Scars and Sins (Brooklyn Brothers Book 2)

by Melanie Munton

  And as for the Gabbianos?

  Well, they were both in prison and awaiting trial.

  Santi had actually been moved to the same prison as Raphael Esposito, which I didn’t think was a smart idea at all. Orders in the organization were carried out just as swiftly from prison as they were from the outside. Nothing had happened yet, but it was only a matter of time before sparks flew.

  Dominic was in a minimal security facility. We’d recently heard a rumor that he was considering testifying against Santi. In exchange, he would go into the program.

  As in, the “Witness fucking Protection Program,” as Ace liked to call it.

  When we heard that, he’d had a bit of an outburst, yelling that someone who’d ordered a “goddamn hit” on him should not be protected and living the high life for the rest of his days. I tended to agree. It made me briefly question my decision of letting him live that night at the church.

  And I immediately quashed those doubts.

  I was grateful Ace had stopped me. Because despite what I’d said that night, I didn’t want to become a murderer. I didn’t want to have anyone’s death on my hands, even if it was Dominic Gabbiano’s. I wasn’t sure I would have ever gotten over it if I’d pulled that trigger. I could barely stomach the idea of our government protecting someone like him, but it didn’t come anywhere close to how I’d feel if I became a killer.

  Mamà wouldn’t have wanted that for me either. That moment in the church was the first time I’d ever felt her presence near me since she died. It was another reason why I’d lowered the gun. I’d felt her somehow telling me to let it go. That she and Filip had found peace, now that the Gabbianos were going to pay.

  But time would tell. The justice system needed time to work, so we’d see it either succeed or fail in the next few months.

  It also hadn’t hurt that after we’d heard that about Dominic, Ace had decided to surprise me.

  He was taking me to Italy over winter break.

  I’d confided in him many times about my desire to travel. Never having been outside the U.S., I wanted to see as much of the world as humanly possible, starting with our families’ homeland. My excitement over the trip was enough to make me forget all about the stupid Gabbianos.

  “Where’s Nico?” I asked.

  All I’d heard was that he was traveling for work.

  “Had more business in Moscow apparently,” Luka answered as he piled multiple helpings of food onto his plate. “Some vodka deal he’s got going down had a hiccup or something.”

  “That’s what he gets for getting into the fucking vodka business,” Rome mused.

  The twins both snickered, though I could tell it was about more than Nico’s vodka business. The silent way those two communicated had always fascinated me. I swear, they could actually read each other’s minds.

  “So, Gia said you were designing your own wedding dress,” I said to Jasmine, who was a veritable fashion genius extraordinaire. “That’s incredible. I’d love to see pictures whenever you have some.”

  She scowled into another glass of Pirate Juice. “Yeah, it sounded like a good idea in theory. But it’s quickly becoming nothing but a pain in my ass. You and Gia are still coming to the bridal expo with me this Saturday, right?”

  “Hells yeah, girl,” Gia piped up. “You need buffers to keep all those vultures off you. I’ve heard of women going into those things and coming out with nothing but lint in their pockets.”

  “Why the hell are you going, then?” Cris blustered.

  “Because it’ll be fun, sweetheart,” Jasmine crooned, caressing his cheek. “I know you said you can give me whatever kind of lavish wedding I want, but this is what brides do. They shop around and get ideas and stress over which caterer to go with.”

  Cris glanced down at her glass, his mouth twitching. “How many of those glasses have you had?”

  She grinned lasciviously. “More than a little and less than enough.”

  “Oh, it’s enough for some things,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

  I averted my gaze when he started whispering in her ear, causing a blush to consume her entire face.

  “Um, I’d like to hear more about this secret boyfriend of yours, Gia,” Enzo said, his steely-eyed gaze spearing his daughter from across the table.

  “What?” she blurted. “Boyfriend?”

  For whatever reason, all the brothers looked at Luka accusingly.

  With wide, almost panicked eyes, he finished swallowing a giant mouthful of lamb before saying, “Yeah, sorry, sis. Cat’s out of the bag. I accidentally let it slip about that guy you’ve been seeing. What’s his name? Mo… Mau… Maurice, or something?”

  Gia was gaping at him like he’d just said all of that in Klingon.

  When Luka subtly shook his head, she seemed to get the message.

  “Uh, yeah,” she said slowly. “Maurice. That’s him. That’s my secret boyfriend. But I’m probably going to break up with him.”

  Val and Enzo both started bombarding her with questions about this imaginary Maurice. I was just as confused as Gia, but I’d ask Ace about it later. For now, it was entertaining to listen to her make up all these stories on the spot about why she kept her boyfriend a secret.

  That’s when my eyes locked onto my boyfriend. Who was so blissfully real.

  And he looked hot.

  I didn’t mean in the oh, my God, he’s so fine way. No, it looked like Ace’s body was actually about to catch fire, his gaze was blazing with so much intent.

  Seeing that expression, desire stirred inside me. I knew arousal and a distinct throbbing down south would soon follow if I didn’t put a stop to it. I did not need to go all hussy at his parents’ house during the first dinner I’d had with them in five years.

  I silently mouthed No.

  A wicked grin slowly stretched across his handsome face.

  Six minutes later, I was exiting the bathroom when a hand grabbed hold of mine and gave it a tug in the opposite direction.

  “Ace, what are you doing?” I whispered.

  He walked with purpose down the hallway, yanking me along, and opened a small wooden door beneath the stairs.

  “Get in.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. “A coat closet?”

  He guided me inside with a hand on my ass and his mouth on my neck.

  “I know how much you like them now. Better get your rosary ready, baby. You’ll be going to confession tomorrow.”

