I saw Serafina usher Greta toward Remo. She was dressed in her favorite tutu, which she rarely took off, and hurried to her dad. Remo was about to chase after Adamo and me when he noticed his girl and froze. Fabiano still stayed close to him, just in case, while Nino followed us.
Thank fuck for Serafina’s quick thinking. Greta was the valium to Remo’s burning rage.
I shoved Adamo into a restroom. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Did you come all the way from New York only to twist the knife in Remo’s chest?”
I was so pissed I wanted to smash his stupid face in.
Adamo shook his head with a hint of guilt. “I got mad when Remo suggested I had the Famiglia tattoo.”
“Can you blame him?” Nino said as he entered. “You’ve made yourself scarce these last few months. New York was meant as a temporary thing, a way to give you more stability. It wasn’t meant as more than that.”
Adamo ran a hand through his, as usual, messy hair. “I know. I’ll return in one month.”
He didn’t sound like he wanted to, though.
“You’d better,” I said. I was dead serious. I’d fly over to New York and drag him home personally if I had to. Not because I missed him, but because someone needed to protect Remo.
“Luca allows me to build up their illegal street races. He’s interested in my knowledge. He values my opinion.”
“He’s probably only trying to gain your trust and loyalty, so you betray the Camorra and your family,” I said, pissed once more. “It wouldn’t be the first time that he took in soldiers from other famiglias after all. Growl, Orazio… you’d be the icing on his cake.”
“I’m not going to defect the Camorra!” Adamo hissed. “Maybe I’m not like you, but I’m a Falcone and I’ll die one.”
“Then why did you provoke Remo by mentioning our half-brother? You know very well how Remo reacts to that name,” Nino said, disapproving.
“Ryan, I mean Growl, isn’t as bad as you make him out to be. I eat with him and his wife Cara once a week.”
“How about you keep that tidbit of information to yourself?” I muttered. That would definitely tip Remo over the edge.
Nino shook his head. “This was a mistake. Our cooperation with Luca should have never extended this far. Maybe it needs to end.”
“It’s not a big deal. I just enjoy helping with the races. I wish I could do it here as well.”
“I’m sure Remo will find a way to involve you in the races,” Nino said.
I glanced at my watch. “All right. As nice as chitchatting with you may be, I have an engagement to celebrate.”
Adamo shook his head with astonishment. “I leave for a few months and you decide to marry? What’s gotten into you?”
“Today’s not the wedding. That’s still a few years away. It’s just the promising ceremony the Traditionalists are so adamant about.”
Adamo gave Nino a questioning look. “You really aren’t pulling my leg? Savio is getting engaged?”
“You think we’d rent a ballroom just to play a joke on you?”
Adamo grinned sheepishly. “Come on. It’s a more likely scenario than you settling down. What happened to never going to put your bull on a leash?”
The ghost of a smile crossed Nino’s face as he and Adamo exchanged one of these looks.
“My bull won’t be put on a leash, don’t worry.”
“I’ll go and help Kiara with the kids,” Nino said, leaving us alone.
Adamo regarded me as if he’d never seen me before. “So, you and Gemma are an item?”
“Depends on your definition of being an item.”
Adamo chuckled. “I guess I’m going to be the one joking about your dick being MIA in the future.”
“Dream on, little brother. My dick’s going to get more action than yours.”
I left him standing there, looking dumbfounded. The ballroom had already filled with our Captains and important business associates. We’d decided against inviting the Underbosses. That could wait for the wedding.
Gemma was waiting in a small ante-room of the ballroom for me. When I stepped inside, my entire body went into shock at the sight of her. I’d sent her to the boutique where Kiara always bought her dresses and told her she could choose whatever she wanted as an engagement gift. Knowing about the money troubles her family struggled with, that seemed like the best option.
And holy fuck, Gemma had chosen a dress that knocked the breath straight out of me. It hugged her curves like a second skin and the