Page 14 of Ruin

I don’t want to do this. But the thought of carving into some entitled asshole who thinks he’s untouchable? That sounds alright.

Matti leans in with a grin. “Good therapy, yeah?”

“Fine.” I crush the water bottle.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m clean, dressed in my usual black jeans, black tee, and black hoodie.

Vin nods his approval. “At least you don’t smell like a corpse anymore.”

Matti grins. “Master of compliments. Ready?”

I flick my knife open and closed. “Always.”

Hat backwards, knife in my pocket, I follow my brothers out the door, thinking about Giovanna and wishing I weren’t.

**

The Demonio estate sprawls across a private island, Aurelio’s compound a monument to control. By the time we reach his office, my father is already behind his desk. At 52, he’s easily 250 pounds, a thick worm-like scar winds up from his neck, over his chin, and across his cheek to the bridge of his nose.

He is the nucleus of this shit show, and all of us shift, expand, and contract around him, obediently fulfilling his demands, knowing that not doing so means instant death.

Tony standing behind him. My chest constricts, and it takes everything in me—and I mean everything—not to lunge across the room and beat the shit out of him. But Vin shoulder-checks me, pulling me back.

There’s a man in a navysuit across from Aurelio. With salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, spine rigid. When he turns, my stomach drops.

Lorenzo Marino. Giovanna’s father.

Vin and Matti don’t look at me. My skin crawls. This is why I’m here? They think I have some kind of leverage because of Giovanna? My only relationship with this man is him hating me and me wondering why.

“Now that everyone is finally here, we can begin,” Aurelio says, his Italian accent thick, giving Vin an indicting look. “Lorenzo, you may know we have some, uh, what do you say, personnel changes at Luminous & Co, my custom jewelry design house.”

Lorenzo gives a crisp nod, his jaw clenched.

“We find ourselves in need of a CEO, someone who is… a friend. But also someone who is good with business.”

The air is heavy with tension. My fingers open and close into fists on repeat as Lorenzo’s jaw works, his gaze hard.

“I’m sorry I don’t have anyone to recommend,” he says carefully.

Aurelio rubs a thumb along his scar, regarding him with cold eyes. “Good. You will be the new CEO. You bring credibility, a lovely family. Your wife and daughter wouldn’t mind access to some of the most sought after jewels in the world, no?”

Lorenzo can barely keep the sneer off his face as he regards Aurelio evenly. “As you know, I have several successful businesses of my own, which take me out of town quite frequently. I don’t see how my schedule would allow me to manage a brick and mortar business here in New York.”

Aurelio barks out a humorless laugh and settles back in his chair, lacing his fingers together over his expansivebelly. “Your businesses run themselves. You stay out of town to keep your wife from finding out about your second family in Montreal, your mistress and child in Sorrento, and the new girlfriend in—where is it, Antonio?”

“Boston, sir.”

I grind my teeth as Tony flits his gaze from Lorenzo to me and back again. Did he get that information from Giovanna? If not, did he tell her he knew?

“Yes. Boston. Perhaps it is time to come home. Be a father to our dear Giovanna, no?”

Lorenzo stiffens, his chest puffing slowly as he takes a deep breath. If he could murder Aurelio with a glance, my father would burst into flames. Something flickers between the two men that I can’t quite identify.

Aurelio’s gaze lifts slowly to meet mine, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Unless you prefer my boys look after her instead. My Tommaso has a fondness for your daughter, do you not, Tommaso?”

My heart rate spikes and time slows down as Tony’s lip twitches into a snarl and Lorenzo glares fire at Aurelio. Is he threatening me with her? Threateningherwith me? I can’t tell. All I know is I want to cut someone open.

Lorenzo sneers at Aurelio. “That would not be a good idea for either of them.”