Reckless & Ruined

by Bethany-Kris

  “Yes, thank you, Delilah,” a new reporter said as the screen flashed back to the station.

  Riley turned off the television.

  “Of course,” Riley muttered. “It couldn’t be just a regular investigation. It has to be those fucking pigs. They just keep digging no matter what kind of mud they have to crawl through.”

  Eve said nothing beside her father, but she shot Adriano a questioning look. Adriano shrugged his shoulders in response. He didn’t know what, if anything, to tell his sister about what they saw played out on the broadcast.

  “I should call my lawyer and give him a heads-up,” Riley said.

  “Why?” Adriano asked.

  Riley waved at the television. “Didn’t you see that?”

  Yes.

  “So?”

  Riley blew out his frustration in a breath. “Chances are, I’ll be called in for questioning. Not that I’d talk, but if I can help it, I don’t want to be dragged downtown at all.”

  “Did you do it?” Adriano asked.

  “Adriano!”

  He didn’t even flinch at the heat in his father’s tone. “Did you?”

  Riley passed a glance at Evelina. “This isn’t the time, son.”

  “She isn’t stupid. She knows what goes on around here,” Adriano said.

  “I’m uh … going to go get the breakfast started,” Evelina muttered, pushing up from the couch. “You’re staying for breakfast, Adriano?”

  “Yeah,” he confirmed quietly.

  Once Evelina was gone from the space, Riley stood from the chair. “You are unbelievable, Adriano.”

  “You didn’t answer my question, Dad.”

  “I am not required to, son.”

  Adriano’s jaw clenched so hard, his molars ached. “You could have settled this without killing the boss.”

  “I never said I did,” Riley murmured, appearing completely unbothered. “But it’ll all come out in the wash. Everything usually does, my boy.”

  A small smile played at the corners of Riley’s mouth, proof of his joy over the news. It made Adriano sick.

  “You had no reason to kill Terrance,” Adriano said.

  “Assuming things only makes an ass out of you and me, Adriano. I had nothing to do with Terrance’s death.” Riley shrugged, asking, “But where were you last night, son?”

  Adriano stilled. “I beg your pardon?”

  “You didn’t stay for dinner like you were supposed to. I had guests after you left that asked after you. I need an excuse to pass off your absence if questioned. Give me one.”

  “Are you suggesting I might have killed—”

  “I suggested nothing. Give me an excuse.”

  Adriano didn’t like liars and he wasn’t one, but he also didn’t want to get his sister in more trouble by telling on her for hanging around with Theo DeLuca. Adriano went with the next best thing—he didn’t mind taking his father’s bullshit.

  “I went to see Alessa.”

  Riley’s lips drew thin. “Well then. Why?”

  “I wanted to check up on her.”

  “This … little interest you have in that girl needs to stop, Adriano. I’ve never agreed with your fancy,” Riley said.

  “I just look out for her, Dad.”

  “Right. I didn’t realize my middle name was idiot.”

  Adriano cleared his throat. “I didn’t say it was.”

  “You are both beyond the age where people will believe you’re simply looking out for her, son. Right now, with the Outfit in an uproar, it is even more important that my children be open and available for a marriage if the need arises.”

  Like fuck.

  “I’m not going to marry someone just because you tell me to.”

  “You will do as I say,” Riley replied.

  “I have done everything you wanted me to. I quit college to work under your men fulltime. I look out for Eve like you ask. You’ve marked out every second of my future without my input, but I didn’t mind. I will not let you force me into a marriage with someone I don’t know or give a shit about.”

  Riley’s expression remained passive and cool as he said, “I married a woman I barely knew and didn’t care much for. Look at how we turned out.”

  “Yeah, look at how you turned out,” Adriano said, scoffing. “You fucked around on Mom every chance you had and now that she’s dead, you’re acting like the vengeful, grieving husband to propel yourself higher. Oh, I fucking see, Dad. Don’t worry.”

  “Watch your mouth, Adriano.”

  “I’ll refuse to marry if you push me into it.”

  “You won’t have a choice. You’re more than aware that in this life, love has very little say, Adriano. You chose the button and the family, now you live with what it means. Do I have someone in mind for you yet? No. That doesn’t mean something might not come up in the near future. Make it easy on us all and cut whatever ties you have to Terrance’s granddaughter.”

  Adriano’s spine straightened. “Alessa—”

  “I don’t want to hear her name coming out of your mouth again.”

  “Are you telling me to stay the fuck away from her entirely?” Adriano asked. “That even if this all blows over, I can’t have anything to do with her?”

  Adriano didn’t think he could do that.

  Riley just laughed. “Oh, Adriano. I won’t have to. After today, that girl won’t want a damn thing to do with you. Who do you think that family is going to blame for Terrance’s death? It doesn’t matter if I didn’t do it, they just need a proper scapegoat. We’re the perfect one to use.”

  “You’re wrong,” Adriano said.

  He had to be wrong.

  “You know I’m not.”

  “Christ, haven’t you heard of a dishwasher?” Evelina dropped the dishrag into the sink, splattering bubbles everywhere. “You have at least a few days’ worth of dishes to wash, Adriano.”

