“What’s going on?” Reaper asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Thought you said only five people. I count twenty.”
“I know.”
“I don’t like this Gio.”
“Neither do I,” I whispered as Carmine, Dario, and the other Capribella’s I did not know walked over to the table and sat before us. The guards were at their backs.
“Giovanni Valentinetti. Let me be the first to welcome you home to Italy,” Carmine said pleasantly.
“Thank you, Carmine, and thank you for meeting with me regarding this grave injustice. I hope that what I have to say will help your family heal and find peace. Please let me introduce my brothers, Salvatore and Antonio. Maxwell Doherty, the President of the Golden Skulls, and Dwyane Buchannon, my cousin, is to my right.”
“And the beautiful woman?”
“Ms. Layla Franks, the daughter of Donna Franks and Angelo Sebastian Capribella.”
Carmine nodded then looked at four of his guards, who instantly moved to stand behind Layla and me. Looking at Carmine, I said, “I came in good faith, Carmine. What is this?”
“If the young woman is who you say she is, and that has yet been to be determined, she will have four loyal Capribella guards with her at all times. You must understand this, Giovanni. In good conscience, I cannot allow any of my family to be harmed in any way. Consider it extra protection for the young woman for your brief say. Now that the matter is settled, what information do you have for my family.”
This meeting was quickly getting out of hand. I didn’t like it one bit. I came in good faith. I reached out to him out of courtesy, and this was how he behaved. I followed the rules to the letter. Never deviating, and yet Carmine did as he pleased, leaving our family’s hands tied. There was no way we could fight our way out of this, and even if I ended the meeting now, it would look bad on my family. That and I wasn’t sure we’d all make it to the plane alive.
He was pushing all my buttons, watching me intently, waiting for any indiscretion to start a war. I knew the animosity between our families ran deep, but I thought he would at least be civil for the sake of peace.
“You are being a dick, you know that?” Layla stated, shocking me as she stared directly at Carmine, who grinned.
“My apologies. It is not my intention to make you uncomfortable.”
“I think you are enjoying this, and just so you know, it’s going to take a lot more than your guards to make me uncomfortable. Now stop posturing and stick to the fucking agreement.”
Reaper chuckled, Dwayne whistled as my brothers and I stared in shock.
Carmine looked intently at Layla, and after a few minutes, he laughed boisterously. Leaning forward, he placed his elbows on the table and said, “You have the Capribella fire, my dear, but until your DNA confirms you are the great-granddaughter of Victor Alonzo Capribella, you are a guest here. So, watch how you talk to me,capiche?”
“I didn’t have to come here, asshole, remember that.”
“Layla,” Reaper whispered, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Enough.”
“And who are you to this woman?” Carmine asked Reaper.
Reaper grinned and said, “I’m her brother.”
Carmine leaned back and smirked, “Your mother must have gotten around, my dear.”
And just like that, Layla jumped up, but before she could get her hands on Carmine, Reaper and I grabbed ahold of her as she screamed, “Fuck you, asshole. My mother was a fucking saint. Your fucking sadistic family member raped her and left her for dead! You ever talk about my mother again, and I will rip your fucking heart out with my bare hands,capichedickhead!”
“Layla, stop!” Reaper shouted, trying to get her to calm down. Yet, only when I whispered,mia Amore, did she stop to look at me. I could see the tears in her eyes. What Carmine said hurt her deeply, and for that alone, I wanted to end this meeting.
Hugging her to me, I held her as she tried to control the emotions running through her. Turning to Carmine, I said, “You owe her an apology. You know nothing of what she’s been through, and what you just did was not only hurtful but beneath your family code.”
“He’s right, Carmine,” Dario said, speaking up for the first time. “Apologize. Now.”
Carmine nodded. “I am truly sorry, my dear. My temper got away with me. I know that is no excuse, so please accept my humblest apologies.”
Layla said nothing as she extracted herself from my embrace and walked towards the shore. The four guards turned to follow. “Massacre, follow,” Reaper ordered.