Page 71 of Poison Aches

He thinks it’s my fault he’s treated like an outsider but in fact, the closest men to Grandfather aren’t related by blood at all.

I skip to the person standing next to him, his younger son, Lucien.

He’s slightly shorter than his brother but a bit meaner. Rumor has it, he’s quite the hellraiser and does whatever he pleases.

But I know he has a sharp mind, quick with engineering and computers.

He was sent to some boarding school that specializes in ‘aiding’ kids to become better members of society. But I know better.

That boy runs that school. He and the other boys at his school who I’m sure Grandfather and his father wouldn’t want to hear about because the families those boys come from are our mortal enemies.

Lucien stares at me with a blank expression and something else that flashes in his eyes.

I ignore it and instead notice the next person beside Uncle Emilio and Lucien.

It’s Grandfather’s last-born, Angelo.

He’s in his early forties and looks like he’d rather be elsewhere than here. He’s Grandfather’s lapdog, does everything he’s told to do, and acts as if he’s fine with everything, amicable with everyone.

He catches my eye and winks. I give him a slight nod back.

I’m not quite sure what to think of him and because of that, I stay away on principle—even though he acts like we’re close.

Unlike Emilio, Angelo is the kind that will smile to your face, pretending to be helpful, all the while betraying you with ease.

He always goes out of his way to try to get close to me. But more than that, he’s smart.

If I can pretend to be one thing all my life in another town, so can he.

Right next to him is the middle child, Giovanni.

Now, he’s a snake that changes color depending on the circumstances, with two children as well. Xavier, the asshole I met when I arrived earlier, and his firstborn, Scarlet.

He watches me with a mix of slight anger and a kind of excitement as if he’s about to put on a show.

I hold his gaze and smirk.

I remember his men from almost nineteen years ago…the ones that were after Angel.

Giovanni knows that I’m the one who took care of that. He’s also tried to kill Angel several times thinking she had already told me but I thwarted all his efforts and spread the fact of Angel’s amnesia to him.

Back then, I was too young and weak to take him on.

Now though… he’s got another thing coming. I just need to be made the official boss of the Outfit first before I make an example of my dearest uncle.

Giovanni thinks the heir should be his son, since he knows there’s no way for him to ever get the chance.

Ignoring all of them, I make my way to the front where I see Grandfather, and right next to him is Emilio’s older son, Vaughn.

Now, he’s completely different from his father, our uncles, and all my other cousins.

He’s completely unpredictable, cunning, and calculating.

Vaughn is actually just a few days younger than me, which is a little fact that will always be a huge fucking pain in his and his asshole father’s ass.

Vaughn doesn’t bother looking at me and while the rest of the Family, the top members of the Outfit and everyone present—including my uncles and cousins—bow as I walk, he stands straight and stoic.

I don’t care.

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