Honest

thirty-one

Giuseppe

"Levi!"

I can feel the vein in my neck protruding. Where the hell is he?

"Where is Levi?" I shout, impatient. He should've been here by now!

"Call Luna in here," I demand, addressing one of the soldiers.

He does so, hurriedly. Luna's a lunatic, and I don't really have time for her, but if anyone knows where Levi is, it's her.

She comes in, her long dress trailing along my marble floors.

"Where is he?" I demand without Introduction

"How should I know?" She shrugged. "We aren't joined at the hip."

I grind my teeth. "You're a liar, Luna. Where is he?"

"Since you two spend so much time together, you should know, cousin." She replies, turning around and leaving.

I sigh, massaging my temple. When he gets here...

"Giuseppe-"

I narrow my eyes, looking up at him. "Is this a f*****g joke to you, Levi?"

At second glance I see why his late. His clothes are wrinkled, there's lipstick on his collar and face.

I scoff. "Is there any puttana worth disappointing me for, Levi?"

"Actually, Don-yes. Well, no. She's not a puttana. In fact," He swallows.

Where is this bravado coming from?

He looks back, waiting for something. I follow his gaze as she comes in, taking his hand.

I shake my head slowly, disbelief filling my lungs.

"We're getting married. Today."

I slam my palms down against the oak of my desk, standing. "What have you brought into my house?!"

"No," I breathe, shaking my head. "No, I forbid this! Get her out of here!"

"Giuseppe! I love her! And if she leaves so do I."

I smile cynically. "So she's worth it? You betraying me?"

He looks at me softly. "It's not betrayal. She's done nothing against us-"

"Since you love her so much, you know who she is? Don't you? How long have you been sneaking around with her?"

"Since the night we met," Levi admits.

I scoff. "Three years. Three years?!"

"We do not associate with these people," I hiss. "Especially," I point at the woman who glares at me, "Not her!"

"Why?" Levi laughs. "Because their leader dumped you after you kissed another girl in front of her?"

"Because they are disloyal, fickle and reckless. That's why. Now take her back where she came from, and I will forgive this... gross abuse of my trust."

Levi looks away. "Then it looks like we're done here, Giuseppe."

They turn their backs on me, and start walking away.

"If you walk out that door," I yell, halting their steps, "Do not bother to ever come back."

He says nothing, but his steps say it all.

"Where are you even going?" I ask.

"Well, if I know her well enough, to see me."

Of course. Of course they bought the devil here.

I sit back, taking in her form as she stands imposing, her disapporval so evident.

"And see if I'll approve of this horrible union. And when I don't, they'll flee, fall off the grid, ain't that Salone?"

She breaks away from Levi's grasp, running toward her boss.

She looks good. I look away.

"Please, Desiree-"

She holds up her hand, halting their words.

"I chose to trust you. And you do this?"

I scoff. "This disunity stems from your family...Doctor Brown."

She sneers at me. "Of course you'd say that, Vitale. Your as ignorant as you are smug and glib."

"You want to insult me? Here, in my house?"

She raised her perfectly arched brow. "I don't know? Do you want to start a war, here in your house?"

Levi sighs. "Can't you two just...accept that we love each other? This whole argument between you two, is just a matter of pride. That's why we didn't tell you."

"If you care about us, you'll set your pride aside and let us be happy."

My lip quivers in disdain.

Desiree scowls. "What kind is nonsense is that? What is this? Shakespeare? You call yourself a Mafioso?"

I bristle. "If your second is so strong, why doesn't she speak for herself?"

"I don't know? She's probably been beside her blushing bride a little too long?" She shoots.

"Blushing bride," Levi murmured, to the woman. "Does she mean me?"

"Yes I mean you," She comes closer, my men aim at her. I don't stop them, and she doesn't seem to mind.

"For someone so weak, you've sewn disloyalty into her heart. I should kill you," She spits.

The woman, pushes him behind her.

"If you kill him, then I have no choice but to..."

She c***s her head left slowly. "Go ahead, Salone. Finish your threat. Dont tell me you've become so weak, you can't back up your own deceit."

Levi pushes her behidnbhi.. "Don't talk to her like that. She cares for you. And all you see is your ego. Come on, Salone. Let's just go."

She clenches her jaw, stepping aside challengingly.

Salone looks at her sadly, but takes his hand.

They walk away. And neither of us makes a move to stop them.

"This is all your fault," She hisses.

I roll my eyes, pulling some scotch from under my desk. I take out two glasses, offering her one.

"Isn't that what you always do? Assume at fault for something, without even asking an explanation."

She scoffs. "There is a reason our families have been enemies for generations. You Italians are nothing more than disloyal packets of grease."

I chuckle.

"Is that so? Tell me something. How does the adopted daughter of an ethnic based syndicate leader who isn't even of that ethnicity, rule over them?"

She sheds her coat, revealing her arm. It's covered in Roman numerals.

"The candidate who has killed the most, rules over the family." She smirks, spinning on her stiletto heel, sashaying out of my office.

"Keep the coat, you need the money more than I do."

I roll my eyes, watching her leave, sipping my scotch, silently.

She pauses at the door.

"Stay on your side of the territory, and you won't be added to my list, baby," She says softly.

The guards keep their guns trained on her as she exists the room.

"Do we let her go, Don?"

"Mm," I just. "But of course. It's not worth a war is it?"

I stand, looking out the window at her exiting the estate. I watch her get into it and drive away. Unauthorized, unscathed.

"She's become a wonderful Boss hasn't she?"

"Yes, Don."

I smile. "Buono. Now hunt my cousin and his woman down bring them back here. I'm going to give them what they deserve."

Here in the Vitale we have a little saying each of us has tattooed on our bodies.

Death before Disloyalty.