7. Ciro
7
CIRO
“S peak only fact. Keep it short. To the point, da ?”
“Who do I look like?” I raise an eyebrow, smirking.
“Jackass. Pretend you are not you for a moment,” Vanya says almost at a whisper.
She went in first thing when we got here, spent thirty minutes in the conference room with five grizzly looking dudes, including Pyotr. I am not excited for this dressing down.
Or maybe they’ll just give me a pat on the back and I can go have ice cream.
The look on Matvey’s face as we waited for our turns has me a little skeptical.
“Shakal. Come.”
Pyotr sits in the center, obviously leading the council. The others could be straight out of Bond films, except for the one guy to my left. I sort of wanna drop him off the top of a building in Nakatomi Plaza.
“Gentlemen. Ciro Diamante, at your service.” I grin, wondering if I should bow.
“You will speak when spoken to, Italian interloper,” a guy who just has to be named Boris growls, clenching his fists. Must be grumpy because he’s a Soviet double agent. Or because his chin and his nose have matching butts.
“ Ach , don’t mind him, Shakal. We have heard good things about you. But maybe keep your mouth shut,” adds the Captain Ramius look-alike, showing just a hint of a smile.
“Vanya and Matvey have already filled us in on the details of the smugglers, the shooters.”
Pyotr raises a hand for something like order. The final member only sneers at me like he wants to take over Air Force One, keeping his comments to himself.
Looking awkwardly at the scowling menace with double ass-face, I raise my thumb and smile as awkwardly as humanly possible. Mom always said I was her handsome boy.
Pyotr frowns.
I think he’d get along with Adriano and Alessandro. They both always made the same face at me. Like all the time for no reason.
After another few seconds of extremely comfortable silence, I clear my throat.
“Am I supposed to say or do something?” I finally choke out, unable to hold it in any longer.
As one, three of the members suddenly throw their heads back, laughing loudly. The double-cleft wonder and that wizard kid’s godfather even huff a little chuckle through their sour looks.
“Ha. Haha. Ha?” I join in, shrugging and then actually give in, letting their laughter get me going. Nothing like a good manic chortle to lighten the mood.
“They said he was funny, but that look on his face!” The gray-bearded, jovial one shakes his head, leveling me with a stare and a nod. “You made an impression at the prison, my boy. I see good things for you.”
“And speaking of good things. You deserve a reward for your actions this night. That is why we call you in. And to make joke with you.”
A joke I apparently still have to figure out. I’ll never understand their idea of humor.
“I love rewards. But you really don’t have to. I’m Volk. I was just watching my brother’s back. Then my brother’s sister. Er, my sister? Ew. I mean…uh. Uverditel’nyy ?” My salute could use some work.
“Remind me to put you with tutor for Russian. It’s terrible.”
“Wodka?” I sputter, holding out my hands.
“Or we could just give him three more months in Gulag…” the Boris guy growls.
This time I get the joke when they laugh at my wide-eyed expression. I mean, I pray it was a joke.
“Thanks for this, Shakal,” Pyotr smiles, his expression darkening some. “Not the news we want to hear, foreign gangs encroaching on our lands. But we get a bit too serious sometimes. Especially Boris.”
I nearly choke. His name is actually Boris.
“Unfortunately, the reward I have for you is not exactly good news either, but it is what I promised you. As much as I know about events with your brothers, that is.”
News about my family. But he said it wasn’t good…
Whatever you do, do not cry in front of ass-face. Swallowing hard, I nod, keeping my gaze steady and locked on Pyotr. He nods once, seeing my resolve.
“I am loath to inform you, Ciro, that all reports indicate that your twin brother is dead.”
I almost laugh.
Almost.
But as short a time as I have known Pyotr, I still can tell when he is being serious. And he is dead serious.
“How?” It’s the only question I can think of.
“From our informants, we gathered that after Dom took your elder brother’s place, he started making deals he had no intention of keeping. He double-crossed dozens of contacts, us included. This is why we captured you when you came to parlay. We suspected treachery. A tip let us know you were coming and where to find you.”
“I mean, Dom is a piece of shit, so I’m not surprised. But we only worked for him to keep our extended family and fiscal interests safe. Because we had to.” I shouldn’t say that, share those secrets, but Pyotr likely already knows that much. Plus, I’m babbling like an idiot. At least I’m competent enough to know not to bring up Aless.
Isabella.
The kid. She’s going to be due soon if she hasn’t already had the baby.
Need to keep them safe. At all costs.
Fuck. I hope they’re still safe.
