Page 122 of Sins of the Orchid

“Fucking wrong.” My brother exploded, getting into Savio’s face. His fist gripped his collar, lifting him off the ground.

Santi has lost his fucking mind.

Both of them were dons and shit like this started a goddamn war, marriage contract or not.

“Put him down,” Luigi shouted, his gun pointed at Santi. At the same time, Renzo and I pointed guns at Luigi’s and Savio’s heads.

Luigi’s hand was bandaged up, and I gathered Santi did it from the way Luigi greeted him. When he arrived, Luigi spat a few curses at Santi and the latter told him he better shut the fuck up or he’d lose his other hand. Yeah, Santi definitely did it.

“You’ll never have her, Santino Russo.” Savio’s words sliced through the air, the meaning hitting me straight in the chest.

My brother wanted Amore Bennetti for himself.

* * *

The drive back to the city after we left the Bennetti residence was tense. Renzo sat in the front seat, chewing his gum and kept spinning the bullet chamber to his revolver. Fucker would shoot himself one day, or even worse, one of us.

My eyes kept fleeting to Santi. He hadn’t said a word since we got into his Bugatti. His jaw was locked tight and his fingers were gripping the steering wheel so tight, I expected the damn thing to break off at any second.

Amore and Santi.No, no, no. It couldn’t be. She would have said something. She never fawned over him and certainly never chased after him. Maybe it was one sided. After all, Amore had men chasing after her everywhere she went. She was a catch with her wealth and beauty. She was an unparalleled catch. Though to me, she was so much more. She’d always stood by me, supported me. She wouldn’t forget about me and chase after my brother like most other women.

Insecurity wormed itself into my heart. Santi was always better than me at everything. There hadn’t been a woman in his entire life that rejected him. If he wanted her, he would get her.

The door slamming had me turning my gaze away from Santi’s clenched hands on the wheel. Renzo got out of the car.

“Get in the front, Adriano. This isn’t driving Miss Daisy.” My brother’s voice was hard and cold. For a fraction of a second, I debated treating him as my chauffeur but decided against it. In his current mood, I wouldn't put it past him to shoot me.

Exiting the car, I got into the front passenger seat. Without delay, he shifted the car into first gear. I lasted barely a minute without saying a word.

“What was that about, Santino?”.

One breath. Two breaths.

“What exactly?” Not a flicker of emotion in his voice.

“You know exactly what,” I grumbled in agitation. “You attacking Savio, shooting Luigi. Are you trying to start a war?”

“There are worse things.” Typical Santi to answer in short, clipped answers.

“Like what?” I challenged him.

“Like this goddamn marriage contract,” he gritted out, his jaw clenching.

“I’m not upset over it,” I retorted. “So you shouldn’t be either.”

“It’s not the right move,” he snapped.

“Why?” I hissed. “Because you don’t like it.”

“Fucking straight,” he barked. “I’m the don, fratello.”Brother.“Not you. So deal with my fucking decisions.”

“Fuck. You. Don Russo.” If he thought he could tell me what I should or shouldn’t do, he had another thing coming. “Stop the goddamn car.”

Santi didn’t even hesitate. He stepped on the brakes, causing me to almost kiss the fucking windshield. Glaring at him, I pulled on the door handle and slammed the car door with a brutal force, hoping the fucking door would fall off.

The door barely clicked before the tires of his Bugatti screeched as he took off.

CHAPTER44