Lost Your Mind novel · Chapter 22 of 24
Chapter 22: The Table
Giulia's POV
At noon the next day, every chair at the long table was full, and nobody was eating.
Twelve capos sat in their black suits.
My father sat across from me, with his hands folded on the cloth and the look of a man who had slept three hours.
Donna Livia sat at the Don's right hand, in grey, with Benedetta beside her.
Nico sat on my left.
He had a bruise the color of a plum along his jaw, and his cane was hooked over his chair.
Under the table, his fingers were laced through mine.
The doors opened, and two guards brought Dario in.
He walked between them with his head up.
They had taken his belt and his tie, and the grey suit hung rumpled on him.
He didn't look at me.
He didn't look at his mother either.
He stopped at the foot of the table, where the Don's gaze fell on him.
Don Ettore stood.
"You are the son of this house," he said, "and in front of this table, I ask you once. Last night you heard it all. Is there one word of it you deny?"
Dario's mouth twisted.
"Not one, Papa," he said. "I wanted what was mine."
A murmur ran down the table.
The old capo beside my father, the first man who had clapped for me, put down his glass and shut his eyes.
"Then hear it," said the Don.
He raised his right hand, the one that wore the heavy gold ring, and set it flat on the table.
"Dario, you will take off your ring."
Dario stared at him.
"Papa."
"Take it off."
The ring was a thinner band than his father's, a signet with the Corradi crest.
It had been put on his finger at eighteen, in this room.
Keep reading free with an account. Start Lost Your Mind from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 21 · All chapters · Chapter 23 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend