Page 29 of Savage Empire

“Dad has enough children, don’t you think?”

Elio shrugs. “He could handle a few more.”

Maybe he could. Dante Moretti is the kind of man that defies logic at every turn. Most people think that having more than a handful of kids is irresponsible, that you can’t possibly give them all equal love when you’re so outnumbered. But Dad has always been able to juggle each and every one of us, even without the help of a wife.

Yes, myself and the older siblings stepped up to help out, but he never forced us to do anything. Anytime Leon, Cassio, and I acted in more of a parental role toward our younger siblings, it was unprompted. And if our mother wasn’t so absent, I doubt we’d have felt the need to help out as much as we did.

We had rotating nannies, Uncle Cesar, Dad, and Martha.

We had good childhoods, far better than most men who grow up in our world, that’s for sure. So yes, Dad could handle taking in another son, especially since we’re all grown now.

But Yordan isn’t his responsibility, he’s mine.

“What did he say?”

“Just that we can come get him at any time tomorrow, he’s excited.”

“He should be,” I reply mildly. “You’re making time in your busy, mysterious schedule to join us. He must know how rare that is.”

I feel his eyes on the side of my face, gaze questioning. “I thought you were pissy about me being close to Rayna because you like her, but now I’m wondering if you’re just jealous. Do you miss me, brother dearest? Are you upset that I made time for the Todorovs and not enough for you?”

“Why on earth would you think I like Rayna? All she has done is yell at me and spit in the face of my generosity. Her bitter attitude is not exactly an alluring quality,” I bite out, the words tasting sour on my tongue. “And I’m not pissy, I don’t miss you, I see you plenty. This is my default mood, and you’ve lived with me long enough to know that.”

Elio huffs.

It makes me want to choke him.

“Whatever you say, Apollo.”

“Exactly,” I agree, ignoring his sarcasm. “WhateverIsay. You’d do well to remember that.”

“You know, Jade finds your grumpy asshole routine endearing but frankly, it’s getting old,” Elio says darkly. “You don’t have to be so closed off and cold all the time. I’m your brother, not some other mafia heir you need to keep at arm’s length all the time.”

I ignore the stab of discomfort in my stomach at his words.

I’m your brother.

He says it like I don’t know. Like I wouldn’t kill, die, and live for him.

Shaking off the discomfort, I pull into our driveway, face set into a determined frown.

“Says the one keeping secrets.”

I don’t allow him to get another word in before cutting the engine and snuffing out the suffocating proximity between us. My door swings closed loudly behind me, and I leave Elio behind, heading straight inside without looking back. I havetoo many things to do to continue having such a pointless conversation with him.

There is a difficult dynamic to maintain between siblings who also share a fixed hierarchy. I’m not just the oldest brother, in a couple of years, I’m going to be their Capo. My word will be law, and that leaves little room for complicated relationships. I don’t do mushy feelings or emotional connections for a reason.

The closest I allow is my sisters and my nieces and nephews. Sisters need more of a soft approach to feel safe, and my sibling’s children are babies. I treat them just as I did my brothers before they came of age. Children never choose to be born into this life, so they can’t be subjected to the harshness that comes along with it. At least, not until they grow up.

And we all grow up.

Chapter Nine

Rayna

The doorbell rings before my hair has fully dried from my shower. I’m sipping a milky coffee at the kitchen counter, wearing the comfiest bit of provided clothing I could find when Yordan hears the ring. A frilly, and loose pair of sleep shorts with a matching white tank top isn’t something I would typically wear while expecting company. But it’s only eight in the morning, and I honestly expected more time to be able to wake up before the day was set to begin.

I groan into my ceramic mug, watching as my little brother sprints up from the couch, rushing to get the door. I should have known that when I came downstairs to find him sitting in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he’d be leaving soon. Normally, the kid sleeps in until at least ten, and lounges around in sweatpants for as long as he can.