Page 46 of Made in Love and Blood

At once, Nico understood. He figured out why Salvatore had been so quiet for the last two weeks. That gun on the table made sense, too.

“Marco ran you off the road,” Nico said, feeling like an echo.

“Well, that’s your father’s business now. Apparently.”

“I hope you don’t trust Giorgio to handle it even the slightest bit, if at all.”

“I do not. That’s why I informed you.”

“I guess I don’t understand why I needed to know, but—”

“Because he meant it to be you,” Salvatore intoned.

“This isn’t even the fourth time” Nico muttered.

Salvatore’s gaze softened. “Yes, I do remember something like this happened before.”

“Oh, what’s your favorite? Mine’s when he gave me alcohol poisoning at six during a Christmas party, and I vomited all through the house until I passed out. First time getting my stomach pumped, fun times.”

“None of it. It all horrified me. Especially the time he wrapped you in a duvet and duct taped your head and neck before throwing you in a closet. We got that tape off just to find you blue. Carina cried.”

Nico sat up straighter as discomfort settled in.

“I had brothers, too. Once,” Salvatore added, his tone rougher. “They’re dead now, and we fought, too. We were...competitive about most everything. It just wasn’t the same with you and Marco, but your father wouldn’t hear it.”

Nico sniffed hard, swallowing back the emotion lodging in his throat. “Right, well, is Marco a discretionary thing for me?”

“Pardon?”

“My brother. Is that a discretionary thing like we talked about? You said I could use my discretion about people and things to determine whether your rules come into play.”

That conversation happened a few days after their initial talk on Salvatore’s rules, but it mattered to Nico.

“Very discretionary, given the situation,” Salvatore informed.

“Good to know.”

Salvatore folded his arms over his chest. “The phone is new, but I’m sure you can tell. The number for it is with everything else in there somewhere. Larkin is good at keeping things organized for me. You have full access to the estate, do not abuse it. And I expect over the next couple of months you will work toward finding your own place closer to wherever you find yourself working.”

“I still answer to you?”

“Everyday of your life until I, or someone else, says otherwise.”

He didn’t like what that implied.

“Could my father—”

“Be one less problem, Nico,” Salvatore interjected. “For everyone, for your own damn sake.”

He’d keep it mind.

“Uh, is it my turn now?” Nico asked.

“For what?”

“You said you’d answer my question about when you started keeping a gun if I was honest.”

“And you don’t forget a deal. You already have the answer. It’s a recent development.”