Giovanni by Bethany-Kris Page A

that to you being sober and able to think your actions through before you gave a reaction.” Antony stepped out from a shadowed enclave, clipping off the end of his snuffed cigar before he dropped it into his suit pocket. “Thank you for not making a mess.”
    Gio wasn’t the least bit surprised when his father made his presence known. Instead of agreeing with Antony’s assessment, Gio continued to pet Cain through the window. “How long were you hiding behind there?”
    “Long enough,” Antony replied vaguely. “I needed a cigar after managing not to kill someone in there earlier. Franco had a point; my patience is thin this year.”
    “They were pushing you,” Gio said. “Even Dante jumped in a couple times to divert the bullshit and he never does that.”
    “True.” Antony sighed, canting his head in the direction Franco had gone. “I see Franco’s still spoiled and entitled, even as a grown man.”
    “How good of friends are you and Max?”
    “We have a long history, so I’d say we’re pretty good friends, Gio. Even if he does occasionally push my buttons, I trust him.”
    “Even after Franco’s little spiel?”
    “Franco is not his father. Just like when one of you three boys speak, you’re not talking for me.”
    Gio nodded. “True enough.”
    “Max has no intention of stepping down from the head of his family soon. I can guarantee you that. Franco talks as if next year, he will be the one sitting in his father’s chair. I would hate to be the man who wakes up one morning to find out his son has been planning something on him.”
    “Yeah, but that’s for Max to concern himself with, not us.”
    “Not necessarily,” Antony said under his breath.  “I’m very uneasy with Franco focused in on us, like there was more he wasn’t saying.”
    “He only did that to piss me off. He pulls that shit every year.”
    “You could be right, Gio, but I don’t want to risk that you’re not.”
    Gio didn’t like where this was going at all. “What are you going to do about it, then?”
    “Me? Very little. I have too much going on here to keep track of.” Antony shrugged, smiling. “You, on the other hand …”
    “Come on, Dad,” Gio said in a groan. “I told you inside—”
    “Sorry, Gio. Things are off here. Add in the fact Franco is suddenly getting married to Nunz’s kid, whoever in the fuck she is, and can’t even be bothered to react to the news of his own wedding, it’s all wrong. Just because he’s growing up and settling down doesn’t automatically warrant him his father’s position. Franco knows that. Something doesn’t feel right to me. I’ve never ignored my instincts before and for good reason.”
    Gio wanted him to ignore them right now if listening to them meant what he thought it did.
    “Leave it alone. It’s none of our business, Dad.”
    Antony tossed him a look, shutting Gio up. “It could be, son. Don’t look at only the Sorrento side of this. There’s a reason he focused on us. If Franco has the nerve to make a move on his own father, what’s stopping him from trying something on the Marcellos?”
    “Nothing,” Gio said quietly.
    “Exactly. Go to Vegas, Gio. Max already thinks I’m going to be sending you out there to survey that exporting venture for the luxury cars, anyway. If Franco is the one handling that nonsense, you’ll be right in the thick of some of his guys. Idiots talk. They can’t help it. Should something be going down, or in the process of beginning, you’ll hear whispers. I want to know what’s happening in Vegas.”
    “You do realize you’re putting me back with the guy I just threatened to kill, right?”
    Antony chuckled. “I trust that you’ll stay out of trouble.”
    Gio sure as fuck didn’t.

Chapter Five
     
     
    Kim let the driver side door to the new Mercedes slam harder than necessary. The car had been a gift of sorts from Franco, only she didn’t consider it a gift at all. Presents were usually wanted or