Page 51 of Deadly Vows

“Explain yourself,” Luca snaps when the kid doesn’t respond.

He releases an irritated breath, looking at Luca now.

“He threatened my mother,” he says.

Luca scoffs, trying extremely hard to keep his cool.

“So you thought you’d put a fucking bullet in him? Do you know how that makes me look? Like, I am not a man of my word. Like I can’t keep a fucking dog on its very tight leash,” he hisses.

The kid seems to think about what Luca is saying, his expression shifting from anger to realization of the consequences of his actions.

“I’m sorry… I—”

“No. We don’t take apologies in this world. In this world, if you fuck up like you did, we take fingers, family members—lives. Do you think this is a game? That you can run around shooting whoever, because I took you in? I gave you orders. I am your Capo. You follow my orders like they are the only thing that will bring you salvation!” Luca says.

My eyes widen as I realize who the kid is. He’s my brother. And he’s pissed off the wrong man.

Silence passes over the backyard as Luca glares daggers into my brother, finally finding his sense of calm. He exhales deep, placing his hand on my brother’s shoulder as he speaks. “That’s strike two. One more, and you’re out.”

My blood runs cold in my veins as Luca speaks the words, showing just how cruel he truly is. Luca doesn’t say anything more as he makes his way into the house, leaving my brother alone for a second. It allows me to study him from my hidden place across the yard.

He looks flustered as he comes to terms with whatever decision he made that has caused so much fuss. And to my shock, he crouches, lowering his head into his lap as he lets defeat course over him. It makes my heart ache with sadness for him. He is just like me—born to be used as a pawn. His actions aren’t his own. They belong to everyone else. I can’t imagine hating him. He hasn’t had a say in anything that’s happened.

After a minute, he stands, making his way back into the house as well. I make sure to count to sixty before I exit my hidden place. I’m sure that whatever has happened is important enough that I am probably the last thing on Luca’s mind, especially since it involves my brother.

I note my fingers are trembling, as is my breathing as I slowly make my way into the house through the side doors of the kitchen.

He’s here. My brother is here. I saw the kid who is responsible for the direction my life took. I heard his voice. And yet, I cannot speak to him. I can never let Luca know I heard that conversation. I must feign innocence as best I can.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Luca

There’s a difference between being born into this life and being brought into it. And Enzo Trovoli is showing that difference with every passing day. He is hotheaded, stubborn, and, worst of all, carries allegiances in places that I cannot control. He was supposed to shadow Romelo during a meeting with William. A meeting that would have given us access to the Trovoli clan’s hiding places. But William played Enzo like a fiddle, taunting him and making threats that never would have come to pass while I’m in charge. Unfortunately, Enzo didn’t understand that. And put a bullet in William before Romelo could tell him otherwise.

I release an irritated breath, trying to calm myself down. At this point, the kid is more trouble than he’s worth. But with Elise’s fragile mental state, I can’t get rid of him. Especially after I promised her I would let him live if she never attempted something like that again.

It’s only been a few days since Elise was released from the hospital, and even still, I cannot walk into my office without an uneasy feeling rushing through me. I’ve never been so frightened in my life, nor have I ever felt so helpless. It’s easy when you’re in power to forget that not everything is under your control. And Elise’s life is one of those things. She’s shown me on more than one occasion her determination when she’s been backed into a corner; now it’s my job to pay attention and make sure she’s never put into a corner again. I don’t think I could live with myself.

I’m pulled from my thoughts as Romelo enters my office with the bane of my existence in tow. Enzo has an expression of false bravery plastered on his face as he follows in behind Romelo, and I know immediately he’s fucked up. I remain seated, leaning back in my chair as I study them in irritation. Each time this kid is brought into my home, it’s more of a chance of Elise crossing paths with him. But I can’t bring myself to leave her alone. It’s a new emotion swirling inside of me that is making me weak.

I check my watch as I speak.

“Wow. Eighteen hours, and you’re already back. What did he do now?” I ask.

Romelo moves to speak, but I hold my hand up, silencing him. I shift my attention to Enzo.

“Do you hear your Capo speaking to you?” I ask.

Romelo pushes him forward, and he keeps his eyes lowered as he stands before me, further adding to my irritation.

“Look at me,” I growl out.

Enzo slowly lifts his gaze.

“I sent my mother money,” he says.

A laugh escapes me at the ridiculousness of it all. He and Elise are so naive when it comes to their family. His mother sold him off for five million, and she’s still contacting her son for money. And he’s so stupid, he’s still sending it to her—still giving her achance to be part of his life when she quite literally sold him to the devil.

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