  Adriano resisted the urge to bark at his sister. His irritation was beginning to manifest into annoyance at every little thing. Evelina didn’t deserve his anger. “I’ve been busy the last couple of days.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Nothing,” Adriano said quickly.

  Eve eyed her brother over her shoulder. “You can talk to me. You know that, right?”

  “Sure.”

  “So talk, little brother.”

  “You realize I tower over you, right?” Adriano asked.

  Eve shrugged. “So? I was born almost two years before you. Size matters very little. I’m still the older one.”

  “Whatever. I could pick you up and jog around the block and still not be out of breath. Little my fucking ass.”

  “Keep thinking that,” his sister teased in a sing-song manner.

  Adriano watched his sister begin washing the dishes in his sink again. “I can do those dishes, Eve.”

  “I know.”

  “So stop. I don’t need a damn maid.”

  Eve sighed. “Yeah, but then I’d have to go back to Dad’s. At least when I’m at your apartment, he leaves me the hell alone.”

  True enough.

  Adriano dropped it and decided to move onto something different. He wanted to test the waters with Evelina and how she felt about their father’s actions and Terrance Trentini’s murder. Sometimes, with Adriano’s family, it was good to know who was thinking what before he blurted out his own thoughts.

  “The funeral for Terrance is next week. Monday, actually.”

  “I’ve heard,” Evelina said quietly. “How long did they hold the body before releasing it?”

  “Not long,” Adriano answered. “But they had the cause of death. Bullet wound to the face. It’s probably going to be a closed casket.”

  “Why wait so long for the funeral?”

  “It’s not that long, Eve,” Adriano said. “They were lucky to get the body released after just four days with all the crap from the FBI.”

  “Long enough, Adriano. They’re waiting another four days for the funeral.”

/>   “I imagine they’re just getting everything sorted. Plus, they’re probably waiting for the happy couple to be done with their honeymoon so they can be at the funeral, too. We weren’t invited.”

  “Heard that, too,” Evelina replied.

  “Dad is going,” Adriano said.

  Eve’s stance turned rigid. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He’s got some balls,” Evelina said, shaking her head.

  “Well, it’s either that, or he wants to really piss someone off.”

  “Considering how he kicked Terrance out at Mom’s funeral, does he really think the Trentini family is just going to welcome him in with open arms?” Evelina asked.

  Adriano stayed silent, not knowing how to answer that question.

  Evelina must have noticed his reluctance, because she turned to face him with a raised eyebrow. “Adriano?”

  “I don’t think his point is to try and make up with them, Eve,” Adriano said slowly, hoping his sister would get the point.

  “Oh?”

  “No.”

  Evelina chewed on her inner cheek before asking, “What, then?”

  “I think he’s looking to make a point without saying anything at all.”

  “Stop being a little shit and tell me whatever it is that you’re dancing around, Adriano.”

  “Dad wants to show how powerful he is without Terrance’s influence on the other families,” Adriano explained. “Like, he’s the one making the calls. He’s the one who can make the calls. The boss is dead, you know.”

  “And another one is ready to step up,” Evelina whispered.

  “Basically.”

  Eve frowned. “What about us? Are we going to have to go to the funeral, too?”

  “Yeah,” Adriano confirmed.

  “That seems really … asshole-ish.”

  “I get it, Eve.” Adriano noted his sister’s long sleeved shirt. For it nearing the last weeks of August, it was a little muggy outside for her to be wearing that. “Bruises still there?”

  Eve turned back to the sink quickly. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “You know I’m going to.”

  Especially now that Riley had ordered Evelina to live back at home. Adriano briefly considered moving back as well, just to keep an eye on his father and sister, but he had enough on his own plate and that would just mean extra travel. He didn’t think Riley would go after Evelina in a physical way again, not after Adriano stepped in the last time.

  “He’s not being a fucking jackass, right?” Adriano asked.

  “Dad isn’t talking to me at all,” Evelina replied.

  “That’s not what I asked, Evelina.”

  “I know.”

  “So tell me.”

  “He’s been okay, but sometimes he’s just off,” Evelina said. “Weird, you know.”

  “My place is open,” Adriano told her.

  Eve nodded, continuing her work at the sink. “I’ll keep that in mind if anything happens again.”

  “Do that.”

  “And what about you?” Evelina asked quietly.

  “What about me?”

  “You’ve been staring at your phone all afternoon, Adriano.”

  Adriano winced, shoving his phone under the table as his sister turned to face him again with curiosity coloring up her green gaze. “I have not.”

  “Liar. Thinking about calling someone?”

  “No,” Adriano said honestly.

  Eve pursed her lips. “No?”

  “Nope.”

  “Waiting for someone to call you?” she asked.

  Yes.

  Alessa hadn’t tried to contact Adriano since the night of the wedding. He’d sent her a couple of vague texts, just trying to get a response. But he got nothing back. He didn’t like that at all.

  Adriano sighed. “You’re goddamn nosy.”

  Eve shrugged. “Keeps me out of trouble.”

