Page 5 of Secrets of the Brother
A chance I had been denied after that night.
The night that ruined everything.
The night I fucked up and destroyed the future I had planned for us.
As if controlled by puppet strings, Bruno and Claudia’s heads moved in stiff unison to survey the guests who were covertly hanging on every word of our exchange.
Bruno clutched at Claudia’s forearm and whispered something harshly in her ear. The only phrase I caught was "the slap."
Bruno then nodded. “Of course. Of course,son.”
There it was again.
Shoe leather scuffed against marble as my father moved closer and settled his hand on my shoulder. “My sonand I once again offer our condolences for your terrible loss.”
Bruno and Claudia caught the hint.
Bruno cleared his throat and said loudly enough for anyone listening to hear, “Thank you, Don Cavalieri. I know you loved our beautiful and charming Renata like a daughter and will always cherish her memory as we do.”
Bile burned the back of my throat.
Their beautiful and charming daughter,my wife, had conspired with one of the most dangerous crime families in Italy, the Agnellos.
She had also tried to kill Milana, my brother’s fiancée, in cold blood.
It was still a question whether their baby would survive the ordeal or not.
And all for what? Money?
As my wife, she'd had more money than any one human being could ever need in a lifetime and still, it wasn’t enough to satisfy her greed.
It had taken a great deal of that same money and influence to cover up the scandal and rush the funeral.
All so we could honor thebeautiful and charmingRenata, tragic victim of a senseless accident.
A bullshit storyno onewas buying.
I looked over my shoulder in time to see my cousin Matteo wrap his arm over my brother Cesare’s shoulders and move him away before he said something to ruin the carefully orchestrated farce we had been performing all morning.
Thank God, at least Milana and Amara were safe at the villa and away from all this poison. Poor Milana attended the funeral of her would-be killer to keep up appearances for the family and for me, not that I deserved such a show of love and support from her. But it was too much to force her to mingle at the after-event.
Fuck, I needed this to be over.
Catching Alfonso's eye, he gave me a nod and gestured to the guards standing by who were dressed in dark suits to blend in with the rest of the mourners. They quickly encircled the Morettis and ushered them out before they could cause any more trouble.
I turned to face Bianca.
She stepped back, breaking my hold on her waist. Placing her fists on her hips, she said, “How dare yo—”
I wrapped my arm back around her and pulled her close. “Not one word.”
As I ushered her out of the room, I tossed over my shoulder to the nearest guard, “See that no one follows us.”
We crossed the expansive marble entranceway to my private study. The moment we cleared the threshold, Bianca broke free. She stormed several steps away and turned on me.
Ripping her hat and veil off, she held them before her like a shield. “Why have you brought me in here?”
I closed the door and locked it. “We need to talk.”
