Santi's Downfall

Chapter 33: The Club

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

Groucho Marx

Rafe Moretti's POV

"Remind me again why we are here Marco?" I asked the man standing next to us as I looked at the signage above the establishment in utter disbelief. I don't know why this man managed to convince me to him here in this kind of place.

"Are you sure that this is the place?" In return, Marco asked the man standing next to him pointedly ignoring my question.

The man next to him nodded his head. I met him on a few occasions but I don't have the chance to talk to him since he just prefers to fade into the background and accompany his cousin as they visit Palazzo di Fiorenza. "Yes. I am sure. He has been here every night for a week now. Drinking away his problems—maybe more."

I have a bad feeling about this, to be honest. I took a deep breath. I hope that I was just thinking too much about the situation. "Why did you call for the group and meet in this kind of place, Marco? Please tell me you're not thinking what I am thinking."

For the first time, the sentimental bastard spared me a look there was a strange smile on his face that I immediately didn't trust. "My mind isn't as dirty as yours, Rafe."

The duke, the count, Nikos, and Diego all laughed except for my best friend Enzo who shared my sentiment. He was glaring at the man in question who dragged us all here for the reason he only knows. "What the hell, man?! You force me to come here when you know I am in the middle of my honeymoon? Need I remind you that I just got married a few weeks ago?"

"Don't give me that crap, Enzo." Marco gave him a malicious grin. "We both know that you are having your honeymoon way before your wedding. Willow will be invalid even before she can give a child."

Enzo was about to rebuttal when the duke interrupted their agreement. "Why are we standing here like school boys who were about to do something illegal first time in their life, amico? Look people were already giving us a weird look."

As expected, Lucca was always game for Marco's antics. I never thought that a respected man like him would always humor his crazy friend. I guess that's what you get when you've been friends with a man since your childhood years.

"Don't tell me we're getting inside this place, Marco?" Nikos added while there was a troubled look in his clear blue eyes. He just landed in Sicily a few hours ago with Laila and their daughter to visit my godfather. Since Laila and Leila got married they often visit Cesare who now lives alone in their massive palace.

"Then I am not telling you, Nick," Marco answered with an evil grin on his face.

"Bastard," Nikos hissed, looking in the other direction to avoid the annoying face of the man who used to gather us whenever he felt like doing it. "I don't even know why I bother to come here."

"Leila will neuter me if she learns that I went to this kind of place," Leandro announced with genuine fear in his voice. If Nikos landed a few hours ago this guy just landed now with the woman in question and their son.

Knowing Leila, I am certain that he wasn't kidding when he said that. She was one hell of a woman—same as my wife. I groaned silently, if Coco learns about this escapade I have with the boys I couldn't imagine what she would do.

She always thought of them as the kind-hearted people who saved me from the kidnappers not so long ago. I just decided to hide the fact that those same men she always praised for saving me were the same men who created the chaos in the first place. Sometimes, it's better if she leaves her in the dark about certain information.