By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers #4)(14)

“You want to discuss your drug routes through our territory,” Nino said as he perched on the edge of the desk. I preferred his cut-the-bullshit-style. It spared us all the fake pleasantries we all despised.

“Indeed. But Texas can hardly be counted as your territory at the current time,” Dad said.

Remo’s lips pulled into a hard smile. “It’s more mine than it is anyone else’s.”

“Tell that to the Mexican cartel and all the rogue MC gangs attacking drug transports left and right.”

“The rogue MCs are the result of unfortunate developments in the Famiglia, not the Camorra,” Nino said.

I gritted my teeth. He wasn’t entirely wrong, Marcella falling in love with the biker who’d kidnapped her had complicated things unnecessarily, but…

Nevio smirked as he leaned against the wall with crossed arms. “That’s what happens when women spread their legs for the wrong guy and the family doesn’t disembowel said asshole as should be done.”

I took a step forward, my hand twitching toward my knife at the same time as Dad snarled, “Careful.”

“Nevio,” Remo warned in a voice that even sent a shudder down my back.

Nino stepped between us and his brother and nephew. “We’re not here to discuss past decisions. This is about finding solutions for the future.”

“Speaking of future, how’s your lovely fiancée?” Nevio asked casually. His eyes held mockery. “I can’t wait to attend the wedding of the century to bear witness to the greatest love story of all time.”

I smiled cruelly. “When are you going to kidnap a poor woman as your wife of your own as is family tradition and the only way a woman will ever tolerate your crazy ass?”

Nevio lunged at me but I’d anticipated the move. It still didn’t stop me from losing my footing from the force of his attack. None of the Falcones liked to be reminded of the fact that Remo had kidnapped Serafina on her wedding day.

We slammed against the wall and blood filled my mouth as I pierced my tongue with my teeth. I jerked my knife out of my holster, seeing a familiar gleam in Nevio’s hand. An arm slung around my throat, pulling me back at the same time as Remo’s arm around his son’s throat brought him to his knees.

I was thrown against the wall once more and Dad pressed his forearm against my throat, breathing harshly, his eyes burning with barely restrained fury.

Remo had wrestled Nevio to his knees and was holding him there, while he murmured something in his ears. Nevio lowered his gaze from mine and gave one jerky nod before he dropped his knife with a madman grin. If he wore the right make-up, he could be the Joker in every Batman movie.

“Amo,” Dad growled, and I dropped my knife as well. He caught my eyes with his, forcing me to focus only on him. “Back down, understood?”

I nodded reluctantly. Dad released my throat slowly, still eyeing me as if he thought I might lose it again. Truth be told, I wasn’t far from it. The only thing stopping me was that Nevio had turned his back to me. If I’d seen his face, I would have lost it.

Dad turned to Remo who looked no less murderous than his son. Nino was the only one who seemed unimpressed by the whole spectacle. But I didn’t let his cool demeanor fool me. He was a lethal opponent given the right incentive.

Dad cleared his throat. “What my son said about your wife was inappropriate.”

“Your son doesn’t look like he regrets his words. Insulting a Capo in his territory is a strange way to maintain peace.”

“I didn’t insult you, only your son, and he isn’t Capo yet.”

“If I were, you’d be dead,” Nevio said quietly, his dark eyes slanting to me once more.

Remo motioned at his son and he moved over to the sofa and sank down, propping his combat boot clad foot up on his knee before he began cleaning the profile with the tip of his knife.

Dad gave me a look that made it clear he wanted me out of here now.

“I need to take a leak,” I said as politely as I was capable of.

Remo’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t lose your way.”

I stalked out, pissed about this sweet-talking bullshit that was about to go down. There was no reason for us to keep up the truce with the Camorra anymore if they couldn’t guarantee our drug routes. They were a liability now that Nevio took over more tasks.

I took a deep breath. I needed to get a grip. Dad wanted peace, and as long as we were in Camorra territory, I needed to calm the fuck down. Since I didn’t really need to piss, I walked down the corridor then into the common area, looking around curiously. The whole place was deserted. Like Dad had said, Remo had brought the vulnerable Falcones to safety.

I huffed, shaking my head. Trust and peace, what a load of crap. My eyes were drawn to the French doors overlooking the sprawling backyard. The sky was overhung with clouds and it was drizzling, which probably equaled a downpour by Nevada standards. I hated the barren landscape and desperate eagerness of the city. I walked out, sucking in a deep breath of fresh air. Maybe that would help me calm down.

A distant sound reached my ears. I couldn’t place it and so I followed a path of smooth white marble stone slabs down a gentle slope toward a small house. It was like a pool house but I had a feeling that wasn’t what it was for. The soft drizzle soaked my white dress shirt, making it cling to my chest and my leather shoes were soon speckled with dirt but I followed the sound until I reached a glass door, which was open a tiny gap, just enough to let classical music drift through it.