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Her happy laugh drifted out of the kitchen, unaware of them carrying the former Di Salvo through the bottom floor of the house while everyone present watched.
Fucking let them watch.
Anyone who spoke a word against Nera or Giovanni would find their way down to the basement as well.
Antonio took his time. The fury never left, not completely. The man’s screams had a rattling sound that wasn’t fully satisfying, but by the time they choked off into a permanent silence, the fog in Antonio’s mind had dissipated. He carved the man up for a little longer, liking the design the saw made in his skin even after the man was just a body. When his skin finally grew cold, Antonio backed away, sliding down the wall.
Enzo didn’t ask him if he was done. He knew well enough and took over cleanup duty.
The door to the basement opened, and Giovanni came inside.
Antonio’s neck felt heavy as he tilted it back to stare up at the person he loved much more than he loved himself.
Giovanni’s face didn’t change as he took in the scene. “Anything I need to know about?”
“All taken care of,” Antonio said, his lips curving up, back to the forced smile that felt most comfortable. “Did you need us?”
“One of our informants called.” He lifted his eyebrow. “Said he couldn’t get through to you.”
“Sorry,” Antonio said, and he was. He’d normally handle that side of things. “Something urgent, then?”
Giovanni shook his head. “It’s already over. The Coronellas were hit at the docks.”
Antonio pushed to his feet, which was stupid. There was nothing for him to do. That Vespa’s face popped into his mind made the action feel even more ridiculous. “The Coronellas can hold their own,” he said, reminding himself.
Enzo snorted. “Especially now that Montrell’s enforcer is no longer wearing a sling.”
Antonio’s fingers twitched. Even with the sling, Vespa could have taken anyone down. “Well, no reason Montrell or his enforcer would be needed at the docks.”
“They were there, though,” Giovanni said.
Antonio’s hands curled into fists.
“The shipment was related to Lucchese. Nera thought I should tell you.” There was a softening in Giovanni’s voice as he said his wife’s name.
“She’s got good instincts. I’ll look into it.” There were five main Cosa Nostra families in the area. Antonio wouldn’t relax until all the ones with closed-minded views were no longer a threat, like their father had been a threat.
They should have had the balls to kill him long ago. Instead, the burden had fallen to Nera.
And she had more than held the weight. Still, it was Antonio’s turn to step into the crosshairs.
Giovanni said something else, and Antonio nodded even though he missed it. His half brother paused as he turned toward the door. His eyes cut to the body. “This was a Di Salvo.” He studied Antonio again.
Antonio didn’t let his face even twitch. “Nothing to worry about.”
Giovanni hesitated. “I always worry.” The door shut behind him after he left.
Enzo finished gathering the implements Antonio had used. “Maybe we should tell him.”
Antonio moved over to the body. “He knows.” He grimaced as he took up the saw again. “He’s just letting us think we’re shielding him.”
Enzo grunted, letting metal clash against metal in the sink. “You two need to talk more.”
Antonio didn’t see a reason to argue about it. He and Giovanni understood each other, even without words. “What’d he say there at the end?” he asked, frowning because he was drawing a blank.
“Nera’s holding dinner.”
The blankness spread. She’d been cooking breakfast before. He’d tortured someone all damn day. He couldn’t think of anything to say, so he turned on the saw to help with cleanup instead.
