Chapter Nineteen

~ Tony ~

I had been warned about Uncle Carmine, but seeing him in person and listening to the shit coming out of his mouth made me fume. This man was one of the reasons Vito hadn't been able to live his life to the fullest and felt ashamed of the things he desired.

I wanted to punch the man so badly I could practically feel the impact of my fist in his face. How dare he make Vito feel ashamed of something that he was born with, something that couldn't be changed.

Vito had been forced to hide a large part of himself his entire life and it was all due to sanctimonious assholes like Carmine.

I almost turned around to go back and punch him.

"Luca," I called out when I saw the man coming out of the dining room. "We might have a problem."

"Define problem," Luca requested.

"Carmine said something about the Romanos wanting you taken out. They offered a peace agreement to him if he did their dirty work for them. He's got guys waiting outside the gate to attack."

Luca pulled out his phone and started barking out orders, the main one to get Nico and his grandparents to the safe room. Once he was done with that, he made another phone call.

"Vinnie? It's Luca. You know those extra men you said you could send my way? How far out are they?"

I hadn't realized Luca had put the phone on speaker until I heard Vinnie's voice. "Trouble?"

"Looks like the Romano family are stirring up trouble and they've got Carmine convinced to do their dirty work for them."

"My uncle said they are only about ten minutes out."

"Tell them to be careful," Luca warned. "I doubt these guys came unarmed."

"I'm going to go get Vito and go talk them down," I said. "As the head of the family, they have to listen to me, right?"

"Technically, yes," Luca replied, "but since none of them have ever met you before, I doubt they will."

"Which is why I plan to take Vito with me. Him they know." It wasn't a great plan, but it was the only one I had at the moment.

"I'll call my grandfather," Vinnie stated, "and see if he can do some nosing around about the Romanos. If they have declared all out war on you, you know we'll back you up."

"I appreciate it, Vinnie," Luca replied. "My main concern is that nothing happens to Nico. If things get to dangerous here, can I send him your way?"

"My uncle and my men flew into the airport there. If your family needs a ride out of there, just get them to the airport. I'll let my pilot know he might have a passenger or two. I'll protect them until you come for them. You have my word of honor."

Luca visibly sighed in relief. "Thank you, Vinnie."

"I know you'd do the same for me if needed."

"I would," Luca stated, "but let's hope it never comes to that."

"From your lips to God's ears, my friend."

Luca hung up with Vinnie and put his cell phone away before turning to look at me. "I need to go have a word with Nico before he freaks out. Are you going to be okay by yourself?"

I nodded. "I'll be fine."

"Try not to rack up such a large body count this time. I'm running out of room."

I snorted. "I promise nothing."

Luca chuckled as he walked away.

I turned and made a beeline for Luca's study. I wished I'd had time to ask him for more ammo clips, but I was praying I wouldn't need them. I really didn't want to have to shoot any of my own men.

I would if forced to though.

I hurried back to the study just in time to hear Vito say he had just come out of the closet yesterday. I was damn happy about that. It felt as if not only had he come out of the closet, but he had come out full force.

Even if something happened in the future and we didn't work out—I was praying that didn't happen—at least he could continue to be true to himself.

I pushed open the study door and stepped inside. "Vinnie's people are ten minutes out. Luca has Nico on lockdown. We're on idiot duty. I need you to go with me since none of these guys have ever seen me."

Vito instantly stood and started toward me.

"Wait," Carmine called out as he stood. "Where are you going?"

"To tell the guards you brought with you to stand down before someone gets killed."

"You can't go out there."

I rolled my eyes as I turned to look at Carmine, eliciting a small chuckle from Vito. "And why not?"

"You'll be killed."

He was worried about my safety?

I wasn't buying it.

"Look, whether you like it or not, I am going to go out there and try to stop an all out war. My body count is already high enough. I don't need to add to it."

Carmine's brow flickered. "Your body count?"

I turned and continued out of the room without saying a word. I was so not going to explain my last few days to this guy.

"Wait!" Carmine called out as he hurried after me and Vito.

Nope, not waiting.

Luca met us at the front door, the look on his face fierce, but determined. "I've got men stationed around the estate, but they won't do anything without my say so. I'll wait here for you to deal with your men, but if they breach the perimeter I will take them out."

I nodded. "Understood."

Luca really was being gracious in allowing me to deal with this situation considering this was where his family lived.

Vito stayed right by my side as I walked down the steps and then the driveway to the main gate. We stopped right on the other side of the gate, waiting for the guard to open it.

"Try not to get dead," I advised Vito.

"Me? You're the adventurous one in this relationship."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Are you saying you don't like my adventurous side?"

Vito gulped. "I didn't say that."

I didn't think so.

"I'm hoping most of this will blow over once they see you, and once you tell them who I am, I can deal with them. I'm sure they are all geared up for a battle so watch your words. We don't need some trigger happy moron going off."

"I try very hard not to have morons in our organization."

"Explain Mateo."

Vito winced as if I had just jabbed him with the tip of my knife. "I can't."

"I trust you, Vito." I waved my hand toward the small crowd of men waiting for us when the gate began to open. "I don't trust them."

"Why don't you let me speak first?" Vito asked. "See if I can defuse the situation?"

I nodded my agreement and stayed where I was once the gate fully opened. My eyes widened when I saw everyone standing there. That was a lot of guns pointed in our direction.

"Vito."

"It's okay," Vito said, but I was not reassured.

Vito took several steps forward and then crossed his arms over his chest. "Stand down."

Most of the men put their guns away, but a few didn't.

Vito's voice grew harder when he snapped, "I said stand down."

