I look at him and blink. “No. I don’t think so… I know we don’t like each other.”
And that Nikita wants peace with my future father-in-law, but not with you.
How stupid would it be to tell Settimo that? I have no idea. I don’t understand the significance.
“We?” he asks. “Do you consider yourself one of them?”
Why do I get the feeling this question matters?
I bite my lip and think about it.Yes. That’s the truth. I sure as shit don’t consider myself one of the Italians.
“Um. I don’t know. My father sells their drugs, and IamRussian. So…”
Settimo frowns. I guess that was the wrong answer.
“But I don’t consider myself a criminal or anything, so I guess not. Well, I kind of am since I help out in the butcher shop, but—”
“Are you still selling drugs?”
My mouth hangs open, and I slowly close it. His face has grown so serious, I barely recognize him. The confident vibe I got from him when I saw him at the funeral is back, and it gives me this weird feeling. Like I don’t know him at all.
“Alex.”
“What?” I ask, itching to scoot away. “Why are you asking me these questions? Aren’t you supposed to be the one doing the talking?”
Settimo’s jaw tenses, and I look down at the streets below us again. Bad idea. I think I’m going to puke.
“Okay, I’ll talk.”
I move my eyes to him and focus on my breathing.
“We’re about to go to war. One wrong move from your people, and the familia will strike back. By the sound of it, Nikita is full of wrong moves. He’s willing to sacrifice his men for the sake of killing mine, and the only move I have is to retaliate.”
I shrink like he’s scolding me, because that’s exactly how it sounds.
“There will benoroom for mercy. For anyone associated with them. Please keep that in mind before you tell me you’re one of them.”
Is that a threat?
I narrow my eyes. “What are you telling me right now? That you’ll kill me if I keep working in the butcher shop?”
“I’m telling you to be careful. I’m telling you…” Settimo takes a breath and thinks for a moment. “I’m telling you if things with Nikita go any further, there will be consequences that affect the both of us. You’re much,muchbetter off saying you’re one of us.”
But I’m not one of you.
And you’re wrong. Saying I’m not with the Russians willnotmake me better off. Have you met Nikita?
Settimo stares at me, and it takes me a minute to realize he’s waiting for my response.
“Okay.”
“Say it, Alex.”
I bite my lip. Settimo wouldn’t seriously hurt me. Would he?
No. With the way he’s acting now, the answer is yes. Absolutely, yes. But deep down inside of me I know he wouldn’t.
“My loyalty is to myself and to my family. To be honest with you, I couldn’t give a fuck about some feud with the—”