Gabriel clutches his chest theatrically. “One pussy for life? You must hate me, cursing me like that.”
“Aria wasn’t wrong… you’re the King of Whores,” I smirk.
“Damn right,” Gabriel grins.
I cut the banter it’s time to get down to business. “Alright, lads. What’s the emergency?”
Troy straightens, his tone turning steel. “It ain’t good. Our guy in New York says the DA was ready to swoop in on Lorenzo…full racketeering charges. But the bastard disappeared. Someone tipped him off.”
“Corrupt system,” Collin mutters. “Cuts both ways.”
“He’ll try to rally the other Capos to his side,” I reason. I look to Sebastian. “Think you can convince them to meet?”
Sebastian exhales. “Doubt it. Word through the grape vine is with the current instability, they’re staying neutral.”
Jake adds, “Tommaso says Giuseppe called an emergency meeting next week, guessing its to rally them to Lorenzo’s side of this war.”
“Then we storm the fucking meeting,” Trent announces, miming gunfire like an overgrown child.
Johnny shoots him a look. “You know how tight Rizzotto’s security is.”
“Aye,” I counter, “but why storm it if we own the place? Troy… how close are we to controlling Rizzotto Holdings?”
Troy grins. “We’re at forty percent. Getting another eleven won’t be an issue.”
“Perfect. We’ll walk into Giuseppe’s meet and force a vote.”
“Solid plan,” Jake nods, echoed by the others.
I straighten. “Since that’s sorted, I have news. I’m getting married.”
Gabriel groans. “Fuck, we owe Troy a hundred grand. Bastard’s right again.”
“You lads aren’t still betting against Troy?” I ask.
“Nah. Not all of us. Collin and Johnny sat out,” Sebastian says.
Troy slaps my back. “Congrats, brother.”
The others chime in with their congratulations, though Collin stays stoic, only rolling his eyes when I ruffle his hair.
“Alright, I’m heading home. Aria’s making lasagna.” The moment I reach the door, they gather behind me like a damn parade.
“We’re leaving too,” Trent declares. “Collin’s place is fuckin’ depressing.”
“Fuck off,” Collin replies flatly. “My place is effective.” I ignore their bickering and hurry home, eager to spend the rest of the day with Aria. Had I been paying better attention, the mischievous smiles behind me would have warned me.
I stride inside… my brothers following and find Rosa and Evie already sitting at the island.Family. Can’t live with ’em… Can’t kill ’em.
“Congratulations, little sister! I hear I can now introduce myself as your whore of a brother.” Gabriel lifts Aria into a playful brotherly hug.
“What’s a whore?” Evie is all innocence when she asks.
Thomas promptly smacks Gabriel on the back of the head. “Language, Gab.”
“It’s just another name for your Uncle Gabriel,” Liam adds with a dry smirk.
That’s all the encouragement Evie needs. She trots after Gabriel, chanting at full volume, “Uncle Whore! You’re myfavoritewhore!”
