Free [smg id=31099 type=normal align=center width=150] by Kirsty-Anne Still Page B

cowers a little. “Touch something that isn’t yours again, and I’ll make sure the reminder is far more life limiting.” He stands up straight, taking the diamond pouch from the floor and turns to me. “You okay?”
    “I’m fine,” I croak, pushing them away. I see the look he fixes me with and I crack a little. “I’m fine!” I reiterate and make my way to the table. I take the black pouch of our money and make a quick exit. I reach up to feel the cut, feeling the wetness of my own blood as I do so. I groan in frustration and storm out of the building.
    “We’re leaving, Matty.” My order comes so quickly that Matty doesn’t have a chance to get a door opened for me. I throw it open myself and slip inside, slamming it behind me. It doesn’t take the men more than two seconds to join me in the car and neither, thankfully, bring up what just happened.
    “That’s how a mafia man handles business!” Carlo praises, twisting in his seat to look over at Zane. “I cannot wait to tell everyone how you took Carmello down like a boss. Maverick, I think we have you severely underestimated.”
    “It’s always the underdog you worry about,” Zane comments smoothly. He looks smug with his triumph, but I know Zane most. This isn’t about what he achieved; this is about him managing to make it look like he can be one of us.
    “I think you deserve a reward for that,” Carlo says as he falls into his seat.
    ***
    “He was going to take her!” Carlo shouts at Giovanni. “I know you don’t give a shit about her, but it’s nice to find a guy who does besides us!”
    I listen to them argue as Enzo cleans me up. The moment he saw my paled face with crimson staining my neck, he wanted answers. My father is in with another business associate, so he’s still none the wiser. We have the diamonds, money, and the fear of Christ on our side.
    “Would our family really be any less if we didn’t have her?” Giovanni asks, throwing me a derogatory glare. “Daddy’s secret little weapon isn’t exactly a secret, if you didn’t know!”
    Carlo’s face reddens suddenly, and he charges for Giovanni. “She’s our fucking sister, you coglione !”
    The argument continues and I faze it out. I cannot be dealing with Giovanni’s rant as to why I should be cast out of the family. His issues with me are more than an arm’s length long, and I couldn’t care less about any of them. He has issues with me, and I have issues with him. It’s how we work as a sibling partnership. We are never bound to be best friends, and I don’t care to try. But the more I hear him argue about how I’m not needed in this family, the more I wish I could just disappear. By the way no one else is reacting, we’re letting the pair resolve the issue themselves.
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” my father shouts over Giovanni and Carlo. “What the hell is going on here?”
    “They fucked up,” Giovanni declares, that same self-righteous tone renouncing sanity.
    “What?” My father looks widely around and stops on me as Enzo finishes cleaning me up. “Amelia, what the hell did you do?”
    “What did I do?” I quip, finding the disbelief dizzying. “What about what you did?” I ask and watch him. “You sent me in there only to nearly have me taken by Carmello because you were underpaying him. If it wasn’t for Zane, I’d have been the perfect consolation.”
    “So, do we have the money and diamonds?” my father questions, ignorant of all he’s just been told.
    “Of course, why would I expect you to care?” I ask him rhetorically, pushing Enzo away. “It’s all about the money with you.”
    “I do care,” he says, not much conviction to his tone.
    “Well, prove it!” I exclaim desperately trying to keep my grip on my emotions. “If it wasn’t for Zane’s quick actions, I dread to think what sort of life I’d be living as a result of your greed. But don’t worry, you’re letting a good one into the family.”
    “She’s right.