For the first time since I arrived, Como picked up what I was putting down and then, he looked frightened. “Listen to yourself, Scala. You’re acting crazy.”

“Crazy?” The laughter that left me dripped with acid. “You haven’t seen me crazy… yet.”

Como ran a hand through his messed-up hair. He looked me in the eye when he admitted, “Look, I didn’t mean what I said. She’s my niece and I love her, but I would have said anything to diffuse the situation. I would have said anything to appease you.”

Did he think his show of reverence would win me over?

All I saw was a coward, shaking in his sheets. “Including breaking her fucking heart. Right?”

Como’s chin dipped, he lowered his eyes and the only thing filling the long silence that passed between us was the flicking of my lighter.

And then, I thought about my wife and her desperate need to maintain a familial connection. I thought of a way where both Famiglia Vero and Vittoria got what they wanted. “Okay,” I began. “You want Vittoria to do your books? Come by the house to discuss terms and payment.”

The man’s head shot up in disbelief. “What?”

He heard me. “If Vittoria wants the job, you’re going to pay her for the work she does.”

The asshole had the nerve to say, “But we’re family.”

A laugh shot out of me. “Yeah? That’s funny, Como. That’s real funny.” I sobered quickly. “You disowned her.” When I leant in close, he backed away from me. “I’m her family now and when you hurt one of mine, I feel it. A direct cut to my flesh. It’s my job to protect her, even from pieces of shit family members like you.”

Knowing the situation demanded one, he caved with a shaky, “I’m sorry.”

But I was not impressed. “I’m not the one you have to apologize to.” My cold glance passed the space around us. “Tonight. 7 o’clock. You’re going to host dinner for us, as a family.” The last word in that sentence dripped with disdain. “I’m going to tell my wife that you called me and begged to see her. I’m going to tell her this because I think it will make her happy to believe you care. I’m sure she misses the house she was raised in. No doubt she probably has things here she’d like to bring home with her.” Flick, flick. “She doesn’t need to know the truth and if she does find out,” my eyes narrowed on the man, “I will make you hurt. Do you hear me?”

Como Vero watched me closely. “You really do care about her.” A statement. A skeptical one, at that. Then he conceded defeat. “I already lost a brother to you. I don’t want to lose anyone else.” He sighed, “Bring her home.”