Page 20 of Alive and Kicking
“They all have appeal,” I snap at him.
That sobers him up a lot. Especially because he knows they all spent the night in my room. I hope he’s sitting over there and freaking out about the prospect of me having orgies all night under his roof.
Dad clears his throat. “There will be no further discussion on this. Now, who has something that needs to be discussed?”
Everyone pauses for a moment before someone brings up something else. Over the next hour we go in circles, discussing revenue streams, rival family issues, and police interference. Cain is able to give some great advice to keep our businesses under the radar of police detection, and ends up promising to make a report to hand off to dad with everything we can do. Apparently, most of the ways the police detect crime are through AI detected patterns of purchases and things like that now.
“Okay, Is there anything else that needs to be discussed before we adjourn?”
One of the younger guys raises a hand like we’re in kindergarten. He’s looking down at his cell phone, which really shouldn’t be in here. But since he’s one of our tech guys he usually gets a pass. “One of my contacts just confirmed that the twins have shown up for the party tonight.”
It’s like a lead weight drops into the center of the room. “Who are the twins?” Sloane asks, noticing the tension.
“Vincenzo and Niccolò Moretti,” Enzo huffs.
The guys stiffen at that. “I thought they were all gone. Their empire fell, didn't it?” Cain demands.
I frown, but answer him anyway, “They did fall. Or most of them did anyway. The twins kept their noses clean, they were my grandparents' back-up plan. Their names were nowhere in any of the family businesses, they just ran the legit side of things. The twins received everything the feds couldn’t connect to a crime. Which was a lot, the Moretti’s were very good at using legit business to hide their criminal activity. They’ve never tried to kill me or anything though, so I guess they make okay cousins.”
“They can’t be trusted,” Enzo snaps.
I want to snap back at him, but he was there the whole time that family kept sending assassins after me. I can’t blame him for labeling the whole lot as untrustworthy. “Enzo. They’re fine. They used to play with me when I was a kid, when momwould take me to visit her parents. They had nothing to do with what happened; they didn’t even know about the assassination attempts until well after the fact.”
He turns a scathing glare on me. “And how the hell do you know that?”
I narrow my eyes at him. Sometimes he gets a little too overprotective dad on me. More-so than my own father, who treats everything as a learning experience. Get stabbed on a job? ‘What did we learn from that?’ Obviously I learned not to get fucking stabbed.
I guess I can give Enzo an answer since he’s the person who worries about me the most. “I ran into Nic when I was fifteen and snuck out. I just wanted to go to Starbucks. I’d never been inside a coffee shop before. He was shocked when I freaked out and tried to stab him after he went in for a hug. He was pissed as well, they had no idea. He and Vin were preoccupied with other things around that time.”
I wasn’t going to go into detail about the vicious custody battle that Vin has found himself at the center of, or the fact that we exchanged numbers and talk frequently. Well, I actually haven’t talked to either of them since I ran away, and I should probably send them both a text from my new number because I miss getting updates about Ava. She’s a few years younger than me, which is funny, my cousin’s daughter is closer to my age than my cousins are.
Enzo starts to argue with me, but my dad puts an end to that. “Okay, if that’s it then Viv has organized and decided on the promotions to replace the members we lost.”
Eyes turn to me and I straighten up in my seat. “First thing’s first, Kian will be moved up from soldier to Underboss.”
Protests start almost immediately, but I cut them off, “No arguments. I trust him, and I know Enzo has trained him well.As for the two Caporegimes, I’ve decided on Giovanna and Nico. And to replace Kian under Enzo, I’ve decided on Havana.”
The confused looks passing around the table tell me most of the people here don’t even know who she is. I’d initially dismissed her as well, but Nox convinced me, and now I’m sure Enzo can teach her some much-needed discipline. He taught me everything I know after all.
When there are no protests, I continue, “Under Giovanna, I’ve decided on the three Amato brothers, as well as Sofia. And Nico will get Romeo, Marco, Gemma, and Liliana.”
The crowd is not happy as I gather my things and leave the room. But I am not sticking around for the arguments. My dad is still in charge for now, so that makes it his problem to deal with. The guys trail after me as Enzo objects from his spot against the wall. Technically I’m in the family ranks, so a lot of the rules don’t apply to me. Nevertheless, my dad didn’t excuse him from the table.
I grin as we head out into the main section of the club. There are lots of people swarming around, and I easily pick out the matching heads of dark, wavy hair in a corner. They are surrounded by women, and I make my way over there. Nic is the first to see me. He sets down his beer and holds his arms open, making me smile asI throw myself into his embrace. Vin sees me then, and a small smile spreads across his face too. He’s always so reserved, so I’m not surprised when he just pats me on the back while Nic holds me.
“I’d hate to stab someone with so many witnesses, but I’ll do it if I have to,” Zane says, before gently grabbing my arm and tugging me away from Nic and Vin.
“You’re an idiot. They’re her cousins. Don’t you remember us just talking about that like ten minutes ago?” Sloane scowls.
Zane huffs at him, “That was before I knew they looked like that.” He points an accusing finger at the twins. “We’recriminals. You think incest would be the most taboo thing to cross their minds? I don’t think so.”
Vin’s nose curls at that. “Ew, she’s like two years older than my daughter.”
Nic holds his hands up. “Incest has never crossed my mind.”
Zane doesn’t seem to believe him, as he subtly pushes me toward Sloane so that I’m further away from the twins.
Vin’s eyes find Cain and his head tilts to the side. “Do I know you?”
