Page 175 of Vicious Games

Good thing Mom got us three dads, because we’re a fucking handful.

“Dad’s right, you know?” Stella crosses her arms over her chest. “You should have just killed him and be done with it.”

“Why? To not have Dad on my case, but haveyoupissed at me instead? Yeah, I don’t think so. I don’t see how I would’ve won in either scenario.”

“Why would I care if you killed Kirill or not?” she asks, feigning confusion.

“Are you saying you wouldn’t?”

“Nope,” she says flatly, but I don’t miss how she won’t meet my eyes.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll pretend to buy that shit for now. Got too much on my plate as it is,” I explain, getting up from the bed to take another peek outside to check on Frankie again, only to frown when I don’t see her.

“Of all the girls you could’ve fallen for… you had to pick a Bratvaprincipessa.” Stella shakes her head with a goading smirk on her lips.

“Hey, it’s not like any of us knew who her family was,” I try to defend.

Well… one person did.

Remus.

Remus knew.

Remus knew and I just blew him off.

Fuck.

Ever since he went ballistic on my girl over Thanksgiving break, I’ve been icing him out. He’s called a million times, and I haven’t picked up once.

If I had just answered his calls or replied to his texts, then maybe… maybe he would’ve warned me.

Too late now.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for Frankie.

I know what it means to her… to find her family, to know she wasn’t abandoned like yesterday’s trash.

But why the hell did it have to be the fucking Petrovs?

“Stop brooding, Lucky. It’s not cute on you. And while you’re at it, stop thinking so hard. You’ll give yourself an aneurysm,” Stella mutters, like she’s reading my mind.

“What else did Dad say?” I ask, eager to move to another topic. “Is Enzo okay? Alejandro? Any fallout from Father McDonagh?”

“They’re fine. Alejandro was discharged a few days ago from the hospital. As for Father McDonagh? His disappearance has been all over the news. Apparently, that psycho was beloved by the parish. No one believes he’d just walk away without saying goodbye. Dad said there’s even an open investigation on his disappearance.”

“That’s… a problem.” I frown.

“Our dads have it covered. I’m more worried about Mar, to be honest.” She sighs. “He’s been… volatile lately.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is unhinged.”

“So what if he is? You have to be a little crazy to make it in thefamiglia,” she retorts.

“There’s crazy and then there’s whatever our brother is. You didn’t see him that night. It was like something possessed him.” I frown, remembering that vacant stare in my brother’s eyes. “I don’t know, Stella. I think Dad made a mistake naming him his heir. Marcello’s not fit to lead the Outfit. Not if he can’t control whatever demon’s eating him alive.”

“That’s treasonous talk, little brother. I’d be careful with what you say next,” she warns.

Of course, Stella would defend Marcello.

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