?” Marcello asks, acting as if I owe him something.
“You’re dangerously close to stepping out of line,” Giovanni warns him.
Marcello doesn’t stop. He continues going at me as if he’s got the right to berate me in my home. “Why would you do that knowing her background?”
“Did you notice all the fresh troops?” I ask, almost amused by his consternation.
“Yeah, but I thought they were just family,” Marcello says.
“They are family,” I reply. “Her family. The Roccas and the Corellos are now one and the same. We’re legally joined through our marriage, and anyone who messes with one of us, messes with all of us.”
“The problem is that I can’t confirm it’s Andretti,” Giovanni says.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Andretti,” Marcello complains. “The Roccas are unhinged. You don’t want them in your family. What were you thinking?”
I cross around the desk to get up in Marcello’s face. He’s pushing his agenda a little bit too hard, and I want to nip it in the bud. “If you insult the Roccas, you insult me.”
“You’re crazy,” Marcello continues, oblivious to my threat. “You’ve made a big mistake.”
I’m thinking he wants a fight. Why else would he keep pushing the envelope? He’s been a loyal soldier for as long as I can remember. Why is he suddenly so averse to my marriage?
“Don’t mistake our friendship for permission to say whatever the hell you want,” I tell him.
“Friendship?” he snaps. “You should have told me what you were up to.”
“It wasn’t a secret,” I say. “I distinctly remember you were in the room when I explained who Marlena was.”
“Yeah, I knew who she was, but I didn’t know you were going to marry her,” Marcello claims.
“You knew,” Giovanni tells him, looking bored with the argument already.
“You’re taking this family to hell in a handbasket,” Marcello swears.
That’s it. I’ve had enough. I slam my fist into his face and feel a satisfying pop when his nose breaks. Marcello stumbles back, finally aware that he’s taken things a step too far. He presses a hand to his nose, but I can still see the blood leak out. His eyes begin to water, but I know that’s just a biological reaction.
“You’re going to be sorry,” Marcello stammers.
