“I’ll handle it.” His words were quiet yet the white knuckled grip around his glass spoke to his fury, it screamed effortless control.
He had enough to deal with, without this added burden. Not only was he required to run a prosperous empire, he had to maintain a level of authenticity to surpass the underlying illegal operations. On top of that, he had to constantly ensure Evelina and Rayden were safe.
The devil alone knew that if Lorenzo’s anger detonated, the damage would be insurmountable. Only, where I gave no fucks, repercussions be damned, the motto he’d taught me to live by, he had much more to lose, hence the forced restraint.
“Handle it, as in get some cop to lock them up for what? A misdemeanor? They’d be out in a fucking minute.” I neared his table and planted my palms face down on the rich mahogany. “We trusted her and she had the audacity to try that shit on Lina. Speaks to her arrogance, brother. Either she doesn’t fear us or someone’s given her ego a boost,” I growled. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Your take care of it sits at the end of a machete, we need a little diplomacy this time around.” Slowly, he sipped his drink. “Besides, you’re still healing.”
While he didn’t have to worry about me, my hot-headedness kept him on his toes. He was my voice of reason, always.
I straightened. “Fuck that, Renz. Don’t use my injuries as a scapegoat to be nice. Since you took over, our enemies have doubled, three of our trucks have been ambushed in the last two months. I was almost imprisoned for life. It’s time to send a message, remind them Lorenzo Rossi fears no one. You’ve gotplenty to worry about, let me…” I trailed off as Rayden walked in. While he knew and accepted Lorenzo’s way of life, we didn’t discuss mafia shit in front of him. “Hey, fuckface, how’s it hanging.”
His usual scowl met my chuckle. “Fuck off.”
Even though I liked the fucker, I couldn’t resist taunting him every opportunity I got and his retaliation made for a weird camaraderie my brother enjoyed. “Aww, baby boy’s having a bad day.”
“Why don’t you go fuck shit up, dickhead,” he grunted.
“Missed me, didn’t you?” I chuckled, earning his glare.
“Glad to see you’re recovered but they should’ve kept you in prison a little longer, maybe made you someone’s bitch, teach you some manners,” he threw back, ignoring my laugh.
Anyone else and they would’ve eaten my bullet in under a second, still I goaded the little shit. “If you weren’t fucking my brother, I’d shove my shoe up your ass, so deep you’d be giving it a blowjob and you’ll fucking enjoy it.”
Rayden’s shoulders stiffened. He stopped walking and turned to face me with a look meant to slice me from head to toe. Behind him, Lorenzo rolled his lips to keep from laughing out loud. I knew he was trying hard not to piss off his fuck boy. Who could blame him when their love survived ten years of grueling shit and the boy had my brother wrapped around every fucking finger let alone his cock.
His steps measured, Rayden approached me. “You know what your problem is–”
“I’m way to sexy for you,” I cut him off, smirking.
Fists clenched, he literally growled at me. My brow shot up, reminding him I was waiting for his answer. “Never mind, you’re such a fucking asshole–”
“Your point.” I cocked my head to one side, wiggling my brows.
Lips pursed, he remained silent for a moment, those green eyes studying me like he was searching for the right words. Then he smiled, an almost devious one, as if he was privy to some little secret and that caught me off guard. “One of these days, she’s going to trip you up so badly, you’ll be lapping pussy like a fucking pet poodle.”
My smug grin fell. “Who?” Brow cocked, he simply turned his back on me and walked off, his mannerisms suggesting he knew something I didn’t. No idea why that pissed me the fuck off. “Rayden?” I called out. He ignored me. My gaze drifted to Lorenzo, his blank countenance doing a shitty job this time. That fucker knew something too.
Always the one in control, I chose not to dig further, watching Rayden approach Lorenzo.
“Dario mentioned you’re planning to visit Italy,” he said, reaching him.
I frowned, wondering why this was the first I was hearing about it. “Italy?”
Immediately, Lorenzo’s expression tightened. Downing his drink, he set his glass on the table and stood. “The trail of the ambushed trucks seems to lead back to Italy. I’m not sure where it ends but my gut tells me its D’Angelo.”
“That fat fuck,” I muttered.
“We need to put a lid on it now before it escalates into something we can’t control,” he continued. “And the only way to do that is pull the rug out from the fucker.”
“You’re taking me with you, right?” Rayden stepped closer to Lorenzo, his words firm, knowing my brother would rather die than put him in danger.
Slowly, his clenched jaw gave way to a smile that only Rayden could produce. “I haven’t finalized anything yet since Dario’s still got men working the Italian angle but if I have to go, I can’t take you with me, baby. It’s too–”
“Dangerous?” Rayden scoffed. “I’m not a fucking child, Lorenzo. I can handle myself.”
I grinned, enjoying the way my brother pampered to Rayden’s every fucking whim while still trying to remain a ruthless don. “Take the fucker with you, brother, show him our real world.” Lorenzo shifted his gaze, the change in his expression warning me to shut the fuck up. I flipped up my hands, palms outward in apology. “I’m out anyway, I have shit to take care of,” I walked backward toward the door.
