By Honor I Crumble

Chapter 7

*I DON'T OWN ANY OF THIS, IF I DID I'D BE ON TOUR RN IF I DID LMAOOO*

Song Rec: You don't Own me by Lesley Gore 😌😌😌

Aurora

Oh he was mad. He wanted to destroy me. I was convinced he'd succeed with the way his pupils bore holes into my skull. Like always, I could only stare, his rage filled eyes drawing me in like a moth. And then a warm body collided into me, embracing me with such strength that made me wonder if she was truly as delicate as she looked.

"Oh Rora! I've missed you so much!" Greta squealed, "We have so much to catch up on, now that I live here."

She settled down into a chair next to Nevio, and sat me down across from her. Aria quickly piled copious amounts of Osso Bucco onto my plate and in seconds, the chatter of Sunday dinner resumed with the only exception of Amo and Nevio caught in a glaring contest. Things had progressed much farther than I had expected. Like always, Greta had roped everyone into loving her. Hell, aunt Lily looked like she was forcing a third serving of Gnocchi onto Greta's plate, while she silently protested. Everyone looked comfortable, cozy even. As if none of this was deviating from a usual evening.

And then, with a murderous look on his face Nevio, promptly muttered an "Excuse me" and walked away. A slight frown marred Greta's face and she looked down at her plate. It was more than unusual for him to leave her alone, especially in the house of a rival family. He had a dejected look on his face and for a moment, my heart squeezed with regret. But then he glared at me and my anger returned.

"So soloist huh? Pretty soon we will all be waking up at 2 AM to get tickets for New York City Ballet's newest prima!" God bless Sara's soul. She was a life saver.

Greta blushed a deep crimson with all the attention on her and said in a breathless rush "Oh I don't think that will be happening anytime soon, I am just lucky that they accepted me as a Demi-Soloist!"

"Oh please! Don't be so modest. I have seen videos of you dancing on youtube and they are no joke!" said Marcella.

Luca assessed my face with a look similar to Remo's and I wanted to leave. "You know Aurora, punctuality is a trait that I hear is greatly admired in the medical field. Perhaps you should adopt it, assuming you are continuing in it after graduation or do you have any prospects?" No wonder dad hated him. I really thought he was one of the more open minded Capos but apparently not.

Just as I was about to answer, Nevio grumbled into the dining room and started shoving more pasta onto his plate. Across the table, Amo chuckled mirthfully at him. Nevio paused and asked him, "Something funny?"

"I was under the impression that people learn from their own actions, but it seems like your father clearly didn't pass that trait on to you," said Amo with a smirk.

"What does that mean?" Nevio asked innocently. He definitely knew what Amo was talking about, the rage in his eyes said so.

"I mean that you are clearly unfit to be the next Capo of the Camorra given that you are so comfortable leaving your sister unguarded in the enemy's house."

Then it happened, the anger on Nevio's face transformed into the maniac smile that promised a whole other kind of pain. "Well, you and a bodyguard clearly protected your sister, and look where it got her: Kidnaped and knocked up by a dirty MC biker." he sneered with a look at Marcella's swollen belly. Maddox just tightened his hand around Marcella's with a scathing look at Nevio.

And the mood transformed into a mafia fight. Luca, Matteo and Romero looked ready to empty their guns into Nevio's head. Valerio and Flavio actually did point their guns at him and Isa casually flipped her karambit knife. Amo stood up so fast that his chair fell over and said, "Lucky for you, it's Sunday and we are honorable people here in the Famiglia. We keep our word and avoid bloodshed in the presence of women and children or else you'd have to return to Vegas through speed post."

Nevio plopped a grape into his mouth and chuckled "Well, in the Camorra, we like to teach everyone how to fight and kill to protect themselves. It's not my problem that the only thing you teach your women is to be trophy wives. Come on Greta, let me drop you off at your apartment" He picked up a cannoli from the large spread of food and took a bite. With a small nod towards me he muttered "Scuderi" and left.

"Falcone," I muttered in response.

Greta looked on the verge of tears and with a small "Sorry about ruining dinner" rushed after Nevio.

Amo muttered a curse that made Aria frown and stormed away. A loud silence pierced the dining room and everyone looked equally uncomfortable. It was broken by Isa's equally loud slurp of wine. "That went well" she said and emptied her glass.

Across from her, Matteo snorted and Luca sent a glare his way. Aria's mouth pinched into a smile and she took a deep breath trying to contain her laughter. I found myself doing the same with the ridiculousness of the situation. Future Capos of the biggest mafias in North America, fighting over the safety of women. It had to be a joke. Gianna broke first, her laughter loud across the dining room. Matteo followed, along with Isa, Lily, Sara, Inessa, Aria, Marcella, Romero, Maddox and me. Even Luca chuckled a little. Valerio and Flavio looked disturbed at the sight of everyone laughing like idiots and walked off with a sigh. Isa poured more wine into her glass and I asked her to refill mine. After all, getting drunk was the only way out of a situation as stupid as this.