Page 50 of Veil of Vengeance

“Let’s not, Ma. The past is the past, and talking about Dad isn’t helping.” My voice is strained and my entire body tenses as I run my thumb over the small scar on the side of my neck.

“Why not? You’re Capo, but lately all you seem to be doing is running from the problems instead of trying to solve them.”

The sound of the bedroom door falling shut reaches us, and Mara steps closer.

“Watch your tone, Mara. I will not tolerate disrespect,” I warn, and she glowers at me before sighing and heading toward the doors to leave.

“Where are you going?” Ma asks her.

“To get Valentina some hot soup, since someone refuses to stop throwing his weight around.” She gives me a pointed look, at which I laugh and shake my head.

“I’ll come help you.” Ma quickly rushes after Mara, and the room settles into silence after the door closes with a click.

I look at my bedroom door, debating whether to go in there. I decide against it, grab a glass of water, and sit on the couch facing the fireplace. The TV is on, but it’s muted. My brow furrows as I read the headline.“Freda’s Jewelry, one of the most well-known Jewelry stores in the country, has been robbed in their New York city location in the jewelry district. The company is yet to make a statement.”

My glass shatters as it hits the wall next to the TV. For fuck’s sake, I can’t leave for a couple of days without things going to absolute shit. Just as I reach for my phone to call Romiro, it rings.

“I want to know who the fuck attacked one of our stores,” I demand, leaning back.

“It was the fucking Outfit. The fucking little shits thought they could attack without being caught,” he tells me with a sigh. My eyebrows reach my hairline as my jaw clenches.

“What the fuck do you mean by that? Are you saying that they stepped foot in my territory?”

“Yes, some soldiers were in the area and were able to get them.”Fuck yes.

“Is the little bastard with them?” I really fucking hope so, so I can send the little Moretti headache back to her family and be rid of her. To my disappointment, Romiro answers with exactly what I don’t want to hear.

“No.”

“I want you to take care of them, and take both Lucio and Matteo with you. It’s about time they got their hands back in the game.”

“Are you not coming as well?” he asks, but I don’t answer, not wanting to look too deep into why I’m not going.

“I have things to take care of. You make sure that everything goes smoothly.”

“Yes, I’ll also keep you updated.”

I end the call and place my phone back on the coffee table. I still need to contact the Morettis to ask for what we want for the return of their daughter. A thud comes from my room, instantly concerning me. I get up and rush to the door to check if Valentina is okay.

When I slightly crack the door open, I find Valentina gripping one of the bedside tables. I rush toward her and grab her by her upper arm, and she glares when she looks up at me.

“Why are you getting up? You need to be resting.”

She tries to swat my arm away, but stops when I don’t budge.

“Let me go. I want to go back to the other room,” she demands. I narrow my eyes as I observe her, setting her back on the bed.

“Why are you being stubborn?”

“Why are you being a busybody? It’s annoying.”

I ignore her and place my palm on her forehead to check her temperature. It seems to have gone down since last night. She pushes my arm away with an eye roll, and I let her.

“Why am I in your room?” she asks. I turn around and walk to some of my drawers.

“Because the room you were staying in isn’t suitable anymore, and I don’t trust you to place you anywhere near my family, so you’re stuck here,” I say as I pull out a pair of green pajamas from when I was younger, hoping that they’ll fit her, even though they still look a couple of sizes too big.

“Where the hell have you been sleeping, then?”

---