Adamo came to a halt on the last step with his arms crossed over his chest. “What do you want? I’m busy.”
“Calm,” Nino murmured to me. After training together, I’d thought Adamo and I had come to a sort of truce. Apparently he’d changed his mind again.
I grabbed the front of his shirt and jerked him closer. I cut him some slack because he was a kid, but my patience had its limits. “Why don’t you wipe that sulk off your face, kiddo, or I’ll give you a reason for it.”
He jutted his chin out. “Do it. Then I’ll have another reason to refuse the tattoo tomorrow.”
“Adamo,” Nino warned.
My fingers tightened and I stared into his eyes long and hard. “Do you think you can survive on your own?”
“I have friends,” he muttered.
“Friends who keep you around because you give them weed and crack for free. They don’t give a fuck about you. If you can’t provide them with free drugs, they’ll drop you,” I growled.
Adamo blanched. “Who told you?”
“Do you think I didn’t notice that someone’s been stealing our shit for months now? Fabiano has been keeping a fucking eye on you.”
“The punishment for stealing from the Camorra is death,” he said challengingly.
“It is,” I said. “But not for you.”
The entrance door was unlocked, and Fabiano entered, shirtsleeves rolled up, forearms tinged pink. Blood was difficult to wash off.
Adamo’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”
Fabiano nodded at Nino and me in greeting.
“Fabiano talked to one of your friends, that useless piece of shit Mason.”
“You killed him?” Adamo asked horrified. Fabiano raised one eyebrow at me.
I shook my head. It wasn’t time to divulge information yet. Adamo could do the talking.
“Don’t hurt Harper,” Adamo whispered.
I frowned at the tone of his voice. “That girl in your junkie group?”
Fabiano grimaced. “She was with Mason when I went after him, sucking his cock.”
“You’re lying!” Adamo jerked out of my grip and lunged at Fabiano, trying to land an uppercut. Fabiano blocked him and shoved him to the ground, but Adamo pushed up to his feet and went for it again. I didn’t intervene. Adamo needed to realize that his actions had consequences, and it gave me the time to stomach the fucking truth that my brother had fallen for a useless bitch who probably whispered sweet nothings in his ear in exchange for drugs.
Fabiano grasped Adamo’s arm and thrust him face-first into the wall. “Stop this shit,” he warned, “or I’m going to defend myself for real.”
He released Adamo, who turned at once, head flushed and eyes full of dread. “What did you do to Harper?”
Fabiano glanced at me. Nino shook his head at me, obviously worried I was going to lose my shit.
“Don’t tell me the little slut gave you head in return for drugs, Adamo. You should know better.” We had so many fucking whores who could suck cocks, why did he have to find a girl who used him?
Adamo glared. “Harper and I are in love. You wouldn’t understand.”
“She sucked another man’s dick. How does that mean ‘I love you?’” I snarled.
“She wouldn’t! You’re trying to ruin things for me.”
Fabiano sighed. “I’m not lying. Mason had his cock shoved up to his balls inside her mouth.”
“Shut up,” Adamo said fiercely.
“I told you it’s difficult to find what you’re looking for,” Nino told our brother. “People will always try to gain something from being with you.”
Adamo shook his head, a stubborn gleam in his eyes. “What did you do to her?”
I nodded at Fabiano.
“Nothing. I sent her away before I beat some sense into your friend.”
“He’s alive.”
“Broke a few of his bones, but alive, yes,” Fabiano said.
I should have had him killed. If I had known the exact details, I would have given the kill order.
Adamo looked relieved. “You kept them alive so I’ll take the tattoo tomorrow, right?”
“That wasn’t the plan,” I said. “I thought you’d want to be a Falcone.”
Adamo looked away. “You never spare anyone without good reason.”
“Get a drug test, Nino,” I ordered.
Nino disappeared into his wing.
“I’m clean,” Adamo blurted but his voice shook.
I turned my back to him, my fingers curling to fists. Why did Adamo have to make this so fucking hard? I wasn’t sure how to deal with his shit, especially the drugs. He needed to realize that he was treading a dangerous path.
“I told the truth,” Fabiano said to Adamo.
“Maybe Mason forced her. You don’t know anything,” Adamo muttered.
Nino returned and motioned for Adamo to follow him into the guest bathroom so he could pee on the test strip. When they emerged and I saw Nino’s expression, I lost it. I grabbed Adamo by the collar and threw him to the ground.
“What did I tell you about taking drugs? Do you want to end up like all the lost losers roaming our streets? What the fuck is wrong with you?”