  Once he had my skirt hiked up to my waist, I swallowed any further protests. After all, why fight it?

  Ace was all I’d ever wanted since I was ten years old. That hadn’t changed in eleven years. A future with him was already looking to be even more amazing than I’d ever imagined it could be.

  A girl’s first love was rarely ever her last.

  But in my case, Ace was my first, my last, and my everything in between.

  And that was the way I’d always dreamed it would be.

  

  I sat in the stiff leather arm chair, scowling down at my glass of whiskey that might as well have been cat piss.

  Or goddamn sewer water.

  The Russians wouldn’t know good whiskey if their fucking lives depended on it. Couldn’t find a decent glass of it in this whole godforsaken country.

  The lack of decent liquor only served to blacken my already dark mood.

  My cell phone sat on the armrest next to me on speakerphone. I couldn’t always listen in during family meetings while I was on business trips abroad, but this one was particularly important to be involved in.

  Dad was going over the new hierarchy in the Sicilian mafia syndicate since Santi and Dominic Gabbiano had started sporting orange jumpsuits. Not to mention, Vinnie D’Angelo had removed his family from the New York syndicate, so there was a serious structure shift going on. As well as a lot of power exchanges.

  I listened as Dad explained everything, reviewing the events of the last few months.

  Another one of my b
rothers had found love.

  How fucking sweet.

  God knew I was more than thrilled for Cris and Ace. But hearing about more newfound happiness grated in light of my current circumstances.

  My brothers chimed in here and there. All the while, I remained silent, stewing in the ramifications of my new situation. I was still wrapping my head around it.

  I, Nico Rossetti, was actually stunned speechless.

  I couldn’t come up with a single smartass retort, not one sarcastic quip.

  Because nothing about this was funny. Not one fucking bit.

  “I think that about does it. Nico?” Dad suddenly asked, cutting into my spiraling thoughts. “You have anything to add?”

  I hesitated for a moment, close to pussying out completely.

  Just get it over with, jackass.

  “Actually, yeah.” I cleared my throat. “So, uh, I kind of did something…”

  Luka chuckled. “What did you do this time, bro? Join the Communist Party? Screw the daughter of a Russian mafia boss?”

  I heard everyone snicker through the speaker.

  For the first time in my life, I wasn’t laughing along with them.

  “No,” I said gravely. “But I married her.”

  The line went deathly quiet.

  And it stayed that way for an ungodly number of seconds.

  “What the fuck did you just say?” Dad eventually barked.

  I swallowed, my mouth as dry as a desert. “I got married…to Sergei Kozlov’s daughter.”

  “Sergei Kozlov?” Cris spat.

  “The head boss over the entire Russian mafia?” Rome followed up, sounding more shocked than I’d ever heard him.

  “The same.”

  I drained the rest of the wannabe whiskey with one pull. It was the perfect punishment for my half-baked, impulsive actions.

  I was now in bed with the Russian mafia…at least figuratively.

  And my family didn’t have to say the words for me to know exactly what they were thinking.

  Holy. Fucking. Shit.

  

  Booze & Bullets (Brooklyn Brothers #3) is coming Summer 2020!

  Stay tuned for upcoming excerpts and teasers from Nico’s story!

  More books by Melanie Munton:

  Brooklyn Brothers:

  Lace & Lies

  Sultry Nights:

  Salsa (Sultry Nights 1)

  Tango (Sultry Nights 2)

  Rumba (Sultry Nights 3)

  Samba (Sultry Nights 4)

  Mambo (Sultry Nights 5)

  Standalone romance:

  King of the Court

  The Unforgettable Kind

  Slow Seductions series:

  Casual Affair (Slow Seductions #1)

  Sweet Attraction (Slow Seductions #2)

  Cruz Brothers series:

  Playing for Kinley (Cruz Brothers #1)

  The Art of Sage (Cruz Brothers #2)

  Always Mickie (Cruz Brothers #3)

  Timid Souls novellas:

  Stubborn Hearts

  Unexpected Love

  Possession and Politics Trilogy:

  Part One

  Part Two

  Part Three

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  As always, to my husband Sean, I probably never would have started writing if it wasn’t for you. You’ve supported and encouraged me from day one, and made me believe that I could accomplish great things. YOU make my dreams possible. Thank you for that, and for every other beautiful thing you bring to my life.

  To my parents, as I embark on a new chapter of my writing, I’m constantly reminded of the foundation you both provided as I was growing up. You have influenced more of my decisions in life than you could possibly know…in good ways. Your love and support over the years has led me to where I’m at today, and helped me become the person I am.

  To the rest of my family, it would be a cliché to say that you all inspire me. But you do. You inspire my stories, you inspire my characters, and you inspire my determination to do the very best I can with each and every project I take on. Despite all my quirks and craziness, you guys have always had my back through everything. Which makes me quirky and lucky.

  Lastly, to all of my readers, those who have been with me from the beginning and those who are brand new, THANK YOU times infinity. Your feedback over the years has been amazing, and your support has been overwhelming. I know that if you guys aren’t happy, then I’m not doing my job, so I always want to hear from you. Thank you so much for hopping on this rollercoaster with me, and for sticking with me throughout my journey! I so so soooo appreciate all of your love!

  Melanie grew up in a small town in rural Missouri. After marrying her husband, she decided she wanted to try coastal life because why not? A few months later, they moved to North Carolina where she discovered her passion for writing, and they never looked back. They are now enjoying life with their beautiful daughter in Savannah, GA and loving every minute with their little Georgia peach.

  Melanie’s other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.

  She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together…ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty.

  At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspense. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love.