Page 58 of Rotten Men

Selene discreetly looks up to me for clarification, but I just shake my head, showing that we are not here to discuss syndicate turmoil. We make our way toThe Butcher’sstudy where twocapos, armed to the teeth, guard it. I push them aside and open the door as I’ve done so many times before in my youth when I had to shadow the monster as part of myconsiglieretutorage. What awaits inside are the two men who have taken away every person I have ever loved.

Ciro is leaning on the desk, arms crossed with a contorted, jaded smile on his face, while Silvio stands next to the fireplace with a glass of whiskey in his hand, beaming with triumph.

“So happy you took my invitation to heart,bella rosa. Although I must say, I don’t recall extending the invitation to include a plus one.” Ciro smirks, looking far too tranquil for what is about to go down.

“I would never allow Selene to be trapped in a house alone with you,bastardo,” I reply on her behalf, with the same even tone my underboss and rival is adamant in keeping.

“Tsk, tsk, cousin. Have we arrived at the name calling stage of the night already? I would think you to be more mature than that,” he mocks gloatingly.

“Theboyhas always been a bit headstrong where she’s involved,” Silvio announces, throwing back his drink. “Hello, daughter,” he adds menacingly, taking her in from the tip of her feet to the top of her blond hair.

“Father,” she snaps back, unscathed by his malicious glower.

“We finally meet again. I can’t tell you how much I have wished for this reunion. It’s been too long,” he continues, his eyes sparkling with promises of vengeance for his daughter’s rebellious disappearance.

“I can’t say I was as anxious to see you again, father,” she counters apathetically, outwardly maintaining her unaffected mask. But the cold grip of her fingers on mine tells me a different story.

“Yes, I’m sure you weren’t. But I can assure you that even though it may not be enjoyable for you, it will be very pleasurable for me. I can’t wait to teach you the errors of your ways,” he rebukes, his whole demeanor showcasing how elated he is at being able to finally put his hands on mytesoro.

“You won’t be laying a finger on her, Silvio,” Ciro interrupts, sounding taxed with his partner’s underlying threats.

Silvio turns to his accomplice in dismay, but Ciro just shrugs off his offended look.

“As I was saying, I wish I could say Vincent being here was a surprise to me, but unfortunately it’s not. I planned as much,” Ciro continues, never once wavering his stare away from Selene’s face.

“Planned?” I tut arrogantly.

He lets out a long-winded breath and rolls his eyes in total contempt.

“And there is the foolish Vincent I have come to rely on. Your insolence and gall are as dependable as ever. But trust me, cousin, I don’t blame your shortcomings on you alone. You have always surrounded yourself with useless minions proclaiming you to be the last in the Romano line, and as expected, you grew to believe your own worth as the rightful heir to the syndicate. But both you and I know that I have Salvatore’s blood in my veins, while you have the diluted version. You’re an Amato just like your father, and although I’ve heard stories of his coldness, which you excel in imitating, I fear the Romano trait of your mother is your only link to thefamiglia. She was soft and easily led by her emotions, as are you. Her brother though,my father,had no such mercy and neither do I.”

“I see you flapping your lips, but I’m bored with what’s coming out of them, Ciro. Is that also part of your plan? To bore us to death?” I yawn to antagonize him further, but the vile serpent just chuckles at my expense.

“I see yourconsigliereis finally making an impression on you. I’d expect such words coming from his mouth, not yours.”

“I have my moments,” I taunt.

“They’re about to be your last.”

His predatory grin shines with the threat, but I’m not easily intimidated. Not by him or any man. Selene, however, isn’t as convinced, as she crushes my fingers in hers, showing how her trepidation is multiplying with each wordThe Thornutters. I have to subdue her fear so that she doesn’t do anything we will regret. Showing her that my death won’t come without the expense of Ciro’s own life is the only thing I can come up with to set her mind at ease.

“What do you expect to do, Ciro? Kill me without any just cause? The Outfit will cut your throat for such an offense,” I throw back, hoping Selene hears reason in my words.

The melodic, horrid laugh that ensues from Ciro is a thing of nightmares.

“Oh, dear, naive cousin! How you play the part of the fool to perfection. You were the one who opened the doors for me to kill you, with the syndicate’s very blessing, without even realizing.” He beams.

“You’re lying,” I grunt in anger.

“I don’t have to lie. You’ve felt the shift of favor yourself. That’s why, for the past four months, you have been putting out fire after fire to no avail. Once you announced your intentions in going after theCosa Nostra,I knew this was my shot at getting what has always been respectively mine. And you showing up Silvio, a man your uncle trusted to beconsigliere,was the first nick to your own throat, not mine.”

“What is he talking about?” Selene turns to me and asks, no longer content in being a spectator, and demands answers of her own.

“Ah,bella rosa, yourbelovedhere was so fed up with his own life, he set to launch a war with New York as a means to end it for good. It would be a pointless war that could never succeed because theCosa Nostrais too much a part of the city itself for the Outfit ever to take over. Yet, what a tremendous idea for him to have, as it helped solidify my own merit for the role as boss. With your father whispering in the ear of everymade manout there how Vincent has lost his damned mind, and of course, with your return to Chicago making him look unhinged and incapable of his role, nomade manworth his salt wanted him to lead us to our slaughter. And that’s where I come in to save the day, ending the mockery of Vincent ever being appointed boss in the first place. A crown that should have never been placed on his head, but mine and mine alone.” Ciro explains, and in his madness, I see the logic of every move he made to take me down.

Silvio interrupts my thoughts when he takes two steps toward Selene and me.

“You fucked with the wrong man the day you let that brute lay a hand on me,boy. I will piss on your very bones before the night is through.” He laughs while turning to Selene. “And you? You will get everything that’s coming to you. Once the Outfit discovers Vincent was the one hiding you, betraying everything we stand for, they will let Ciro do his duty as underboss and kill him. But you, I’ll demand the honor myself of dealing with you, rotten girl.”

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