Page 101 of He is Poison

“The fuck? Take thatoff. Seth’s not gonna fuck you if he sees you like that.” And the worst thingwas that Seth, with his lingerie-wearing ex, probably wouldn’t mind.

“I’m helping you out.”Silvio gave Dom that toothy grin over his shoulder and walked up to Seth, whoreappeared in the corridor, in long, steady strides. The heels made him almostas tall as Seth now.

Seth’s brows gatheredinto a confused frown. “What’s happening?”

“He’s having too muchfun,” growled Domenico, keeping his gaze above Silvio’s ankles. It was aridiculous situation.

Silvio winked at Dom, asif it were cute, and leaned over to Seth for a kiss. “You swing both ways,Seth?”

“But…” Seth’s lipsparted.

“Seth, where are thefucking boxes?” growled Domenico. He rushed over and pulled Seth close by thearm.

Seth flinched at firstbut then entwined their fingers in a gesture that slightly soothed Dom’sannoyance. “I couldn’t find anything proper. Only cardboard, but that wouldleak, right? I’ve got those heavy duty plastic bags. And lube?” he added in aweak voice. The tremble in his hand resonated through Dom’s arm as well, but hesqueezed Seth’s fingers in hope of making him steady.

“No, I meant the woodenboxes that Silvio brought with him,” said Domenico, but the moment he sawSilvio’s hand reaching out, he pushed Seth against the wall and moved to standbetween him and Silvio. What the hell was this man thinking? That Domenicowould let him fuck Seth’s ass while in stilettos? “We’re not gonna use the lubetoday.”

Silvio stared at himwith an unreadable expression in those bottomless black eyes. “Work it is then.I am taking the shoes though.”

Seth took a deep shakybreath and stood where Dom pushed him. “I’ll get those wooden boxes then,” hemuttered, and as he passed Dom, he gave him the sweetest, mint-flavored kiss.It was sprinkled with gratefulness that made Dom proud as a lion havingdefended his female. His gaze followed Seth briefly, with a strange warmthbuzzing in his chest.

“You can take them forall I care, I’m don’t dress like a woman,” Dom declared with a frown. He had noidea where Silvio was going with this. He obviously knew how to wear that shit.Dom’s best bet was that he played dress-up for some jobs to get an easier kill.Dom would never stoop so low.

Silvio just smirked andwent back to the cell full of dead bodies in a cat-like gait. Like he didn’tcare for Domenico’s opinion. Between Spadaro’s slacking and Seth’s all toosensitive stomach, it looked as though Dom would have to do most of the workhimself anyway. Just fucking typical.

At least he knew he’d getan amazing meal and a warm bed at the end of the day. Now all he needed to dowas survive Seth’s wedding and find out who the fuck was Mr. Tropico.

17 yearsbefore…

The bullet went straightthrough Massimo’s head. His wide eyes glazed over as blood oozed out of thehole in his forehead. He stood still for a moment, as if his body hadn’tregistered the mortal wound, then like at the snap of fingers, the body fell tothe floor, now only a sack of bones.

There was a boyishscream, but Dino couldn’t tell which of his sons crumbled at the sight of adying man. The three small figures cowered in the damp shadows at the edge ofthe weak lamplight. Their mothers wouldn’t approve, but Dino knew they were oldenough to witness this. He looked down at his brother’s body, dark bloodalready pooling on the cold stone floor. Served him right. Massimo should havestayed quiet like their younger brother, Frederico. That man knew what was goodfor him and where his place was.

A broken sob got hisattention back to the boys. All three had uniform, short haircuts, so it tookhim a moment to realize which one was crying. Domenico. Fairest skin, only halfVillani blood. Maybe that was what made him weak? He was the youngest, onlyeight years old, but no son of Dino’s could miss this execution. It was high timeto grow up for all of them. Vincente, the oldest, looked at his uncle’s bodywith a childish scowl. When he noticed Dino watching them, he made an abruptturn to nudge Domenico with his elbow. This was a boy who already understoodsome of the Family rules. Seth, on the other hand, stood in the corner, frozenlike an ice sculpture.

Dino knew not to judgeboys as if they were men. Time would tell which one of them would be thefittest, and hewouldwatch them closely.

“The most importantlesson of your life,” Dino said, putting his Beretta back into the holsterunder his armpit. “Family is everything. If one of you betrays us like UncleMassimo, it’s up to the others to put him down.”

Vincente took a shy steptoward the body. “But what did he do, Father?” The words were quite firm, butDino could see his hands shaking.

“He didn’t know hisplace. All of us have a role to play. If you want to change your destiny, youneed the balls to back it up. Otherwise, this is how you end up.” He pointed tothe body before taking a glance at his two younger sons, who were still firmlypressed against the wall in the corner.

Domenico managed to bitehis tongue, but he was clearly attempting to hide behind Seth, who keptwatching his dead uncle with wide eyes. It was the first time they witnessedsomeone being killed, but with time, moments like this would become part oftheir reality.

Dino didn’t know whichone of them would take his place in the future, but he wouldn’t make anarbitrary decision as his father had. He had already decided that each one ofthem would get a fair chance at becoming the Don. It was up to them. Survivalof the fittest. He was also sure that the one to win such a battle would makethe best successor.

All would be settledonce they reached maturity.

“Daddy, can we go now?”Seth moaned and took a step away from Domenico, who wiped his eyes again andfollowed like a lamb.

Dino sighed and put hishand on Vincente’s shoulder to keep him away from the bits of skull and brainhe tried to sneak up to. “I think it’s time for dinner.”