  “Actually, it gets you in trouble.”

  “Is it Alessa again?” his sister asked.

  “I never should have told you about us.”

  Eve grinned. “You didn’t. I caught you that time after one of your football games, remember?”

  Adriano laughed, wishing he could forget that memory. The backseat of his beloved Camaro had seen more of Alessa and Adriano than anyone else ever had. Evelina had come to one of his final games in high school before graduation without letting him know she’d be there. Evidently, she’d stumbled upon more than she bargained for when she found her brother and Alessa in the parking lot.

  “You’re such a bitch, Eve,” Adriano said. “You’re never going to let me live that down.”

  “The parking lot was lit up like Fort Knox! It was your own damn fault.” Evelina’s smile faded as she asked, “It’s her, yeah?”

  “According to some people, nothing is about her,” Adriano replied, his frustration growing again. “And I’m just …”

  “What?”

  “Trying to keep her out of trouble by staying away.”

  Eve gave her brother an apologetic smile. “I don’t know how you ever ended up in the Outfit, little brother.”

  “Quit it with that fucking shit.”

  Eve laughed his warning off. “Seriously, I don’t know how. You’ve got a soft heart.”

  “I do not.”

  His sister didn’t have the first clue about Adriano or what he was capable of.

  “I think you do,” Evelina murmured. “Even if it is just for one person. There’s nothing wrong with that. At least you know you’re not going to end up like Dad. Whoever you end up with, you’ll care about her. Beyond the surface, you’ll actually give a damn.”

  There was only one person Adriano wanted to end up with.

  Alessa.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Evelina asked.

  “No, I’m good. Thanks, though.”

  “Boo, you suck.”

  Adriano laughed. “Why, because I don’t want to talk about my feelings? You need to get some friends.”

  Eve frowned. “I had friends. Dad took them away.”

  Shit.

  “Sorry,” Adriano muttered. “I just meant—”

  “I know what you meant,” she interrupted. “And I didn’t mean talk about your feelings, you asshole. I meant, talk about her or whatever you plan on doing.”

  “You don’t know that I’m planning anything.”

  Eve didn’t bat a lash. “I don’t have to, Adriano.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I know you.”

  “Run over to Burton’s place and grab me a fucking sub, would you?”

  Adriano rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah,” his Capo said, “I’m hungry and busy. Drop it off at my restaurant.”

  “You’re at your own restaurant, and you want me to get you a sub from another place?”

  How in the hell did that make any sense?

  Sometimes, Kolin’s demands were just insane.

  Adriano knew the rules, though. No arguing with a Capo. You did what they said and got what they wanted, no questions asked.

  Maybe he bent those rules every once in a while.

  He had a dozen other things to do today, including trying to get a hold of Alessa somehow, or even get her away from her family for an hour, but the way things were going, it didn’t look good.

  “Where’s Con?” Adriano asked, referring to the Capo’s little middle man who did most of the guy’s errands. “Get him to grab you food.”

  “I’m asking you, Adriano,” Kolin said. “You’re coming over here anyway. Besides, Con is busy. I sent him out for something. Bring me a sub—thirty minutes. Don’t be late.”

  “Burton’s?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Fine,” Adriano said as he unlocked the rental car.

  He missed his Camaro. He’d taken it in for an oil change and then ended up having a dozen other things that needed work on. The classic muscle car was in good shape, and by the
way his garage worked, he’d have back in a week, but sometimes it still needed a little work every now and then.

  “And another thing …”

  “What is that?”

  Adriano moved to get inside the rented Lexus, but before he could close the door, glass sprayed his face. The glass was accompanied by loud pops, loud enough to hurt his ear drums. Adriano’s phone flew from his hand as he ducked down in the seat and covered his head.

  More glass shattered.

  More bangs followed.

  Gun shots.

  Lots of gun shots.

  “Jesus Christ,” Adriano mumbled.

  His heart was in his fucking throat. With the boss of the Outfit murdered, everyone expected there would be some issues to follow. Retaliation, for sure. Adriano’s father had warned him to keep an eye out, but apparently he was off his game today if he hadn’t noticed a car tailing him when he was doing his rounds.

  He didn’t bother reaching for his gun in the glove compartment. What good would it do?

  Not ten seconds after the first gun shot, tires screeched. Adriano peeked his head up just far enough to look over the steering wheel. He only saw the flash of taillights turning a corner as people started to flood the streets.

  Shit.

  Adriano did not need this today.

  “Kid!”

  Kolin’s shout reminded Adriano of his phone. He found it on the passenger seat and picked it up with a shaky hand. Willing away the shock, he put it to his ear.

  “Yeah,” Adriano said, his tone hoarse.

  “Dammit,” Kolin muttered, “you worried me there for a second.”

  “You should be me right now,” Adriano replied, scanning the street for another car to come down with guns blazing.

  “What just happened?”

  “I think we both know.”

  Kolin cursed severely. “Joel retaliated.”

  “I think we can safely assume so, yes.”

  “No blood?” the Capo asked.

  “Not a drop.”

  “You always were a lucky little shit.”