“Well, actually, I have backups in a fireproof safe, but I’ll have to wait until the firefighters give us the all clear, but apart from them and some important documents, I’m guessing we lost everything else.”
Casey sobs, and the other four exchange a loaded glance that I can’t even begin to read.
Gio opens his mouth to speak, and I brace myself for what’s about to come out. “Don’t you worry about a thing. Tori and I are going to make sure you’re okay,” he tells Casey then looks at the others. Before he can say anything else, I pull out my phone and swipe my finger across it.
“Sure, I’ll message the Lucky Diamond and organize for you to have rooms there. I’ll open accounts in the restaurants and stores until you can get to the mall to replace your belongings. We also have family accounts with a lot of the major stores at the malls, so I’ll have your names added to them. We will help you get back on your feet in no time,” I reassure them, but to be honest, I’m secretly pleased that Gio will have to move home now and distance himself from them. He’s getting attached, and I was starting to catch feelings that are confusing and uncomfortable. I’ve held everyone at arm’s length for a long time. I only just started letting Sage in, and I’m not ready to expand that circle of trust any further just yet.
I don’t think they are lacking in money. Hell, Tristan drives a Maserati, but it also sounds like their relationship with their guardian isn’t as rosy as it could be. If I can help with that, then I’m happy to. God only knows our relationship with the step-monster isn’t peachy. The only reason I haven’t had her killed yet is because it would be too obvious.
I realize there’s an awkward silence and look up from my phone. They are all staring at me with various expressions. Gio looks furious, while Casey and Vienna both have pink cheeks like they are embarrassed, and the guys just look angry. Sage winces like I did something wrong. Shit, did I do the wrong thing? I’m really not good at this peopling thing. This is why I prefer to use my guns and knives to get things done.
“We can take care of ourselves,” Xavier growls. “We have enough money. We don’t fucking need yours.”
Oh shit, I insulted them. That was not my intention, but I won’t show him I’m affected by his anger. I pop my phone back into my pocket and shrug, feigning disinterest.
“Okay, whatever, I was just trying to help. The offer is there, and the rooms are waiting if that’s what you choose to do.”
Gio shakes his head and glares at me. “Tori, I meant they can come stay at our place. They don’t need to go to the fucking hotel. What are you thinking?” My brother sounds pissed, and I just stare at him, unflinching in the wake of his anger.
Oh no, he did not just invite these mostly strangers to come live in our house, our sanctuary. It’s the one place where I feel comfortable enough not to carry a weapon around with me. It’s the only place where I can go to sleep without worrying someone is going to stab me in the chest while I’m sleeping. He is going too fucking far. I was okay with them staying that one night, but I am not willing to make it a permanent thing.
“No.” I shake my head, my focus on my brother. I don’t even look at the others’ reactions at my refusal. I feel Sage step up behind me, his body heat reassuring me of his support. Gio drops his arm from around Casey, steps down out of the ambulance, and squares up to me. I’m not wearing my heels, so I’m considerably shorter than him and have to look up, whichmakes me wild with anger. His expression is thunderous. It’s the most amount of anger I’ve seen him show in months, and he’s directing it at me. I feel betrayed, but I hold my ground. There’s no way I am letting this motherfucker know that he hurt me.
“Tori, I’m not asking. They will be staying with us, and I don’t want to hear anything from you about it. Now should I advise Ben and Suzy, or would you like to?”
I grit my teeth and shake my head, determined not to let him steamroll me, acting like he’s in charge when he hasn’t shown any interest in months.
“No Gio. It’s not happening. It’s my house too, and it’s the one place where I don’t have to worry about being anyone but myself. I feel safe there, and I will not let you ruin that for me.” The hard glint in his eyes softens ever so slightly, but I can tell by the stubborn set of his jaw that I am not changing his mind. I also doubt I’m going to like what is going to come out of his mouth next.
“Am I or am I not still the head of the Russo family?” His tone is flat, and the small amount of softness I saw in his eyes disappears. He gets a dead look in his gaze, and I know he’s finally channeling his inner monster. The sick part of me gets a thrill, and my heart starts to race with excitement. Are we finally going to have this out? This probably isn’t the best of times with all the witnesses, but I am practically frothing at the mouth to pit my skills against my brother’s.
