“Because they’re my family and I don’t give a fuck how it looks like on the outside. The Irish knew that, and that’s why they came here. They knew about Wolf before I fucking knew about Wolf, Ruby, and they knew I was his father. You getting your pussy wet almost cost lives.”

“I hate you.”

Lion interrupts, “I know this is a family affair, but this MC isn’t exactly conventional and doesn’t stick to the norm. Having Wicked as a member, we always thought was going to be a short-term thing, but—”

“—but I’ve decided to keep the patch. This is my family now, not the Cosa Nostra. I ain’t interested in it.”

“But you’re a made man.” I sneer. “Blood in, blood out.”

“I can do both.” He stubs out his cigar. “When needed anyway.”

“And why did Papa have to fake his own death?”

Papa stands from his chair and makes his way to the corner of the room. He’s agitated, I can see it in his eyes. “Because the family that killed his knows about my involvement with him as a boy. It’s complicated, principessa. I’ll handle all the details.”

“Of course. He’s Sergio Amante’s son.” I chuckle, shaking my head and running my fingers through my hair, shifting it to the side. “Sergio was an elder, the Capo Dei Capi of the Commission which—” I rest my elbow on the table, massaging my forehead. “Makes sense why Gio and Marcu were scared of him. It also makes sense now how close you and Papa are. Can’t believe I didn’t see it before.” I gulp past the swell in my throat. It tastes a lot like betrayal and cigarettes. “So Papa faked his death because the family who took yours out now wants his blood because they’ve found out that you’re alive…” I shoot up from the table. “Do they know you have a son?”

Wicked bares his teeth. “I barely knew I had a son. Sit your ass down.”

My body instantly lowers. “So who is it? Who is it that killed your family? We can take them out.”

Wicked shifts his head over his shoulder slightly to look at Papa behind him. There’s information they’re both keeping from me. That’s obvious and not a surprise. Both of them have been joined at the hip since the beginning. I don’t know why I was surprised to hear that Papa wasn’t really dead. No body. No other explanation but that there was a shooting and he was the fatality. How dumb and naive, so wrapped up in my grief to ask questions.

“I am coming home tonight, Bubba. You can step down.” The corners of his eyes wrinkle.