Reckless & Ruined Read Online Free

was dangerous and the feud was getting more volatile every day. Riley was obviously taking some kind of joy in that.
    In fact, Adriano was starting to wonder if his father even gave a damn about Mia’s death. Riley acted like his retaliation was for his wife, but his actions spoke of something different. Like maybe Adriano’s father was more interested in the boss’s seat but was using his wife’s death as a reason to get there.
    It was fucking sickening.
    “No, it isn’t a good idea,” Adriano snapped, never taking his eyes off his father. “You’re planning to go after—”
    “Enough, Adriano,” Riley said, cutting his son off. “Your opinion is not important.”
    Adriano felt like he was being torn in two different directions. One was his father, the other, the Outfit. If Riley kept feeding the issues until they were big problems that nobody could fix, that would only mean one thing: War.
    “What are you trying to do here, Dad?” Adriano asked, ignoring the curious gazes of the other men in the restaurant.
    “Exactly what I set out to do, son.”
    Which was what?
    Adriano couldn’t figure that out. How long had his father been thinking about taking control of the Outfit? How many people were going to be divided and torn apart because Riley was greedy?
    Without a doubt, Adriano understood loyalty. He was devout to his family, but his family had always been more than just his mother and father. Riley raised him that way. He raised Adriano to trust and protect the Outfit. His father’s plans wouldn’t protect anything if revenge was what it was all about. No, there was no protection here, not for the Outfit. It would downright ruin it.
    A pretty brunette with blue eyes filled Adriano’s mind. He’d always protected Alessa Trentini, too. He couldn’t do that when his own father could be the one to hurt her.
    Riley smiled, setting his drink to the table. “Everything will work out. To our favor, that is.”
    Adriano didn’t believe his father for a second. “What if this blows out of control?”
    “Feed the flames, of course,” Riley replied.
    “Mom wouldn’t want that,” Adriano pointed out.
    “Women and children are supposed to be untouchable,” Riley murmured.
    Adriano frowned. “I’m aware.”
    “Your mother wasn’t included, Adriano. You will do well to remember that, son.”
    “I—”
    “You will do well to remember that, son,” Riley repeated firmly, his tone offering no room for argument. “And because you are my son, I don’t have to tell you again how important blood is to us. I have repeated these things to you ever since you were a young boy. It has always been an eye for an eye. You need to learn how to curb what you want from the things that are more important. We are more important than your wants, Adriano.”
    Adriano’s gaze narrowed. “Stop dancing around whatever you want to say and spit it out.”
    “You know what I’m saying, Adriano. You’re thinking with the wrong head again, aren’t you?”
    Alessa .
    Adriano didn’t even blink. “No.”
    “You always were a terrible liar, son.”
     

     
    “Take a walk with me, Adriano.” Riley tipped his head in the direction he wanted to go. “How does a cup of something sweet sound to you?”
    Adriano nodded, not wanting to aggravate his father any more than he already had that morning. Despite not agreeing with his father on a lot of things, he did love his father. They had always been close and even now, just a few months shy of his twenty-first birthday, Adriano looked up to his father.
    “Sure, Dad.”
    Riley waved down the street. “There’s a little sidewalk vendor right down the street with the best chocolate gelato.”
    Ice-cream.
    Adriano chuckled. “What am I, five?”
    “You always liked gelato,” Riley said quietly. “Do you want the gelato or not? Because I’m going to get myself some whether you do or don’t, but you will be following me either way. We’re due for a good talk without others