''To think I was considering the fact that you probably fell in love with her.''
''Love?!'' Alejandro and Alessandro chorused, bursting into laughter.
The latter continued, ''Before I can accept that someone like boss has fallen in love with one woman somewhere, there must be proof that he's been with her for at least, over a century and is just slowly starting to realize his feelings for her. But you guessed that he fell in love with her after merely seeing her picture?! He didn't even see her in person yet.''
''I know, I know,'' Leonardo sighed in resignation. ''That was me hoping he got lucky and was granted the normal human feelings he wasn't born with. I was getting ahead of myself, I guess.'' He examined the picture again and repeated, ''She does look young.''
''She's not,'' Adrian disagreed. ''At least not to me.''
Alessandro raised a brow, ''That's new. You already have an opinion."
Adrian gritted his teeth, and if he was normal, he'd have rolled his eyes to show how ridiculous he thought that sounded.
He retorted casually, ''She was old enough to be auctioned, and she's now my father's wife. Do you think it would be appropriate to say she looks young to me?''
''Valid point," Leonardo agreed. "But what do you plan to do now that your father already got her?''
''What else?" Adrian deadpanned. "I'll leave her alone and forget about her, of course. I won't take my father's woman just to satisfy this relentless urge to unravel her and understand why she affects me so deeply."
Collective sighs of relief filled the room, prompting a slight arch of Adrian's brow.
''What was that about?'' he asked.
''That was us showing you what you said is the best decision you could have taken,'' Alejandro replied.
As if on cue, his twin brother continued, "Not only would it be morally wrong to entertain the thought of 'unraveling' your father's wife and understanding why she affects you, but giving in to that temptation could cost you far more than you're willing to lose."
Adrian shot them both a condescending look, not bothering to agree or disagree with them. As he was raised to grow into a core member of the Cosa Nostra, he knew there was only one value they appreciated as much as power.
Loyalty.
If he allowed himself do the things he had been itching to do ever since taking her picture from the pool of blood of that damned club manager—things he obviously didn't mention to the men in front of him—then his journey to the throne of power would be over. And every step and sacrifice he'd made in the past would be for nothing.
He couldn't afford that; which was why instead of snatching the picture from Leonardo when he picked it from the table and examined it for the third time, he clenched his hands into tight fists, forcing down the impulse with sheer willpower.
The latter, oblivious to Adrian's gaze, licked his lips as his eyes raked over the picture.
''I understand why you are affected. She sure looks hot,'' he commented.
"Let me catch you lusting after my father's woman, and be prepared to have your eyes gouged out."
Leonardo swallowed nervously, a forced chuckle escaping his lips because he knew that definitely wasn't an empty threat.
''Relax. It was just a joke.''
"I'll remind you of that when your eyes are served to the Don on a platter," Adrian said flatly. "Now, get out of my sight before I make an example of one of you."
He didn't have to say it twice; chairs scraped against the floor as the men hurriedly rose and left the room.
''Not you, Alejandro," he added.
Alejandro turned, ''I wanted to go get the car ready.''
''Don't bother with it. We are using the bikes,'' Adrian said.
''Why? Aren't we going home today?''
''We have to meet someone at Red Night World,'' Adrian stated.
''Our private club at the outskirts? But it's far, and the weather tonight is—''
''Shut up, fucker,'' Adrian cut him off. ''We will leave in ten minutes.''
The sound of his phone ringing drew his attention to the table, his eyes darkening slightly at the name displayed on it.
''Get out of here,'' he waved Alejandro off with one hand, while the other slid the dial across the screen to pick the call.
''Who is dying this time around?'' he spoke into the phone.
''It's me, Bratishka! Father is about to kill me!'' Annika's yell came from the speakers.