Page 142 of Fallen Rook

Achilles let out a chuckle. “You’re such a fucking idiot, brother. I gotta say, nothing brings me more joy than seeing your love life burning in a dumpster fire.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Luca snapped.

“Knock it off,” Tristan ordered coldly. “The apocalypse is upon us and you two idiots are exchanging barbs like preschoolers.”

Tiernan’s features drew together tightly, like an arrow. “Tristan’s right. You have much bigger problems than Luca’s inability to get his woman to notice his existence. Enzo, do you want to tell them?”

Shit. How much did he know?

Tiernan had Alex on speed dial and considered him his dearest friend and business partner. Their respect for each other ran deep and long, carved with poison and mutual trauma. Tiernan would never love anyone or anything like he did Lila, which was how I knew he’d never betray the Ferrantes. However, he was well versed in everything that happened inside the Bratva.

“We have a lot of catching up to do.” I cleared my throat, heading to the table. It was laden with delicacies, coffee, and refreshments. Imma fussed around it, adding more small cakes, biscotti, and zeppole, like a bird bringing twigs to her nest.

“Imma, I’ll have some whiskey, please,” Tierney singsonged.

Imma’s eyebrows slammed together disapprovingly. “Ladies don’t drink spirits.”

“Bless my luck that I’m not a lady,” Tierney chirped. “Make it a double, please. On the rocks.”

Achilles gave his wife a hard kiss, combined with an adoring smile, before turning his attention to the table. “Luca, this is a family meeting. Your whore needs to go outside.”

Azzurra stopped before her ass hit the chair.

“Who?” Luca frowned, seemingly remembering she was here for the first time since he walked in, “Oh, Azzurra, go wait in the living room.”

“My husband said outside,” Tierney highlighted. “She can admire the backyard. Lila did wonderful things with the rosebushes.”

“It’s winter.” Azzurra paled. “The flowers aren’t in bloom, and it’s cold.”

“Your coat looks warm enough.” Lila poured Achilles some coffee, murmuring softly. “Use it.”

Two little savages. I shook my head, smiling.

“Luca?” Azzurra screeched. Her eyes watery with humiliation. “Are you going to let them treat me this way? You’re the don.”

“And you’re the fucking bait,” he deadpanned. “You knew I’d never touch you in a million years. You served your purpose. Now act your part and disappear.”

Azzurra stomped her way out. I glanced at Luca, who seemed to be craning his neck to try to peer through the window to see if Sofia was still there.

Tiernan drew out a chair for Lila. “You can go to bed if you are too tired, Gealach.”

“And miss out on all the drama?” She signed, flashing him a scandalized look. “I’m pregnant, not critically wounded.”

“But someone else is about to be if people don’t sit the fuck down so we can start this meeting,” Luca scoffed.

After much commotion, my clusterfuck of a family was finally seated and staring at me expectedly.

“Well?” Luca asked. “What was so fucking important you got all of us out of bed in the middle of the night?”

I wrung my fingers together, unsure where to start. The last few weeks had been eventful, the last twenty-four hours a mess. Still, I had to begin somewhere.

“I’m gay.”

The words tore from my throat sharply.

All the expressions in the room changed at once.

Luca—anger.