In the Ciccone family, we battle others together, and sometimes even battle one another, but at the end of the day, we will die before we let anyone fuck with us. And that’s something I feel Jude needs reminding of.
Just because he’s my brother, doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and take his shit. “Yes, really.”
He shakes out his shoulders and rolls his head. “Fine. Let’s do this because we have a flight to catch.”
It pisses me off how he’s more worried about a fucking flight than handling this shit between us. I rush toward him and swing hard at his face. He moves to the right quickly, dodging my punch, then sends his own into my ribs.
I buckle over and cough from the impact, but it only fuels me with more anger. I rise and swing with my left hand, knowing he will try to dodge it, then send my right fist into the side of his head. I can feel the gems of my rings dig into his flesh, and when I move away, I can see trickles of blood run from his hair, down to his cheek.
He raises his hand and touches the spot, bringing his blood-covered fingers back to in front of him. “You dirty fighting motherfucker.”
I shrug, still keeping my guard up. “Dirty gets results.”
“No,” he retorts. “Murder gets results. So, are you going to kill me, E?”
I bite my lip and shake my head. “No. I’m just going to beat your ass so you remember it should be me and you over you and Dad. The only reason you pressed the info from Baby was so you could run and tell Dad like a pissed-off toddler because I didn’t give you your way that night.”
He laughs. “I did what was best for the family. Maybe if you want to keep something to yourself, don’t ask the one person who is looking for an in to help. You know damn well I didn’t have to press Baby. He practically handed over the info when I saw her face on his screen. He’s the one more worried about Dad. Not me.”
I swing again, connecting with his cheekbone. Pain vibrates from my knuckles up to my wrist, but I shake it off. “Now you’re trying to throw Baby under the bus? Real fucking classy, Jude.”
He doesn’t stand back to his full height. Instead, he stays hunched over and charges me. His shoulder slams into my stomach as his arms wrap around me and smashes me into the banister.
“Boys!” Alfredo’s deep voice echoes throughout the house.
Immediately, Jude and I both release each other and stand, not daring to look him in the eyes. Alfredo is a sweet old man, but there is a reason he was hired all those years ago by my father. He’s just as ruthless as us.
Maybe that’s another reason we all care for him so much—because it was him and not our dad breaking up the fights and helping clean the bloody noses. Not before slapping the backs of our heads a bit, though.
“I just polished that banister.” His voice is back to normal. Cool, calm, and collected.
“Sorry, Alfie. Easton just wanted to prove some sort of dominance he doesn’t even fucking have,” Jude chastises.
I jut my elbow into his side and smile when he folds in half, but it’s quickly erased when I finally bring my eyes to Alfredo’s. I hold up my hands in surrender. “I’m sorry.”
He steps forward, removing a handkerchief from his pocket, and dabs the blood running down Jude’s face. “You’ll be sorry and late if you two don’t stop and get in the car waiting out front. Your flight leaves in an hour.”
I nod and try to step past him, but he grabs my arm. “Don’t ever try and fight any of your brothers here again. Understand? You keep that side of you all outside those doors. My heart can’t handle those things anymore.”
I give him a clipped nod and pull him into my side, wrapping my arm around him. “It won’t happen again.”
He pushes away and straightens his suit jacket. “Good. Because that’s the only warning I will give you. Let me live out the rest of my old life in peace.”
I chuckle and walk to the front door. Jude’s footsteps fall in line behind me, but I ignore them. I’ll get this meeting done, then I won’t have to see his face for at least a week.
Chapter Thirteen
Easton
When the plane lands, I grip the handles of my seat. I fucking hate flying. I can feel the wheels bouncing off the tarmac, jolting us around slightly, and it makes me want to puke. The tires screech, but it’s a muffled sound outside the cabin of the plane. I know we’re almost landed and stopped and I can get out of this constricting contraption.
I push my head back into the seat and take a deep breath as it slows, thankful noFinal Destinationshit happened. The attendant exits the front of the cabin and makes her way to where Jude and I sit, only separated by a small walkway.
“We’ve landed successfully in Arlington, Virginia. You’re now able to disembark and enter the car waiting for you.” Her smile is forced and too sweet, but I don’t think about it too long. This is probably the last time we will see her.
I unhook my seat belt and stand, hurrying to the back of the plane where the exit door is located. It’s already open, with another attendant standing by it wearing the same forced smile. I slip past her and take the small steps two at a time until my feet hit the pavement. I breathe a sigh of relief when the cool air hits my face.
“Such a fucking pussy,” Jude quips from behind me.