“ How .” This time I mean it, I say it without thinking of the consequences of mouthing off to my superiors. I’m fucking shaking as the news sets in.
“When feds took Dom Vipera, he blabbed. Threw anyone he could under the bus for a deal. No one knows now where he is. But collateral was global. Agencies hit targets all over the world, like they knew exactly where every shady deal and exchange was going down. Assassinations foiled. Just about every contract and hire working for Dom at the time got tagged.”
Like me. Like Fiero.
My twin. Sent to I don’t fucking know where on his last mission. Except that we were sent by Adriano, not Dom. Adri told us to go make contacts, to get help and then disappear. He would not have set us up knowingly. It doesn’t add up. Unless Dom knew what Adriano was planning. Changed the rules, set us up.
“I know this is a shock. Alessandro, your leader and older brother killed, then Adriano, second to Dom, disappears. I am so very sorry, Shakal.”
“Thank you for staying true to your word, Pakhan .”
“We are family now. Truly. I know you must grieve, but you are one of us. We grieve with you; all of us have lost family along the way. Take some time to rest.”
I nod, taking the gesture of his hand as a dismissal and leaving without acknowledging the rest of the council. No one says shit, so I guess it’s fine.
Dumbstruck, I make my way back to my room, sitting on the side of my bed. I should just sleep. Rest. Shut off.
I earned acclaim tonight. And the news he just conveyed.
Great.
I just wish I could revel in the fact that I discovered a cell of infiltrating enemies, smugglers. Instead, I’m T-boned with the news that I am the last remaining Diamante that anyone knows of in the world. And I have no way to reach Aless, to tell him that our brothers are gone. Even if there is hope that Adriano may have escaped.
I feel so damn alone.
My twin is dead.
It’s unfathomable. Incomprehensible. We were one. Two halves of the same person.
And we were Diamantes God dammit. We were invincible.
Rage boils in my chest.
I can’t believe this. Not until I see his fucking corpse. So I rush out, showering, changing. I’m halfway to stealing a car for the night when Mat catches up to me.
“Ciro, what happened? I looked for you after, but…” His eyes widen slightly as he catches sight of my face in the lights of the garage.
“We going out?” I ask, my eyes burning.
“ Da ,” is all he murmurs, snatching the keys and nodding toward a vehicle.
He drives in silence, all the way to the party district, letting me simmer in my sorrow. My anger.
By the time we arrive and park, we’ve killed a bottle of vodka and I’m feeling a lot better.
“This place, this is a good spot to let loose, I promise.”
“Thanks Mat.”
“Hey, it’s all good.”
“It’s really not. So thanks.”
“You are my blood now, Ci. Never forget. Now, just for tonight, forget the bullshit. We are fucking Volk. We are fucking unstoppable, ah?”
“Fucking right.”
The club is exactly my kind of place. Dark. Lights flashing. Hardcore music thumping.
I’m six deep and dancing with a girl in bright pink in no time, letting the bass bash my worries and pain away. The line of blow doesn’t hurt anything, or the couple of hits off of a few jays.
Soon, I’m lost in the middle of the dance floor, Matvey off somewhere flirting, trying to score.
I should be a better wingman.
He deserves a better wingman. But tonight, I’m gone.
With full access to the VIP, I can have anything I want. Reminds me of New York. The underground scene. So many summers where I partied nonstop for weeks on end, barely sleeping.
Taking a much-needed break, I settle back into a plush lounge chair, almost perfectly in sync with Matvey flopping down next to me.
“Damn. That girl was nuts! Wanted to peg me in the bathroom,” Mat laughs, offering me a drink.
“Do they have anything other than vodka here?” I tease, taking the glass.
“Why would they have anything else?”
Sitting in the haze of disconnection, I let my eyes drift across the seething mass of bodies below us, the lights playing off of glow-painted skin. I’ve already been approached by gals and guys alike, propositioned for drugs, sex. Maybe I should, but something holds me back.
And I realize what it is when I catch sight of the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen dancing across from us on the opposite balcony. Purple, skintight dress. Jet black hair. Ice blue eyes. She locks stares with me, freezing me in my seat.
Those curves, muscular thighs flexing with every move, exposed to the base of that short-cut dress, tits pressed together and accented in neon. A faint smile tilts her lips, and I sit up suddenly, recognizing who I am looking at.
Vanya.
And now she’s grinning like a fox, watching me watch her from under hooded lids.
Of course she’d be here. She’s all I’ve thought about for weeks. And she’s made it damn clear that she’s happy to keep fucking with me, toying with me. I would let her use me. But I want more.
