ChapterOne
ANGELO
Ididn’t have a good feeling about this meeting. It was too sudden, sprung on us last minute by Paulie and the Vitales. My brothers agreed that Dad was not acting like himself.
Not acting like the boss.
Paulie was making all the decisions for our family and adding our dad’s stamp of approval. Dad had forgotten a lot of shit lately, and Paulie was taking advantage of my old man’s age.
I didn’t fucking like it.
We gathered at Monviso, an Italian restaurant in the city owned by a family friend. This was neutral territory, making it the perfect place to meet.
The master manipulator entered the dining room with a plate of antipasto. Paulie set it on the table and slid into the leather booth beside my father. Dante was on his right, glaring at Paulie. He had been suspicious of him for a long time, especially after Nico informed our father of his advisor’s movements.
Paulie was taking unauthorized meetings on our family’s behalf. We went to our dad with our concerns, but he brushed them off. He said we were overreacting.
After his oldest friend betrayed him, I would have thought he would wise up. See that the people around him were snakes.
I reached for a piece of crusty bread and bumped into my twin’s arm. He shoved me, so I tapped Stefan’s hand and took the bread from him. Most people thought I was older than Stefan because he always let me get my way. But he was older by two minutes and never let me forget it.
Paulie propped his elbow on the table and glanced at us. “Vincenzo is amenable to negotiation. I think we can come to an arrangement that benefits both families.”
“Agreed.” Dad sipped from his glass, eyeing his advisor from beneath his dark brows. “The marriage between Dante and Vittoria is a much better solution to a war.”
What the fuck?
He made simple mistakes like this all the time. Stefan shook his head. We were all worried about him.
“You mean Ava, Papa,” I said to correct his mistake.
“Huh?” His head snapped to me. “Didn’t I say that?”
Dad’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. He wore the same look often.
It fucking killed me to see the great Salvatore Luciano losing his shit. My dad was a legend in Atlantic City. One of the most feared Mafia bosses in history. And yet, he was nothing like the man people whispered about in the streets.
The man everyone respected.
“No.” I sighed. “You said Vittoria.”
The Vitales had been our rivals since before my birth. But, for some reason, Dad wasn’t interested in feuding with the Atlantic City crime families.
It didn’t make sense.
Paulie touched my dad’s arm to reassure him. “It’s okay, Sal. I’ll handle the negotiations.”
Of course, he would.
He’d make another deal behind our backs and fuck all of us. I didn’t trust Paulie as far as I could throw him.
Dante stirred beside me, shoving up his jacket sleeve to check the time. He had a thing about people respecting his time. That much he’d made clear with Ava repeatedly over the past few months of her working for us.
She was home with Nico, hanging out at his place until we returned. Someone had to stay with her. We didn’t trust our enemies not to steal her from us.
Stefan leaned closer to speak in my ear. “The Vitales are late.”
Five minutes to be exact.
