“It’s a very nice property, Amadeo. Off the beaten path. Secure. But could leave you backed into a corner.”
“How did you get the address?” Bastian asks.
He shrugs, sits back down, and picks up his whiskey. He casually crosses his ankle over the opposite knee.
“Was it a secret?”
“Our mother’s safety is a priority. Given her mental state, I’m sure you understand the importance of that.”
“I’m her brother. Your uncle. I should be included within the circle.”
“Let’s not bullshit, shall we, Uncle?” Bastian asks. “The family is divided. And you are the cause of that division.”
“United we stand, divided we fall, blah, blah, blah. You were always the dramatic one, weren’t you, Bastian?” He doesn’t hide his distaste for my brother.
“Who told you the address?” I prod.
He shrugs a shoulder. “I can’t recall, honestly.”
“I’m not sure there’s an honest bone in your body,” I say.
“Nor yours. We are the same, Amadeo. Don’t forget that.” He glances behind me. “Where is your lovely fiancée? Or I guess it’s wife now. I heard the happy news.”
I pour myself a whiskey and sit down. I don’t bother to answer him as I study him now that I know what I know.
Bastian remains standing, watching, and I wonder how close he is to pulling his gun out of its holster and putting a bullet between Sonny’s eyes. Just getting it done.
“I’m confused, though? Is she with you?” Sonny starts, pointing at me, then turns his finger to Bastian. “Or you? Or both?” He grins like the cat who ate the fucking canary. “I bet between the two of you, it was a long night for her,” Sonny says, eyeing us both. “Tell me, how does it feel to fuck the enemy’s daughter? Because that’s what she is, correct? Didn’t her father give you two that nasty reminder of Russo power?” He gestures to our faces.
Bastian takes a menacing step Sonny. Two soldiers who are loyal to my uncle step forward.
“Bastian.” I shake my head.
He stops grudgingly. I have no doubt he’d risk his life to take our uncle out. That’s how deep his hate for Sonny goes.
I sip my drink and count to ten. I want to kill him as much as Bastian, but one of us needs to remain levelheaded.
“Since you’re here, you save me a trip, Uncle,” I say.
“Or aren’t you enemies any longer?” Sonny continues. “Now that you’ve taken a Russo for a wife?” he asks, carrying on like I haven’t spoken. “And what about you, Bastian. Does it bother you that he marries the whore? Not you?”
“You’re a fucking bastard, you know that?” Bastian asks.
Sonny looks at me again. “Although I can guess the ulterior motive.”
“My motivations aren’t your concern. What is my concern is your loyalty to the family.”
“Well, actually, two things.” Sonny holds up two fingers as if I haven’t spoken, and I imagine how he would scream if I bent them backward, breaking them slowly. “One, your motivations are my concern as they impact me in every aspect. And two, my loyalties have always and will always lie with the Caballero family. My family. If Angelo had lived—”
“Yes, if Angelo had lived, he’d be the one you’d be answering to now. Why is that? Why did Grandfather set you aside, Uncle?”
At this, he bristles, his mouth turning down at its customary angle. This is the true face of my uncle. I don’t miss the fact that it’s not loss or sadness at the fact that his son is dead that he’s expressing. It’s hate.
“What’s the matter, Uncle? Don’t you miss your son?” Bastian asks.
Sonny looks like he’ll lunge at Bastian.
Bastian smiles wide, liking getting under Sonny’s skin. I can’t help my smile, either.