Page 47 of Blood Lust

A few tense minutes later, there was a knock. “Let him in,” I instructed and paced to the windows where I smoothed my short beard in growing agitation.

“Gabriel,” Mario greeted as he entered the living room. I turned to face him and frowned in confusion. He had the three men I saw on the elevator with him. One I recognized as one of hissoldatos, but I didn’t recall having met the other two.

“Who is this?” I demanded as I gestured at the two other men. I didn’t like that he’d brought people I didn’t know into my home.

“Well, brother, this is my security team, and of course you know Aldo.” He gave me a dark smile that didn’t reach his eyes that looked like mine. We may share blood, but I hated to say it—Mario was no brother of mine.

“What do you know about last night that couldn’t wait?” I snapped.

My half brother who was almost five years older than me sauntered over to my bar and poured himself a drink as I staredat him like he’d lost his fucking mind. Unease settled in my spine.

“Mario,” I warned as I took quick glance around, trying to figure out where the fuck Davide went. “You have two minutes to tell me what you know or I’m leaving.”

He laughed, and I fumed.

“Fuck this,” I snarled and strode toward the door.

The three men blocked my way. I clenched my teeth and balled my fists.

“Tsk tsk, is the almighty don losing his cool? Is that what getting shot at does to you?” His behavior accompanied by his smug sneer sent alarm bells ringing in my head.

With lightning speed, I reached into my jacket and grabbed my pistol. But before I could clear the holster, the three men had theirs pointed at me.

“I’d put that down if I were you,” Mario drawled as he took the glass of my finest whiskey and leisurely sat on my couch. He extended an arm across the back as he sipped.

Knowing I was outnumbered, I dropped my hand. Then I reeled in the emotions that had started to slip free. They wouldn’t be helpful. A sharp mind would be, and I realized he was intentionally pushing my buttons to get me to lose my cool and behave rashly.

Mario motioned to one of his guys who then approached me and shoved my jacket out of the way to divest me of both pistols and the blade I kept on my ankle when I went out.

“As I told Vittorio, I do have information regarding the ambush in Iowa,” he calmly stated as he set the glass down.

Keeping my face emotionless, I waited for him to continue.

“It was me!” he announced as he made ridiculous jazz hands and grinned.

Inside, the beast lashed and fought to come out and play. But to his disappointment, I held myself in check with a control that I’d cultivated over the course of my life but certainly didn’t feel.

“Imagine my disgust when I found out you, Vittorio, and your friend Pietro survived. The incompetence, right? I guess it’s hard to find good help these days, eh?” He raised the glass again.

I silently stared, though my skin crawled with the need to bury my fist between his eyes.

“Don’t you want to know why?” he asked me with an insane glint in his eyes.

“Why?” I asked with a dry uninterested tone.

His nostrils flared, and I wanted to laugh.

“Because you have takeneverythingthat I wanted—that Ideserved.I’ve always been second best to you. Our father couldn’t be bothered with me once he had you.”His lip curled and his jovial act slipped.

“Oh really. Well, pray tell exactly what I have that should’ve been yours? My position? I earned it, and you damn well know it. It’s not passed down like a crown, Mario. The best man for the job is voted in. Did you forget that?” I neglected to tell him that even if it was passed down, as a bastard, he wouldn’t be entitled to it. He knew it, but he had obviously finally cracked.

He shot to his feet and launched the glass across the room where it shattered against the wall, the expensive whiskey leaving a golden splatter that was now trailing down the dove gray paint.

I didn’t so much as flinch. Not even when he stormed toward me and shoved his face in mine.

“And Alia?” he shouted. “Do you know how hard I worked to get her? That too-good-to-be-true tip Antonio got? I planted that. He was supposed to come to me for the money after he lost. I would bail him out, and he would oweme.” He pounded his fist against his chest.

I swallowed down my fury, but held my silence.