Page 73 of Poison Aches
Silence falls over the cemetery.
“The matters you were dealing with, nephew, are they perhaps fatal?” Giovanni questions from where he stands.
And there it is.
“Fatal matters should be exterminated immediately. After all, they could crumble the Family, cousin,” Xavier says cooperatively from his side.
Vaughn glances at Lucien and his father but he doesn’t say anything.
“There’s a fatal matter in the family that I wasn’t aware of?” Grandfather suddenly asks. Giovanni and his son step closer, as if they’re about to witness a fireworks display. Good. “Emmett?”
“I’m also wondering the same thing. Uncle, could you or your son clarify?” My voice is low, calm, and soft but from the corner of my eye, I see my uncle tense up.
In fact, all the men around grow tense and still at my voice.
Everyone knows you don’t just make an accusation, especially if it’s against the grand heir.
I don’t bother looking their way, waiting for an answer.
“Well, I…” Giovanni starts. “I heard…”
“You heard?” Grandfather scoffs. “In other words, you don’t know anything!”
“Father, I heard there was a breach at one of the Family’s businesses. We might’ve lost millions tonight. This just goes to show how unsuitable this boy is. His oversight and negligence makes him unsuitable to be?—"
“How do you know?” Grandfather asks instead.
“Of course, I’ve been watching…” Giovanni trails off, his embarrassment and anger flashing in his eyes when he realizes what he just said.
He just invertedly admitted to spying on my side of the operations.
“Father, what I mean is?—”
“If you don’t know how to talk, shut your mouth before I shut it for you.”
The statement is not a threat but a promise.
There are a few old scars on Giovanni’s face from the times his father has dealt with him, but then again, Grandfather won’t deal with him today.
By blocking his ‘report’ I know Grandfather wants to deal with me tonight.
The rain pours down harder, but no one moves or makes a sound.
We all just stare at Great-Grandfather’s grave.
A few minutes later, a priest is led through the gates and then he says a few verses from the Bible.
The old priest also adds some nice words about Great-Grandfather enjoying himself in paradise and how the dead are now resting.
As for me, I just know that I’ll be burning in hell when my turn comes.
For what I’m about to do, make room for me, Great-Grandfather. Your heir will be taking matters into his own hands, just as you did.
After the last prayer, Grandfather dismisses everyone but keeps me and Vaughn with him.
Emilio leaves in a fury when he sees that his son was asked to stay instead of him.
Giovanni also leaves with his head down, as if he’s embarrassed by his outburst, but I know he isn’t.
