Twisted Emotions (The Camorra Chronicles, #2)

by Cora Reilly

I knew the stories. I had seen him in the cage.

Remo, you are a fucking time bomb. You get a hard-on just imagining how it would feel to bathe in Luca’s blood, damn it.

“If you’re referring to my lack of emotions, I can assure you that I can fake them if required.”

“We will see,” I said. “It’s the only logical choice.” “Your fucking logic is pissing me off,” Remo muttered. “I’m the future husband, so it is the logical choice to send me. We’re doing this on my terms, Remo. I won’t have you two mess this up with your emotions.”

“I think he’s pissing me off on purpose,” Remo said to Fabiano.

“Yeah, take me. Because apparently I’m bulletproof because I’m a fucking Scuderi.”

You are messed up, Nino. Not in the same way Remo is messed up, but still fucking messed up. Fuck, even I’m messed up, and it almost cost me Leona.

“I don’t trust anyone, Luca, and trust isn’t required for a truce.” Luca and I whirled around toward the voice. Remo sauntered in our direction, completely naked except for black briefs. “I’m not armed as you can see.” My brother was even barefoot. I narrowed my eyes at him. This was insanity. I wasn’t sure why I still bothered making plans if Remo always acted on his own accord.

“One day, I’m going to kill the crazy fucker,” Fabiano muttered. “He just signed our fucking death warrant.”

“I thought it would be good to talk face-to-face, Luca. From one man of honor to the other. From Capo to Capo.” Luca’s face reflected hatred, but there was also respect present. “And I thought you were a coward who sent out his Enforcer and his brother to fight his battles.” “I’m many things, Luca. A coward isn’t one of them,” Remo said.

“I was only seventeen when I began my fight to win my territory back. You were only seventeen when you crushed a man’s throat. Savio is a Falcone. He is a born killer, Luca. He can control the Camorra. The name Falcone holds power in Las Vegas and beyond,” Remo said.

“Dante Cavallaro is our enemy, and I’m going to walk into Chicago and show him what it means to be at war with the Camorra, show him why we are despised even among our own. I will

make him pay, and it won’t be quick or fair. As for Scuderi, Fabiano is going to kill him very slowly, and if you want, we can send you the video footage so you can share it with the Scuderi sisters. You want Cavallaro’s death as much as we do.”

but I will attack where he and Cavallaro don’t expect it. I will beat them at their own game. And I will enjoy every fucking minute of it.”

I won’t give a woman to you in marriage, Remo. I don’t trust you one bit. You are too fucking crazy for my taste.”

Look at him. Doesn’t he look like every mother-in-law’s dream?”

“It’s not like this has ever been my home. Even if I wasn’t the one who broke his oath, I’m paying for my father’s mistake. I want to move on from it. This is my chance to redeem myself. Las Vegas can be a new start for me.”

Luca regarded me for several seconds, a sneer on his face. “Are any of you Falcone brothers sane?”

“What is your definition of sanity?” I asked. “Society regards neither you nor I as sane. We are psychopaths because we enjoy killing. Or are you trying to tell me you feel guilty when you torture and kill?”

Luca shrugged. “Maybe we are psychopaths, but you and Remo make most p...

“Remo judges people by their own actions, not by their parents’ wrongdoings. And she is still your cousin.”

“We are brothers. We will stand by each other. I don’t care if Adamo is into fucking goats or ducks or men. He is our brother.”

“But, Adamo, we are Falcones. People always act differently around us. Finding someone to trust is difficult.”

If I was faced with this monster the first time on our wedding night, I’d bolt. I needed to see what he was capable of, even if a cage fight wouldn’t even begin to cover it.

“Never call me Mr. Falcone again. That was my father, and I would have burned the fucker alive if I had been given the chance.”

“Because it wasn’t really a choice; it was disguised as one. In this life, women aren’t given choices.”

“Death isn’t the worst that can happen.”

“In the past, the king had the right of the first night.” “Ius primae noctis.”

“You aren’t king, Remo. And you don’t have a right to the first night with Kiara.”

“Because the Falcones are feared, because they rule without mercy, doesn’t mean Nino won’t treat you with kindness. Some men don’t bring violence home to their wives. Some men can distinguish between the ones they need to protect and those they need to break. I think Nino might be one of them.”

“But I have to tell you, I envy you your chance to spill some blood tonight. It’s been too long. I really want to kill someone.”

“We taught him that blood doesn’t define your loyalties.” “You turned him into—” “Into what? A killer? A torturer?” She sighed. “Every man in this room is a killer, and the boys are on their way to becoming one.” And from what I knew of Luca, he definitely was one of the cruelest men in our circles, but

“I can be pleasant and gentlemanly if I try,” he said. Fabiano laughed. “Sorry, Remo, but that’s the best joke I heard in a while.”

We glanced at Leona who flushed. “Perhaps smile?” Remo’s mouth pulled into a smile. “I have seen hyenas with less unsettling smiles,” Fabiano muttered, and Leona choked on her laughter and buried her face against his arm.

It was reminiscent of how a lion regarded a gazelle.

“You begged me for protection. Unlike Nino, I have no trouble reading your emotions.”

“You are a Falcone now. My brother’s wife. You fall under my rule. That makes you mine to protect.”

“That was her last dance with anyone but us,” Remo ordered. “I don’t give a fuck about their traditions. She is under our rule now.”

“But her family is starting to piss me off.”

“A kind man might,” he said in a low voice. I raised my eyes, resigned.

A terrifying smile played across Nino’s face. It didn’t reach his eyes. “But I will find the man who did this to you and make him feel the same terror you did that night and pain unlike anything he thought possible. And eventually, when he has been begging for it for a long time and when he’s given up hope, I’ll grant him death.”

“Because someone stole what you weren’t willing to give,” he murmured.

“I will find the man who raped you and slaughter him like a pig on these sheets. Do you think that will be enough blood for your family?”

“Why do they always think they can escape?”

“I’d tell you to hope for mercy, but we know you won’t receive any from Nino and Remo.”

“The power he still holds over you … that’s something you have to break.”

I knew he was right, but it was unsettling that he knew. They’d called him a genius, as twisted and dangerous as he was intelligent. And I realized he was all that and more. Monstrous.

“I won’t hurt you either. Physically at least.” “But you will abuse me mentally?” I asked. “No. Not intentionally.” He paused. “But I don’t feel.” “Feel what?”

Pity? Mercy? “Feel.” I tried to understand what he meant. “You don’t feel emotions?” “Haven’t since I was a child.” He paused. “Not like people usually do. It’s difficult to explain.”

A sociopath. That was what people like hi...