insult every man in my family in less than five seconds. I’d suggest you shut the fuck up while you’re ahead.”
Franco grinned. “We are ahead, aren’t we?”
“Pardon?”
“The Sorrentos, we’re ahead. It might not seem like it, but we are in a way. I’d hate to think a power shift might be in the making, but it’s hard not to feel it in the air. After all, the dominating family doesn’t have to be New York based.”
Gio scowled. “Go to hell, Franco. You’re reaching too high.”
“Am I? Do you think nobody noticed how Lucian missed his first Commission meeting in years only shortly after his wedding? Or, how about the fact Antony didn’t even bother to broach the topic of beginning to choose a future successor for the Marcellos? Then, there’s you.”
“What about me, Franco?”
“Shit. Can’t help but notice how agitated you get with barely any prodding at all. I bet you still enjoy a good party just like you always did. Is a rehab in your future, Gio?”
Gio’s jaw ticked. He was over whatever Franco was trying to pull on him. His nerves were taut enough without that idiot plucking on them.
Whistling sharply, Gio called Cain to the Escalade one more time. The dog came and Gio opened the back passenger side door. Cain jumped in and Gio rolled the window halfway down before shutting the door. Despite it being cold outside, Gio left the Escalade running so Cain wouldn’t freeze. If anyone was able to steal his vehicle with Cain inside, the lucky fuckers could take it.
“Thanks for the chat, Franco, but we’re done here. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
Franco pushed off the back of the vehicle, stepping closer to Gio until both men stood a foot apart. The proximity bothered Gio, but he didn’t show it. Franco cocked his brow challengingly.
Gio knew better than to poke the bear. It was exactly what the idiot wanted, and Gio refused to give it to him. Beyond that, Antony would not be pleased if Gio landed himself in shit after their conversation the week before.
“When the shift in power does start to happen—and it will—it must kill you to know it’ll be me making the major calls at these meetings and not one of your useless brothers. After all, we’ve never been friends like our fathers are, and I wasn’t raised to play nice like you were.”
Gio stood stock still, unruffled. “Clearly, you don’t know me at all. You don’t frighten me, Franco. And if you insult one of my brothers again, I’ll gladly make sure the last thing you ever taste is the metal of my gun when I shove it down your fucking throat.”
Franco stepped forward to crowd Gio further, but he didn’t get the chance to take it beyond that. Cain was at the opened window in a heartbeat. Teeth bared, spittle flew, and the growling barks were loud enough to warn any living being within the direct vicinity of Gio to back the fuck off. Cain turned into a black beast ready to kill in a blink. The dog’s muzzle snapped open and shut only inches from Franco’s head, his saucer sized paws clawing at the hole as if he were going to propel himself forward out of the vehicle.
“ Merda !” Franco wasted no time taking a few quick steps backward. “Fucking mutt.”
Gio reached over to pet Cain, quieting the dog’s noise. Cain didn’t move his sights off Franco. It was amusing to see a bit of shock and fear in the asshole’s eyes.
“What I said still stands, Gio,” Franco muttered. “Your family is slipping.”
“It might stand if you knew what you were talking about. Marcellos don’t play nice, Franco,” Gio said with a smirk. “We’re far too filthy for that.”
Once Franco was out of sight, Cain calmed completely.
“There’s my good boy,” Gio praised his pup, scratching under the animal’s neck. Cain panted, his stubby tail wiggling as fast as it could go. “I’d almost let you use my shoes for chew toys just for that little show.”
“You handled him well. I’m going to attribute
Franco grinned. “We are ahead, aren’t we?”
“Pardon?”
“The Sorrentos, we’re ahead. It might not seem like it, but we are in a way. I’d hate to think a power shift might be in the making, but it’s hard not to feel it in the air. After all, the dominating family doesn’t have to be New York based.”
Gio scowled. “Go to hell, Franco. You’re reaching too high.”
“Am I? Do you think nobody noticed how Lucian missed his first Commission meeting in years only shortly after his wedding? Or, how about the fact Antony didn’t even bother to broach the topic of beginning to choose a future successor for the Marcellos? Then, there’s you.”
“What about me, Franco?”
“Shit. Can’t help but notice how agitated you get with barely any prodding at all. I bet you still enjoy a good party just like you always did. Is a rehab in your future, Gio?”
Gio’s jaw ticked. He was over whatever Franco was trying to pull on him. His nerves were taut enough without that idiot plucking on them.
Whistling sharply, Gio called Cain to the Escalade one more time. The dog came and Gio opened the back passenger side door. Cain jumped in and Gio rolled the window halfway down before shutting the door. Despite it being cold outside, Gio left the Escalade running so Cain wouldn’t freeze. If anyone was able to steal his vehicle with Cain inside, the lucky fuckers could take it.
“Thanks for the chat, Franco, but we’re done here. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
Franco pushed off the back of the vehicle, stepping closer to Gio until both men stood a foot apart. The proximity bothered Gio, but he didn’t show it. Franco cocked his brow challengingly.
Gio knew better than to poke the bear. It was exactly what the idiot wanted, and Gio refused to give it to him. Beyond that, Antony would not be pleased if Gio landed himself in shit after their conversation the week before.
“When the shift in power does start to happen—and it will—it must kill you to know it’ll be me making the major calls at these meetings and not one of your useless brothers. After all, we’ve never been friends like our fathers are, and I wasn’t raised to play nice like you were.”
Gio stood stock still, unruffled. “Clearly, you don’t know me at all. You don’t frighten me, Franco. And if you insult one of my brothers again, I’ll gladly make sure the last thing you ever taste is the metal of my gun when I shove it down your fucking throat.”
Franco stepped forward to crowd Gio further, but he didn’t get the chance to take it beyond that. Cain was at the opened window in a heartbeat. Teeth bared, spittle flew, and the growling barks were loud enough to warn any living being within the direct vicinity of Gio to back the fuck off. Cain turned into a black beast ready to kill in a blink. The dog’s muzzle snapped open and shut only inches from Franco’s head, his saucer sized paws clawing at the hole as if he were going to propel himself forward out of the vehicle.
“ Merda !” Franco wasted no time taking a few quick steps backward. “Fucking mutt.”
Gio reached over to pet Cain, quieting the dog’s noise. Cain didn’t move his sights off Franco. It was amusing to see a bit of shock and fear in the asshole’s eyes.
“What I said still stands, Gio,” Franco muttered. “Your family is slipping.”
“It might stand if you knew what you were talking about. Marcellos don’t play nice, Franco,” Gio said with a smirk. “We’re far too filthy for that.”
Once Franco was out of sight, Cain calmed completely.
“There’s my good boy,” Gio praised his pup, scratching under the animal’s neck. Cain panted, his stubby tail wiggling as fast as it could go. “I’d almost let you use my shoes for chew toys just for that little show.”
“You handled him well. I’m going to attribute
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