Page 8 of He is Poison
“You’re looking good,”said the Don with a strong pat to Seth’s arm that made his son visibly flinch.“It’s such a shame your mother can’t see you now.” He furrowed his eyebrows andshook his head, suddenly serious. Even Vincente bowed his head in respect.
“Maybe it’s for thebetter,” Seth mumbled but hugged his father. “Is the funeral tomorrow?”
“Yes. It’s a shame youwere too busy to see her alive,” said Dino, casting down his eyes.
Domenico felt hisnostrils flare and bowed his head in discontent. What kind of son wouldn’t comeand see his dying mother?
“I kind of… thought Iwould still have the chance at Christmas,” Seth sighed and pulled away, shovinghis hands into his pockets.
“Well, you won’t.” Dinospread his arms with a small fake smile and gestured for Domenico to follow,before walking into the villa. So much for fatherly love.
Vincente walked up toSeth and put an arm over his shoulder. “Father’s got something to tell us all,but he said we have to wait for you. It must be something big.” He grinned atSeth, and Domenico could already imagine what that could be. The death of his wifemust have sparked a sentimental fire in Dino. It was only appropriate that hewanted to make sure his sons knew what the order of business would be if hehimself passed away without warning. It was so obvious, Dom groaned that Sethdidn’t see it coming. Why was the loser even there?
As they walked down thepristine corridor, Domenico couldn’t help himself and lowered his gaze toSeth’s ass, clad in slacks that were just a bit too tight. If he didn’t know thatwasn’t the case, he’d assume the guy was wearing them on purpose. It didn’tescape his attention though that Vincente let his gaze drift to a uniformedmaid, whose face seemed vaguely familiar. Someone from school perhaps? Itdidn’t matter anyway. He wasn’t anyone’s keeper.
“Yes, I can’t make anyimportant decisions without all of you at my side,” said Dino as he strolleddown the corridor in a gait worthy of someone much younger.
Seth came closer to hisfather and held up his bandaged hand. “Will you tell us what happened?”
Domenico hardly kept achuckle inside when Dino didn’t even spare the raised arm a glance. “We’ve gotsome tensions with the Triad in the North East.”
“But… I didn’t seeanyone follow me or anything,” Seth said as they entered the Don’s largeoffice. To Domenico’s surprise, theconsigliereand his son Santo werealso present.
“You have a lot tolearn, little brother,” Vincente laughed and patted Seth’s back before sittingin the leather armchair in front of the desk.
“Yes, it seems I neglectedsome aspects of your education.” Dino shook his head and walked up to sitbehind his massive desk. “Domenico, close the door.”
Dom did as he was toldand stood by the wall, watching the Villanis sit in a curiously spread-outfashion, in expensive antique armchairs he knew his mother loved.
“Domenico said you paidthem back eye for an eye?” Seth asked, fidgeting in his seat as if he couldn’tunderstand that everyone else was already done with the topic of his patheticfinger.
Dino’s chest resonatedwith a low chuckle. “I can’t let anyone think they can get away with taking myflesh and blood.”
Vincente leaned forwardin the armchair, resting his elbows on the tops of his thighs and nodded atSeth. “I’ll make sure no one bothers you again.”
Seth smiled back at himand gave his brother’s thigh a gentle punch.Brotherly love.Domenicocould puke.
“What news do you havefor us?” Frederico, theconsigliere, looked at the Don, his young sonlike a carbon copy of his father. Both were handsome, with strong features andtan skin, sleek and as elegant as cats that would let you pet them in onemoment, only to claw your eyes out in the next. Santo had grown a lot since Domhad last seen him though, his shoulders wider, whole body more bulky. The thickred horizontal scar around his neck was proof that Santo wasn’t a boy anymore.
Theconsigliere’sgaze briefly swept over Domenico, but all he got was atight-lipped smile. They were done with pleasantries.
Dino sighed and leanedforward, folding his fingers on the desktop. “The unfortunate passing of mywife gave me a lot to think about, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you.”
No one spoke, all ofthem anxious for what the Don might decide. Frederico’s gaze drifted back tothe boss as the whole room became silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Dino cleared his throat.“I need to protect the family, and as much as I am in control of ouroperations, I need to be sure my successor is ready.”
It seemed that thetension between the luxurious armchairs thickened so badly, Vincente couldhardly breathe as his neck became oddly pink.
Domenico folded hishands on his chest, watching the situation from a distance. It didn’t concernhim anyway. All he cared about was getting a few days off to spend with hismother, but what Dino said next drew his attention right back to where it wassupposed to be.
“And I chose to leavethe operational side in the hands of my younger son.”
The silence thatfollowed was so loud it took Domenico several seconds to understand what hadhappened.
Seth just sat there,with his lips parted. “I… You mean—”
“Is this a joke?”Vincente snapped.