I scoff, my fingers flexing with the urge to grab my knife and shove it into his gut, but I push it down. “Only when it fucking suits you. You’ve been too busy playing happy family and busy college student. As far as I’m concerned, you are head in name only. I’m the one who runs the business, and just because I have a pair of tits and nothing hanging between my legs, I’m not considered good enough. Well, fuck you, Gio, and fuck all the other assholes who get in my way.”
How dare he suddenly start throwing his weight around now when it finally suits his fucking agenda. I’ve been holding this business together for months, taking out the trash and eliminating the competition and threats while he’s been sneaking around with a girl and sulking because he couldn’t go to college like he planned.
There’s an awkward silence as Gio and I have it out, but I don’t have any fucks to give for their feelings. My brother is trying to steamroll me, and no pretty face is going to change how I feel.
“But I am still the official head, and it will stay that way. None of our people would ever follow a girl,” he sneers, but I think if he took a good look at the business, what he would see would shock him. Our people respect me and recognize what a great job I have done running the Russo family business. I have expanded and improved on various income streams, and we are making more money than we ever have. I am also passing that on to all our members, even the small ones. They love me, and so do their wives and girlfriends. Gio needs to watch his back. I have support, and frankly, getting him permanently out of the way would be in my best interest, but the stupid fucker is so blind to everything going on that he can’t see the fox in the henhouse.
“Unless I put a bullet in your skull. Be very careful, Gio, because you will never hear me coming,” I warn him quietly, and it’s his turn to scoff.
“Please, no one will ever accept you as head of the Russo family. Not only are you a girl, but a dyke on top of that, and you’ve proven to be unstable. You’re just lucky that your bloodlust is a good trait for an enforcer. Otherwise, you would have been married off to secure an alliance just like Dad planned.” And just like that, Gio breaks my heart and destroys any kind of trust I had left for him. How could he say that? He knows Dad never wanted that for me. He even told mehimself. How could he throw that in my face now? Does he know something I don’t?
I’m not quick enough to smother my emotions, and I must show some outward display of how much his words hurt me, because the anger in his eyes fades, replaced with a small amount of panic, but it’s too late.
“Screw you, Gio,” I spit and turn around, not even waiting for a reply. I just stalk back across the grass toward my car. I sense Sage keeping up with me, and while I’m grateful he chose to come with me, I’m thankful he keeps quiet. We’re on the road and heading back to the fortress before he even thinks of breaking the silence. I’ve been stewing in my anger, half wanting to ask him to turn around so I can take care of my brother once and for all, but I know I would regret it if I did something like that while I was mad.
“Are you okay?” he asks quietly. “Do you want to talk about what just happened, or should I take your mind off everything?” he suggests, and his hand slides onto my knee and gives it a squeeze. I know he’s trying to distract me, but in the mood I’m in, it could be dangerous for him, and I know he doesn’t like pain.
“No. I’m really not. You should probably stay far away from me for a little while. I’m afraid I don’t have the kind of control I normally do, and I wouldn’t want to accidentally hurt you.”
“What can I do? How can I fix this for you? You didn’t get to cut anyone at the club?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“No, I hadn’t even started the session when we were interrupted, and I discovered that my new favorite sub was Colton. I can’t believe I did the things I did to him.” I blush as I remember our last session. The memory of his blood and cum still haunts me, and at times, I find myself craving the taste. The possibilities that come to mind now that I know I was enjoying Colton are limitless, but I need to resist. The good thing aboutthe club was the anonymity involved, though I can’t deny having someone to cut at my beck and call is tempting. I don’t like that they now have one more thing they know about me that others don’t.
Sage shakes his head. “I can’t believe they keep turning up at places we frequent coincidentally.” He puts his hand back on the wheel as I tap my fingers against the door, twitchy as fuck from my confrontation with Gio.
“Hmm,” I muse, staring outside. “I had the same thought, but how did they know I was a member of that club? It’s anonymous, and the rest of it is Gio’s doing.” I growl my brother’s name.
