Page 50 of Twisted Throne

“What do you know about the rat, Alec?” Angelo asked him.

His voice was void of emotion, and his eyes steely. But his finger tapped against his lap, and he shifted in his chair. My eyes narrowed. I’d seen Angelo sign any number of death warrants, and he’d been stock-still every time.

“I already told you,zio,” Alec answered him, crossing his arms across his chest. “I know no more than you do! I have always shown absolute loyalty to thefamiglia. I would not betray you!”

The muscle in my jaw twitched. I wanted to put my fist through his face.

“If not you, then who?” I demanded, taking a step forward.

Angelo raised his hand and motioned me back. I hesitated only a moment, then moved back slightly.

“I said I don’t know!” Although his arms remained crossed in a small show of defiance, there were beads of sweat across his forehead, and his voice cracked. I have always been loyal,zio. Even when you commanded me toI was told to marry Elena and not–” He cut himself off and looked away, flushing. “I would not betray you.”

“The evidence suggests otherwise.” Angelo took a brief pause, eyes narrowed. “But despite the small conflicts we’ve had over the years, your voice has the ring of truth to it. I haven’t made it this far without being able to read people. And you are the blood of my blood,nipote.”

My mouth opened in protest, but Angelo shot me a sharp look that cut my words off before I voiced them.

“Paul, I know you are convinced Alec is the leak, but he isfamigliaand I will not act without complete certainty,” he stated. “And we do not have that as of now.”

I pressed my lips together tightly but said nothing.

“You will stay here for now. I have both Bear and Johnny investigating various leads, and I await their answers. We will speak further once they’ve made their reports.” Angelo rose from his chair, signaling the conversation’s end.

“Angelo, I swear, whoever it was that has betrayed us, it wasn’t me!”

“Then I will find them and your name will be cleared,” he tossed over his shoulder as he walked away. “Or not. We’ll speak again soon.”

***

Damn him.

After all of this, Alec was still trying to weasel his way out of this. And I’ll be damned if Angelo is still uncertain.

I wasn’t going to leave the house until this thing with Alec was settled, one way or another. I went outside onto the front porch and gripped the railing hard enough to make my knuckles white. I sucked in the cool air in large gulps, but it did nothing to settle the anger boiling inside me. I had never questioned Angelo on any of his decisions. Only a fool would and I’m not a fool. But I don’t know how much longer I can keep quiet on this.

“Paul?”

I turned to see Elena standing behind me. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t even heard her come outside.

“Yes?” I sounded harsher than I had intended but didn’t really give a shit.

“I don’t mean to bother you, it’s just that Alec never came home last night.” Her hands twisted around each other nervously.

“He had some unexpected business to take care of,” I answered her smoothly.

I might be many things, but a bad liar wasn’t one of them. That was a skill I’d perfected as a boy, hustling to keep food in my stomach and a roof over my head when what little money we had got blown on cheap liquor and even cheaper whores.

“Well, I’ve been calling him, but his phone’s been going straight to voicemail.” Her perfect makeup was smudged around her eyes, her bottom lip looked red and raw where she’d bitten it, and her eyes flicked up to mine and back as if she was searching my face for news. Anxiety in her eyes, yeah, but… was it for Alec? If I’d been stuck with thecoglioneas long as she had, I wouldn’t be worried at all. I doubt she would be too broken up if he vanished suddenly.

“He was fine when I last saw him, Elena.” I didn’t even have to lie on that one. “He probably just doesn’t have reception. I’ll let you know if I hear from him, alright?”

“So he’s not hurt, or… or anything?”

I looked at her closer. She looked exhausted, her clothes were rumpled, and her hair was pulled up in a simple ponytail. I felt a stab of compassion for her. Not her fault her husband is a rat.

I shook my head. “Just business. I’m sure he’ll be in touch when he can.”

She paused, then nodded and started walking back to the front door. She stopped with her hand on the knob of the door and turned back.