Page 178 of Villainous Kingpin

She shook her head. “No, let’s wait just a bit longer.”

The two of them walked away, leaving me standing with Priest by my side. Silence stretched, although I couldn’t say it was an uncomfortable one.

The beeping sound of the machine, signaling Bas breathed soothed my worry and I just focused on that. Bas was still asleep and even in his state, he looked like a force to be reckoned with.

“Are you two admiring Basilio sleeping? Reminds me of reversed sleeping beauty shit.” Sasha’s voice came from behind me and I whirled around to find him standing behind me with Alexei and his wife, along with Nico Morrelli and his wife. “I mean, I know he’s handsome and all that, but I dare say, I’m even more handsome.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Your hair is too blonde.”

“Have you checked yourself in the mirror lately?”

My eyes darted between all of them. “Thank you for showing up when you did,” I said seriously. “If you hadn’t-”

I couldn’t even think about that.

My eyes shifted to my brother. Jesus, it still shocked me to think of him as my brother. “If I forget to thank Dante, please let him know. Okay, Priest?”

He nodded, the expression on his face grim. As if on cue, Jules’ screech echoed through the hospital hallway and she stormed off.

“Those two are playing cat and mouse,” Bianca, Nico’s wife mused. “Guess who’s the mouse?”

And Jules was making the chase all the more thrilling.

“We should announce my connection to you,” Priest said, changing the subject. “It will take the heat of the crazy bitch away from you.”

Bianca winced and opened her mouth to say something, but Franco and Mom were back.

“Absolutely not,” Mom hissed. “I didn’t sacrifice all those years to put you in harm's way now.”

“I’ve been in harm’s way all along,” he snapped and my mother paled.

“Priest, you can’t say shit like that to our mother,” I scolded him.

“Your mother,” he growled low. “Your mother, Wynter.”

Mom’s expression broke and her sobs shattered the air.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Franco warned his son. “In private.”

“Good luck finding me,” Priest snapped. “I’m done with asking permission. You do your thing, I’m doing mine.”

Franco and Mom shuffled away. I knew we could resolve all this tension and past ghosts that seemed to have left a mark on all of us. The question was how long would it take.

“So I know this might be a bad time to bring this up,” Bianca started tentatively. “The woman. Your great-grandmother.”

“The crazy bitch,” I added helpfully. “I kind of prefer that.”

Bianca shared a fleeting glance with her husband. “Yeah, about that. Well, she’s my great-aunt. Sasha said she gave you a name. Sofia Catalano.”

My brows shot up.

“Are you for fucking real?” Priest asked exactly what I was thinking.

Nico shoved his one hand into his pocket, looking all casual and lethal. “Dead serious.”

Priest and I shared a look.

“No offense, but the bitch is dead the moment I get my hands on her,” Priest announced. “For what she did to my cousin and for putting Wyn in danger with her psycho attack.” I nodded my agreement. “And don’t expect family reunions if that woman is there.”