“Those boys are a wild combination.”

“They are,” I said.

Valentina’s voice rang out, and the screams stopped.

“Rocco’s around my age, I really don’t know how he has the energy to raise two small boys.” A hint of wistfulness crossed his face but he hid it quickly. Orazio had been part of the Famiglia for five years now. Giovanni never talked about him, unless Rocco mentioned him.

“I think they are less boisterous at home than they are here,” I said, my mouth twisting. Rocco’s parenting techniques hadn’t improved much from what Val told me. Maria often confided in her during their weekly meetups about Rocco’s lack of patience. He never hit his children or wife in front of me, fully aware of my stance on the matter. I’d tried to bridge the subject as delicately as possible without risking that he realized Maria revealed what was going on behind closed doors. I doubted it had changed much.

He considered himself strict, not abusive. I was a strict father but I certainly handled punishment very differently to Rocco.

“How’s baby number three coming along?” he asked conspiratorially.

Anna had let it slip that Val and I wanted a third baby and now Giovanni and Livia didn’t stop asking.

The bell rang and immediately silence reigned in the house.

“I think Rocco just arrived.”

Giovanni sighed. “Let’s hope he brings good news. If I hear one more word about the Camorra’s victory march in the West, I’m going to lose it.”

The rise of the Camorra in the West was a worrying development. After Benedetto’s death a few years ago, I’d thought the remaining Falcone clan spread out in the different cities would tear into each other and weaken the Camorra. And initially that had been the case, but then Remo Falcone had grabbed power and went on a killing spree. Now he and his brothers ruled over the West. They hadn’t attacked my territory yet so I had ignored them for the most part. They were volatile, brutal madmen like their father and I hoped they’d eventually kill each other off and solve the problem themselves.

When Rocco stepped in, I knew we wouldn’t hear good news today.

His face was red and covered with sweat, and the top button of his shirt was open as if he’d had trouble breathing.

I pushed out of the chair. “Rocco?”

“You should sit down again,” he muttered.

Narrowing my eyes, I walked toward him. “What is it?”

“I got updates from our contacts in Vegas and New York.” He let out a bitter laugh. “We’re being screwed over on both fronts.”

“For God’s sake, what is going on?” Giovanni said.

“Orazio has been made Underboss of Boston.”

Giovanni’s expression became stone but for briefest moment pain flared up in his eyes.

I didn’t move, trying to keep my emotions in check, even as a wave of fury rolled through me. “You said on both fronts?”

Rocco laughed again and staggered over to the desk where he dropped a few photos. His fingers turned white from their tight grip on the edge of the desk. I moved closer to get a look at the photos. It took me a moment to understand what I was seeing. A fighting cage with a blond man in the center.

Fabiano Scuderi with raised arms, celebrating a victory over a bleeding opponent.

I glanced at Rocco who looked close to an outburst. “Where was this taken?”

A suspicion was trickling through slowly. One territory was famous for their death fights.

“Las Vegas.” Rocco jabbed his finger at another photo. I picked it up and took a closer look. Fabiano had the tattoo of an eye and the knife on his forearm. The tattoo of the Camorra.

“He defected to the fucking Camorra! And that bastard Falcone took him in. First Luca with Orazio, and now Falcone with Fabiano! This must stop.”

Giovanni didn’t say anything. If my own body hadn’t gone into a sort of fury-fueled state of shock, I would have asked if he was okay. He looked pale.

“What’s he doing in the Camorra?” I asked, satisfied to hear my voice cold and smooth. No sign of my inner turmoil.

“What does it matter?” Rocco roared. “My own flesh and blood has become a dirty traitor. I want him dead!”

Pure hatred shone in Rocco’s dark eyes. But it wasn’t the only emotion I detected. In their depth, I found animal fear. What was Rocco so afraid of? His reputation? That I would remove him from his position as Consigliere because of this development? Or something else? “We have to attack the Camorra, Dante. Right away. We can’t show weakness. Luca and Remo are making fools of us. We must react. We must kill Fabiano and Orazio.”

I agreed. Both Fabiano and Orazio needed to die, but not before I had talked to them. I needed to know what had happened, and I needed to know everything they knew about the Famiglia and the Camorra.

“We have to gather more information before we act, Rocco. This isn’t something we can risk without a foolproof plan. And right now, neither you nor Giovanni are in a state of mind to discuss plans.”

Rocco shook his head. “We can’t wait!”

“Careful with that tone,” I growled. “We will wait and you’ll gather more info before we discuss tactics. Understood?”

Rocco moved even closer. “You owe me this. Remember, Jacopo.”

I grabbed his throat and shoved him against the desk. “One more word, Rocco, and you’ll die before Fabiano. I won’t tolerate your disrespect. And remember that you owe me more than I do.”

Giovanni hovered a few steps from us, a hand on his gun. He needn’t have worried. I didn’t need his help against Rocco. I made sure I stayed fit, Rocco on the other hand only tried to stay in shape by taking a young girl in his bed.

“Understood?” I hissed.

“Yes,” Rocco got out. I released him and he massaged his throat. “Sorry, Capo. This has been a shock.”

“Find out more information and once you’ve calmed down, we’ll figure out what we can do.”

Rocco nodded and left. I followed after him, wary of his emotional state.

“Maria! Get the boys. We’re leaving!” he barked.

Maria hurried into the lobby, the two boys in front of her. Rocco Jr. and Riccardo were four and five, and looked like twins. Riccardo ducked his head but Rocco frowned. “But we were playing with Leonas.”

Rocco slapped his older son. “Do I look like I care?”

Val gave me a horrified look as she appeared in the doorway behind Maria.

“It’s not a sign of strength to hurt the people you need to protect,” Leonas muttered the words I’d told him several times.

Rocco glared at my son but then quickly smoothed his face and gave me a tight smile. “See you soon.”

Without another word, he walked out. Maria quickly pushed the boys out as well and hurried after him.

Val shook her head and stroked Leonas’ head. He came over to me. “Why can’t you order him to treat his family nicely?”

I sighed. “A Capo can’t get involved in family matters.”

“That’s stupid!” Leonas muttered, stomping his foot.

“Do not take that tone with me,” I said sharply.

Leonas snapped his mouth shut, eying me warily. I wasn’t in a state of mind for a discussion with him today.