“You know, Giovanni, your attitude stinks for a guy with the world at his feet. You think because I’m a cop I’m going back as a snitch and that I’m not worthy of your family’s time. Well, maybe I’m not worth it, but I am worth a fucking shot that it doesn’t need to be a genetic thing to run with the wolves.” Zane is suddenly up in Giovanni’s face, his face reddening, his shoulders squared. “You’ll be shocked at the things I’ll be willing to do in order to get what I want. I learned long ago that people are expendable.”
I see my father bristle at the emphasis Zane applies to that final word, and as he looks at me, I remain cool and calm. I can’t let him know that Zane knows everything that happened months ago. I watch the display of testosterone magnify and continue to ignore my father’s intense glare on me.
“We’re not the only ones expendable, you fucker. I could slice you open in so many ways you wouldn’t have time to cry your way to your death like you did after the shooting.” Giovanni laughs, chortling alongside his mocking attitude. “Oh, what I’d give to watch you bleed out slowly.”
“Back at ya, Giovanni.” Zane’s voice is becoming a taut growl, venom seeping with every word. “I know you hate me, but not as much as I hate you because believe me, I see no redeemable attributes in you. But I’m not here to even entertain you.”
“We all know you’re only here for Amelia,” Giovanni spits, hissing my name as if it burns to say.
“So, what if I am?” Zane asks, moving closer to Giovanni, deliberately occupying his personal space. “My dedication to the Dio Lavoro comes first. I just hope once I’ve proven myself, I’ll be allowed to give your sister a life worth living within this family. But at least I’ll sacrifice my life for those I love, but you, Giovanni, only love yourself and that’s a sorry existence to be living.”
Giovanni scoffs, clearly in disagreement. “You think you know everything there is to know about this family. You came in here acting like some hotshot and you really think you’ve got us all down, but you’re in for some huge surprises.” He then laughs manically, pushing Zane away to get him out of his face. “And I cannot wait for the day you turn around and see what monster you’ve become because you love a girl like my mess up of a baby sister. Trust me, it’s a day I’ll cherish forever, Maverick. Just you wait. One day, when it’s all too late, she’ll have ripped every piece of you away to make you into something you fucking aren’t and you’ll hate every single thing about her just like I do.”
He storms off after finalizing his summation, and I stand self-consciously cradling myself. If my own brother has the same thoughts I do where Zane is concerned, what’s to say Zane doesn’t stay awake at night thinking the same things?
“So,” Zane changes the conversation, reclaiming his mellowed, charming demeanor. “Who’s this Costello guy?”
Enzo is the first to point him out. “The guy in the grey pinstripe suit with the pink tie. Don’t mention family to him otherwise that will be an automatic death sentence for you.” Enzo gives a weak smile when Zane looks at him somewhat alarmed. “Costello’s family was killed in a planned home invasion some years ago. He never remarried, never got revenge, but one of our guys says he’s plotting to come down on those behind it big time, just when they least expect it. We were told it was the Valens, but apparently the evidence says otherwise.”
“The more blood and gore you talk, the more you’ll appeal to him,” Carlo chimes in, adding some additional information. “Just not when it’s to do with his family.”
“He wants bloodthirsty men, which is why he loves Giovanni,” Enzo adds, just as Giovanni comes back with a new drink.
“He used to love you, too,” Giovanni announces, crossing his arms over his chest. “Before you became such a sissy.”
“Fuck off, Gio!” Enzo roars back, unable to keep his irritation down. “Gloat about Carmello if you want, but Costello will eat that up. Carmello is one man of a few we all had suspicions was involved in the home invasion, so hearing that you attacked him will give you brownie points.”
“Hell, Zane, offer up how you killed our guard,” Carlo says, helping give Zane as many careful pointers are possible. “And whatever you do, do not bet less than five grand per round.”
“Yeah, otherwise you’ll be laughed out of the room,” my father interjects, shocking us all that he has some input into this conversation. I know it’s all for selfish reasons, but I appreciate it nonetheless. “I’ve given you a generous wage, use it. You’ll need to outshine all of my boys and especially my golden girl.”
“Yeah, Amelia’s a bit of a poker ace,” Enzo praises, shooting me a wicked smile. He taught me how to play my best at this game, but over the years, having come to parties like this, between a flirtatious nature and being able to keep a poker face at all times, I’m good to take the loot, especially when Giovanni plays to win. True, I don’t win always, but when I do, I love to make sure I rub it in Giovanni’s face.