Page 69 of Nicoli

“Which brings me back to my point.” Alexius slithers his gaze to me. “Leandra and I are going to take a break from representing the Dark Sovereign at socials and formal events. You and Mirabella will be going instead.”

“Not a chance.” I shake my head. “I am not the Boss of the Dark Sovereign, nor am I the face of this family. You are. Born and bred for it.”

“I don’t care. You and Mirabella need to be seen together more. You need to make connections with others to solidify your presence as a couple in this society, Nicoli. We cannot, under any circumstances, let Nunzio think we are even a little less than a strong, united front. We can’t give him the slightest reason to think he could take us on.”

I’m grinding my teeth, tapping my finger angrily on the table. “I’m not a social fucking butterfly like you. And I’m not parading my wife around like a goddamn trophy at horse races and fucking birthday parties.”

“You think that’s what I’m fucking doing? Parading my wife around like a goddamn trophy?” He stands, leaning with his palm flat on the table, his eyes burning through my skull. “Let me tell you what our father told me when I refused to marry. Listen good, Nicoli. A pretty wife is not just a fuck toy—sorry, Maximo.”

Maximo waves it off, but I’m pretty sure he just vomited a little in his mouth.

“A man’s power is communicated and reflected off his wife’s image. They are the ones who strengthen our presence simply by standing at our sides. Having a wife who looks at us with love and adoration is how we demand true respect from others like us. Not our money. Not our guns. Not our fucking surnames. Our wives,Nicoli.” He presses down hard on the table, bending his elbows as he leans closer to me. “So you do whatever the fuck it is that you need to do to make your wife happy. Sacrifice your motherfucking pride if you have to because that woman will be the one thing that makes you want to get up in the morning when the rest of the world has gone to shit.” He’s heaving, and there’s an intensity radiating from him that I’ve never seen before. His words are coming from somewhere far deeper, far more profound than just the wisdom of a mafia Boss. It’s pouring from his goddamn soul.

A deafening silence follows Alexius’ outburst. If I didn’t know that every word he said was the truth, I’d be pissed at how he just spoke to me—especially in front of the others. But he’s right. I’ve seen first-hand how my mother supported my father in ways that exhausted her. I’ve seen her crying secretly in her beloved garden when she thought she was alone. I sat under the maple trees and listened to her cry until she couldn’t cry anymore. Yet, when I’d see her later that same day, she would have a smile on her face that could light up the devil’s heart, and she’d be holding my father’s hand as if she’d never let go. She was his strength.

Alexius straightens, still staring me straight in the eye. “There will come a time when that woman will bleed herself dry for you, when she will love you even though it fucking breaks her. And when you fuck up so badly you tear her soul apart, your wife won’t hate you. Instead, she’ll hate herself for still loving you. In the end, she will forgive you even though you don’t deserve it. You will spend the rest of your motherfucking life doing everything you can to try to deserve her love even though you know you never will.”

That’s the deepest shit I’ve ever heard come out of my twin brother’s mouth. It cuts right to the bone, and by the way he’s looking at me now, we both know he’s talking about his own past with Leandra. About the time he deceived her, took her for granted, and broke her heart. It’s his way of warning me not to do the same. A little brotherly advice.

I could say a dickhead thing, but I’d say that takes assholery to a whole new level that not even I would go to.

“Okay,” I concede without saying anything else. I’m too afraid to open my mouth in case I end up saying the wrong thing like I usually do.

Alexius sits back down and lights a cigarette, a plume of smoke caking around his fingers. “Good. Besides, I need a goddamn vacation.”

“Tuscany?” The word causes last night’s Mexican food up my throat.

“No. I bought Leandra a private island off the coast of Belize as a gift for our anniversary next month.”

“Whoa. You’re putting me to shame, brother. I still need to buy my wife a wedding ring. But first,” I hold up a finger, “I have to find a way to get her in my goddamn bedroom.”

Caelian chuckles. It’s the first sound he’s made since this entire conversation started.

I peer at him. “Why have you been so quiet?”

“I’ve been silently hoping it wouldn’t take you an hour to say what we all knew you’d say from the very beginning of this conversation.”

“And what’s that?”

He smirks. “Yes, sir.”

Everyone bursts out laughing except for me. “That’s great,” I mutter. “Remember this moment when I piss all over your face next time your drunk ass passes out on the front porch.”

Isaia gets up and pats me on the shoulder on his way out. “Good luck with Mirabella. I’ll see you assholes later.”

“Where you off to?”

“Myth. I got some energy I need to get rid of.”

“Oh, wait for me.” Caelian rushes out after him, and we’re all aware we won’t be seeing them again today.

They shut the door, and Alexius stares at me pointedly. “I have to say it.”

“Say what?”

“That I’m glad I found out about this secret you two have been keeping from mebeforethis shit went down because now I know what’s on the line.” He gives me a knowing look. “Her sanity.”

I’m mildly annoyed that my brother is repeating shit I already know. “Is there a point?”

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