Code of Honor (Spontagio Family 1)

me. It’s mostly bills and junk mail, all of which I drop straight in the trash. My phone vibrates. Pulling it out from my pocket, I see that it’s Chase, my best friend.

Chase: Dude, haven’t seen you in weeks. Meet us at the Cambrian at eight, okay? No excuses.

I type back that I’ll be there. Honestly, it sounds like exactly what I need. I spend way too much time with Giovanni and Lucy as it is. It’s so easy to forget about my own life, or how much of a mess it is.

It’s nearly eight when I make my way down to the Cambrian. It’s a small bar, perfect for catching up with friends. I’ve been meeting the guys here since our college days. And for them, not much had changed. They drink way too much, then spend half the night trying to hit on girls who want nothing to do with them. It’s kind of funny to watch.

Chase stands up when he spots me, waving his arms around like a lunatic.

“It’s Pietro,” he cries out with way too much enthusiasm. Half the bar turns around to check out who Pietro is. I smile, embarrassed. Fuck. He’s already drunk. And it looks like the other guys are not too far behind him.

“Hey.” I grin, sliding into the chair. I flag down a waitress and order myself a Scotch.

“Dude, where have you been?” Max asks, pulling me into a hug. I laugh. The guy always gets way too affectionate after a few drinks.

I met Chase in freshman year of high school. I was the new kid in town, new to the whole country. I would have been the perfect target for bullies had it not been for the fact that 90 percent of the female student body was attracted to the silent brooding Italian who was angry with the world.

I’m sure Chase initially befriended me so he could get closer to the girls. Whatever the reason, we became firm friends, a friendship that lasted right through college. We met Max and Pete in our first year of college. The four of us soon became inseparable.

“Sorry guys, I’ve been busy.”

“With Lucy?” Chase asks, rolling his eyes.

I don’t answer because I don’t need to. They know it’s always Lucy.

“Seriously dude, just man up and ask her out. Who gives a shit what the old man thinks?”

I chuckle, knowing he’s as scared of Giovanni as I am. “Excuse me if I don’t take advice from a guy who got beaten by his girlfriend’s father.” I grin.

“Hey, I was seventeen. I guess the shock of seeing me in bed with his little girl was too much to handle.” He smiles the same cheeky smile that has worked on endless women. “Back to Lucy, you’ve been in love with her for what, eight years? I don’t think it’s going to go away.”

“No, but she is,” I mutter, taking a sip of the Scotch that’s just been sitting in front of me. My stomach twists. Tonight was supposed to be to forget about the fact that she was leaving.

“She’s what?” asks Chase.

“Leaving.”

“No fucking way. Seriously? What the hell you can do with your time if you’re not pining over Lucy?” He howls with laughter.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Thanks for the sympathy.”

“Where’s she going?”

“New York. She got into a ballet company. I’m happy for her, but fuck—”

I shake my head.

“Well, good on her. At least someone is following their dreams, huh?” He nudges me and I scowl at him. Just then my phone rings.

“Hello?” I snap, still annoyed at Chase.

“It’s Giovanni. I’d like you to join me for dinner. I have something important to discuss with you.”

Rubbing my forehead, I sigh. Is one night off really too much to ask? Apparently it is.

“Sure. See you soon.”

I hang up the phone as Chase glares at me.