The rest of the guns lowered, but I could still feel the tension in the air. It was like a knife's edge, dangerous on every side. My gut started to tighten as I scanned the guards and the area around us. I was once again getting that feeling that something wasn't right.

I squinted as I scanned the crowd of guards again, going slower this time. I was looking for anything that didn't seem normal. It wasn't like I knew what a normal mafia gang looked like, but still, I trusted my gut. I'd be able to find anything that was out of place.

I found nothing until I had looked over almost every man there. But there was one. He stood near the back of the small crowd close to one of the SUVs. He was dressed as the others and from my vantage point, I couldn't see a weapon in his hands, but there was something definitely off about him.

It was his eyes. While they seemed to be somewhat hooded from the way he had his head bowed down, I could see them darting around in an almost frantic manner. That didn't seem right to me.

Was he waiting for something?

Someone?

"What is he doing?"

I glanced to my side to find Carmine standing next to me. He was staring at Vito as if he had never seen him before.

"He's telling them to stand down," I explained.

When I glanced back toward the crowd, the man I had been watching was no longer standing where he had been. That put me immediately on alert. I quickly searched for him, taking a step forward.

He had to be here somewhere.

My search became almost frantic. The moment I spotted him inching his way through the crowd, I knew he was up to no good.

"Vito, airport!" I shouted as I started running, praying I'd get there in time. The loud retort of a gun echoed through the air, telling me I was too late.

"Tony!" Vito shouted when I started running forward toward the guards. I jumped up onto the hood of one of the SUVs, slid across it, and then leapt onto the man that had fired the gun, taking him down to the ground.

"You I don't like," I snapped as I repeatedly punched the guy. "You're fired."

When the guy collapsed on the ground, I let him go and stood. I turned to look to make sure Vito was okay. He stood several feet away, his arms crossed as he talked with his uncle.

No bullet hole in sight.

I glanced at the guards standing around me. Most of them were avoiding my gaze, some outright looking away, but a couple were staring at me with looks I couldn't quite decipher.

"My name is Anthony D'Angelo. I am the son of Anthony D'Angelo senior. I am the new head of the D'Angelo family. If you don't believe me, ask my underboss."

Every head turned towards Vito, who nodded. "He's telling the truth. He's your new boss. Whatever he says goes."

"We have no conflict with the Sabatino family or the Borelli family," I stated firmly. "The first person I learn goes against them without my direct order will suffer a fate they do not want. Is that clearly understood? If you do not hear the words from my lips, it doesn't happen."

"Um, Mr. D'Angelo, sir—"

"Call me Boss or Tony," I retorted quickly. "Do not call me sir."

"Yes, sir...I mean, yes, Boss."

I crossed my arms and looked at the guy who had spoken. "What's your question?"

The man looked all sorts of confused, a frown marring his face. "I thought we were here to rescue Mr. Vito and eliminate the Sabatino family."

Wonder why I wasn't included in that rescue?

Was I not supposed to make it out of here alive?

"That decision was made without me. It was also made on faulty information. I'm about to sign a peace agreement with the Borelli and Sabatino families, not eliminate them. As of this moment, you will consider every member of the Borelli and Sabatino families to be our friends and allies."

"Every member?"

I don't know who asked that question, but I had a pretty good idea of who they were referring to.

"Nico Sabatino and Nicky Borelli are personal friends of mine. They also fall under the family veil. If anyone harms them, insults them, or makes them feel uncomfortable in any way, not only will I go after the offender, but I will go after their family, their friends, and even their dog. Is that clear enough for you?"

"Yes, Boss!" they all shouted at once.

"Over the last few days, I've heard a lot about what is allowed in the mafia and what is not. News flash. I don't care. Prejudice against gay people will not be allowed in my organization. If you don't like it, get the hell out."

Surprisingly, no one walked away.

I walked through the crowd of guards to where Vito was standing, sending him a wink before turning to face the guards once again.

"For those of you that feel uncomfortable with this, I'll give you one last chance to leave with no recriminations and half a month's severance pay in your pocket. But there is one more thing you need to know before you make your decision. I'm gay, and no, I am not interested in any of you. I have a partner."

I wasn't going to out Vito, although I suspect people would eventually figure it out. It wasn't like I could keep my hands off the man.

"I don't plan to throw any wild orgies or whatever perverted thoughts might be going through your mind right now. I am totally loyal to my partner as he is to me."

I was thrilled right down to my toes when Vito wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me flush up against his body.

"I am loyal to you."

I shot him a quick smile. "I know."

"Boss, you're Mr. D'Angelo's—"

"Yes, I'm Tony's partner."

I frowned when I heard a soft grunt from the other side of Vito. I leaned forward to look and then snorted when I saw the pained looked on Carmine's face. "Deal with it or get out."

Carmine's shoulders slumped.

"You're gay?" someone asked from the crowd.

"I've been gay all my life. I just had no reason to share that with anyone else until Tony came into my life. Now, I do."

And here we had talked so much about not making some big announcement. That wasn't working out so well for us, but maybe this was better.

"So, here's the bottom line," I started. "I'm gay. Vito is gay. We're friends and allies with the gay leaders of other mafia families both here and in New York City. If you don't like it"—I waved my hand toward the road—"there's the door."

This time, a couple of people walked away. I was actually surprised more didn't. If we only lost a couple here and there, it was no big loss. If we lost all of our people, we might be in trouble.

When my nerves started to vibrate and my stomach knotted, I knew losing some of our people might not be our biggest problem.

"Vito, we've got trouble coming."

I just didn't know where it was coming from.