Page 47 of Revenge & Truth

“Let’s hear it.” Astin mirrored my gesture, waiting for my idea.

“Here’s to revenge on those who’ve wronged us, truth being found in places we least expected, and the love that has blossomed between the eight of us despite it all,” I offered.

Astin’s smile was magical. Seeing it could take me from being in a foul mood to grinning like an idiot. This woman’s brain amazed me on so many levels that it had me question what she could be if not forced down this path. Selfishly, I didn’t want to think about it knowing if things hadn’t happened the way they did, I’d have never met her or Braxton.

“Cheers to that and the many adventures that lay before us,” Astin tacked on as our glasses clinked together.

Taking a sip of the champagne, I was impressed with the taste. They hadn’t given us just any bottle of champagne, this was the expensive shit. Grabbing the bottle, I grunted at the name labeled there, confirming my suspicions.

Returning my focus back to Astin, I was itching to ask her what happened with the husband and wife. “Tell me something, how did you know he’d forgotten about the anniversary and the cheating?”

“Oh, the first was easy. It was so obvious he was mad because his plan wasn’t working with Parsons. He had something pulled up on his phone, trying to use as proof, so it made me think he did have reservations, but it wasn’t tonight or with his wife. The thing that sealed his fate was not denying any of it and the look of guilt and rage on his face,” Astin explained. “Seeing how mad he was about being called out by me is why I gave her my card. She was cowering away from his anger but genuinely hoped that tonight was real and he still loved her. Now that she’s seen another woman stand up to him, I hope it gives her the courage to do the same.”

I let out a huff of laughter. “Just when I don’t think you can be more perfect, you go and do shit like this.”

“What do you mean?”

Raising my gaze to meet hers, I told my story. “My father was a mean gambling drunk who beat my mom. When I was finally old enough to do something about it, I was too late. I came home from a friend’s house during my sophomore year of high school and found my mom dead in the kitchen. He’d taken the casserole she’d made and smashed it over her head. According to the autopsy, that wouldn’t have killed her, but she slammed her head against the counter, causing a brain bleed. The bastard was so drunk he had no idea what he’d done and was passed out, sleeping on the fucking couch. I called the police, they arrested him, found him guilty, and now he’s locked up for the rest of his life.”

She reached across the table, took my hand, and squeezed it tightly. “I’m so sorry, Jace. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to come home and find her like that, not to mention the bastard passed out lying on the couch like nothing happened.”

I shrugged. “It’s been a long time since that day, and I went to live with my aunt after that. She was amazing and showed me what a real family could be like.”

“Is that where the monthly meals came into play?”

“Yes and no. Tamara went off to nursing school, and I landed a job in banking that kept me coming and going at all hours of the night. Then when I got a promotion and needed to be closer to work, I saw what family I had less and less. So, Auntie decided we needed to have a night that was reserved for family. This way, we knew to plan our schedules around it and make it happen come hell or high water,” I shared. “It’s the one thing I haven’t given up since becoming a member of the Caprioni Family.”

Astin started to ask something, but our waiter arrived at our table with three dishes. Four pieces of shrimp, two skewers with various meats, cheese, and olives speared, and an empanada cut in half. “Here are your starters. I’ll be back with the wine pairing.”

We held off resuming the conversation until glasses had been placed and wine added to them. With a quick check-in, he was gone once we’d made it clear there wasn’t anything we could possibly need. Astin took one of everything, and each item she tasted was accompanied by a moan that had my cock straining against my slacks.

Fuck, this woman was going to kill me without even having to lift a finger.

Needing to get my mind focused on something else, I popped a shrimp in my mouth and was slapped upside the head with flavor. “Holy shit,” I mumbled.

Astin grinned as she seductively ate her olive, licking her fingers and giving me a knowing look.

“Are you trying to mess with me, woman?” I asked, a growl coating my words.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she answered, taking a sip of her wine. “Worried that I might win if I am?”

That was all I needed to hear to confirm my suspicions. It would seem I was destined to be a brat tamer because I somehow brought it out in people. Although I really shouldn’t be surprised that a woman like Astin would crave being a submissive but unwilling to give up without proving I earned her submission. Then it was a damn good thing I loved a challenge, and winning her trust with this part of her life would be the ultimate prize.

sixteen

The look on Jace’s face told me he was ready for whatever I decided to throw at him. I hadn’t planned to lay down the gauntlet tonight, but the moment I saw his face after the first moan, the chance was simply too good to pass up. Now that he’d caught on to what I was doing, I decided to change tactics.

“So, does your family still think you’re in banking?” I questioned.

Having been raised in this world, I never considered that others might not want their family to know they work for the mafia. Atticus didn’t have any family, neither did Ryker, but he fell into the same category as me. I wasn’t sure about Braxton’s situation, and Liu’s family knew exactly who and what my father was. Then there was Hound, who was a rebel with a cause since the day he was born, so I’m sure his family wouldn’t be surprised where he landed in the end. Luca being an assassin before my father made him a lieutenant, plus never once saying a word about his family, I couldn’t even guess at his family situation.

“They know I moved from banking to working a corporate job for Caprioni Enterprises,” Jace shared. “As far as I’m concerned, if they don’t know what I do for real, they don’t want to know. Tamara figured it out herself then confronted me about her suspicions. I wasn’t going to lie to her, so I was honest and explained I ran the gambling business but also helped in security when needed. My auntie and her husband turned a blind eye to the matter since I saved their home a few years ago. They were going to lose it, but I was able to pay off the owed amount as well as the mortgage.”

Resting my chin on my hand, I studied him. “Is it hard knowing your aunt doesn’t want to know about this part of your life?”

“Not even a little bit,” Jace answered instantly. “The less they know about any of this, the cops can’t use it against them. I told them I got the money as a bonus for signing a major client. When it’s clear to the police they know nothing, it’s a dead end, and they move on.”

I had to hand it to the man. He’d thought of everything to keep his family in his life while protecting them. “Tell me, how did you wind up here, in this life, sitting across from me?”