“Earth to Ciro…” Mat thwacks my arm, slurring. He’s hammered. “Hey, come on, these two girls want to dance with us, they’re smoking hot!”
“Go ahead, I’ll catch up.”
“No. Fuck no,” he groans, following my gaze across the club. Immediately his expression changes. “You’ve got to me kidding me.”
“What’s wrong with her being here?”
“I leave town for three months and she takes over my spot? It’s fucking weird with my sister here, man.”
“Let it be, Mat.”
“Yeah, maybe. She’s waving for you.”
“Really?”
“You are such a freaking sucker.”
“Go talk to those girls, I’ll tell Vanya we don’t want to hang out.”
“Bullshit. You’re going to go dance with her!”
“Says who?”
“She says. I know the minute you go over there, she’s gonna make you start dancing, just to piss me off. And then I’m here riding stag like a loser with thumb in my ass.”
“Hey, you don’t have to put it there. Pegging girl is still giving you the eye from the bar…”
“Eat shit.”
“Just go grab those two ladies and bring them with us as a buffer. I want to at least say hi to Van.”
“You kidding? Vanya and her friends would murder those poor women. Never mind, anyway. They already found some other pricks to bounce on.”
We circle the upper level, weaving through the crowd and all I can think about, all I can see, is Vanya. She’s dancing like a beacon leading me toward her. Matvey’s right. I’m a sucker.
“What’s up, cock block?” Mat shouts over the beat, making a face. Vanya turns at the voice, her eyes narrowing.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
Several of Vanya’s friends perk up, giving Mat and I the eye. A quick glare from Vanya has them giggling and rolling their eyes.
“I thought I saw you getting shit-faced over there.”
“You’re just as drunk,” Mat accuses, looking like a pouty toddler. Show some dignity, dude.
“Unlike you, I can handle my liquor.”
“Why are you here?”
“I didn’t realize this was your private club. Maybe I need to unwind after a mission too. Pick up some guys…”
“That’s disgusting.”
“That’s typical. Double standard. You can whore around all you want and I am supposed to stay home and clean up your puke in the morning?”
“You know I don’t mean that?—”
“We like coming here. The bouncers are our guys. It’s safe and I like the music.”
“You’re just here to cramp my style.”
“Matty, give it a rest—” I start, reaching for him, but he shrugs me off. Oof. Sloppy drunk.
“She’s just doing this to piss me off.”
“I am now.”
“Alright,” I sniff, shaking my head. Why am I playing moderator? “I’m getting another drink. You two fist fight or whatever and be done with it.”
“Don’t be such an asshole, Ci—” Mat starts to yell, taking a not-so-playful swing at me. Easily dodging, I sidestep him and he trips, eating his shit onto one of the lounge couches.
“There he is…my little brother.” Waving one hand, Vanya calls for one of the massive black-shirted guys standing nearby. “See him home, please? My driver is outside.”
“You’re always like this! Telling me what to do, trying to play mother to me!” Mat shouts, barely putting up a fight as the huge bouncer guides him out.
“He won’t remember this, will he?”
“Not a chance.” Vanya sighs.
“Has he always been an angry drunk?” To be fair, he had the equivalent of three bottles in as many hours. I’m impressed he’s still standing.
“A brat? Yes. He tries to act like a big man and gets in trouble. I have to bail him out.”
“You could go easier on him. He kicked ass tonight.”
“Being easy on him is why he gets like this! He needs discipline, do you not agree?”
“None of my business.”
“Good answer. Because I would hate to have to send you home too.”
“Oh really?”
“ Da . I have other plans for you.”
She’s already tugging on the front of my shirt, pulling me toward her. And any other thought about fuck-all else flies out the window. Her red-hot body is pressed into mine, moving to the music.
Her curves grinding into me make my head spin, more intoxicating than the drinks, the drugs. The scent of her hair, her perfume…
I’m so screwed.
Especially when she drags me down to bite my ear and whisper, “Come with me, right now.”
I’m grinning like a fucking idiot as she drags me down a hallway like a piece of meat. I love every second of it. Through a doorway and a storage back area, into a private room with couches along the walls, the music fading slightly into the background.
Before I can say a word, she slams me up against the wall, planting a deep, sensual kiss on my lips. My fingers spear into her silken hair, gripping tightly, claiming her mouth and twining my tongue with hers. Heat explodes in my core, stars behind my eyes.
Jerking her head back with a light tug of her hair, I pause to catch my breath, to look at her alluring features, her intense stare.
And just to fuck with her, I ask, “You sure you want to do this?”
Her eyes flare with the challenge. “Would you dare to tell me no?”