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I laugh, but it’s all teeth and twitch. My fingers drum against the edge of the table like I’m trying to outpace my own heartbeat.

“Hey man, what do you mean?” I say with a shaky grin. “Listen, I know it’s hard to turn on your blood, but he was going to take everything your father worked for—all for himself. Didn’t I tell you?”

Riccardo’s arms are crossed. His expression doesn’t budge.

“You did,” he says. “You told me he was going to disappear to Europe with his share. Said he didn’t care about the family anymore. I believed that.”

I nod quickly, sensing an opening. “Exactly. That’s what I’ve been saying. He was ready to walk away. Just like that. Leave you and the others with nothing.”

“But I’ve been thinking. Something’s been bothering me.”

My grin starts to strain at the edges.

He taps the wood between us. “Why did you want the girl too?”

The pause is long. I laugh again, thinner this time. “I didn’t,” I say, too fast. “Your brother did. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t hear anything that could put her in danger.”

He tilts his head, watching me. “That’s noble of you.”

I spread my hands. “She was a civilian. I was looking out for her.”

Riccardo shifts in his seat. “Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. She’s with her grandmother now. She’ll forget all this in a week.”

My eye twitches. I reach for the pack of cigarettes beside the ashtray but stop when Riccardo speaks again.

“And by the way,” he says slowly, “speaking of the girl... I heard your men were hovering around her grandmother. Right before the old woman had a heart attack.” He keeps his tone light. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

I scoff, recovering. “I would never hurt an innocent woman. That’s all Vieri. He had me watching the woman. Ask anyone.”

Riccardo studies me, jaw shifting.

“My brother’s ruthless,” he says. “But even he has lines. And you...”

I let out a sharp breath and gesture at the room. “So what now, Riccardo? You come here, play prosecutor?”

He stands slowly, gaze steady.

“Your plan isn’t working for me anymore,” he says.

I stand too. “Don’t do this. You were on board with taking out your brother.”

“I wasn’t going to kill him.”

My eyes flash. “I wasn’t either! Just keep him in chains for a while. Let him cool off. You think he’ll let you live if he finds out what you’ve been doing behind his back? You know what he’s like.”

Riccardo nods once. “That’s the only true thing you’ve said tonight.”

He steps toward the door, then turns halfway.

“I took three days off,” he says. “Cleared my head. No molly. Nothing in my system except my conscience.”

My shoulders tighten.

His voice drops. “I want to hear my brother’s side of the story. In fact, I want to hear it with you in the room. I’ll bring him in from the car. If his version matches yours... I’ll knock him out myself. Again.”

My face twists. “Stronzo figlio di una baldracca,” I snarl. Son of a whore

I draw my gun from under the table. Riccardo already has his out.