TONY: Book 1 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

35:

Toro once again tenses, his hug tightening like vices, causing me to huff. I tap his arm twice and he releases, only when he does he pulls out a gun of his own and aims it at Leone.

"Toro!" I exclaim, jumping back startled. He was carrying it the whole time?! "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to have a little word with my fratello," he grounds out. "Such was our gang laws."

"Gang laws? Now you hold on for a minute—"

Gufo pats my arm, "This is their way of communicating."

"Communicating?" I respond. "How the hell does pointing guns help anyone?"

"It's like a test of loyalty. If one of them shoots the other one, that means they've betrayed one another. If one of them shoots at the wall, it means that the other one is close to betrayal and is firing a warning shot. Otherwise, it's more of a 'Let's compare sizes' kind of thing," Gufo explains flippantly, seeming unfazed about his two older brothers.

"It is by law that if a person is involved with another person romantically, said potential person must agree to secrecy by becoming a part of the gang," Toro recites lowly. "I'd like to ask for that to change."

"No," Leone outright replies. "That law protects the gang. We can't be having members fucking with rivalries now, can we?"

"Please," Toro growls. "Then make an exception. For me and my Zachary."

My Zachary- bitch I ain't no property! I roll my eyes and glance at Toro, whispering, "What would happen if I became apart of the gang?"

Gufo looks at me unsurely, "It depends how close you want to be. Some choose to become a part of the gang and live completely separate lives, their husbands and wives doing all the work. Or you can become involved; it doesn't necessarily have to do with drugs. It can be the infirmary, a chef, basic cleaning staff..."

"Oh," I reply. "So Toro's trying to stop me from becoming apart of the gang."

"Yah, looks like it."

BANG!

A vase shatters and I let out a yelp, the pieces exploding onto the floor just behind Leone. The gang leader grins wickedly, his eyes flashing with an unrecognisable emotion. "Why not ask your little boyfriend what he wants? It seems a bit odd to only have one spokesperson of the couple, you don't usually do that well with talking though, do you?"

Toro literally growls, pulling the barrel on the pistol. He aims and I stop him. His intense stare locks onto me as he surveys my appearance.

"I'll join the gang. Just p-please stop fighting."

"No, Zachary. You have no idea—"

"Gufo told me what I could do. I don't have to deal or do crime stuff. I can become a chef."

"A chef?" He scoffs. "We have enough chefs, have you ever cooked in your life?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Then there is no discussion. You will not join this gang," he finalises.

Fury flashes in my mind as sudden fire wells up in the pit of my stomach, "I will join this gang. You maybe my boyfriend but you're not my dictator. It is my choice on what I do with my life. If I remember correctly, you're the one who dragged me into this gang world. You're the one who showed me who I really am and like hell am I going to let that go."

"I don't want anyone to hurt you Zachary. How can I care for you if I'm completely exposing you to my world? It's different with us De Luca Brothers, we run this gang, therefore our committed relationships must be involved with the gang, playing a big roll in it."

I frown, "I'm sure Leone could find a roll which will be suitable for me."

He sighs and scrubs his face with a hand, finally pocketing the gun. Leone follows suite, looking me up and down, probably scrolling through a million job opportunities in his mind. "I think we best sit down."

We do just that, awkwardly perching on the settees, me not making eye contact, Gufo looking excited, Leone calculating as usual whilst Toro looks like a thunderstorm.

"You're too nice for dealing," he states. "Could be a lookout, that wouldn't hurt. Perhaps that could be your part time thing. However, I have an idea for you. You seem to be good with your words, very caring—"

"Are you suggesting what I think your suggesting?" Gufo asks, leaning forward with interest.

"A roll like gang mother would be good, of course we can't just call you that 'cause that'd be weird since you're a guy. However a roll where you give advice, people talk to you and you care for everyone is probably really good."

I blink once. Twice. Three times, "Um. Okay?"

"Wait!" Toro snaps. "Your future wife is supposed to be mother."

"And you're supposed to be gang leader, but you're gay and here we are," Leone responds neutrally. "Will you become gang mother Zachary?"

I frown, "Will people be comfortable with... me?"

"We'll make them feel comfortable. You're important to Toro and my fratello is a very powerful man. They'll respect you, once you get married to—"

"Married!?" I exclaim. "Can't we at least wait—"

"Don't you worry, as long as you're committed then you should be just fine. However, if you decide to join this gang and remain with Toro, you must get married eventually," Gufo reassures.

"What about college?"

"Do you want to do college first?" Leone asks.

"I- um -I'm not sure. I mean, I don't think I want to anymore. What about finances? Will I be payed for being nice to a bunch of people?"

"Since you're with Toro, you're technically apart of our gang if you will promise to stay committed. If you break that promise, we throw you out after a series of horrible events," Gufo explains solemnly. "We do not take promise breaking lightly, therefore you have to be positive if you wish to join. If you wish to stay with Toro."

I bite my lip, my mind whirls and my heart accelerates. I can't imagine a life without Toro; he's helped me through thick and thin, was there for me when my mom past and I was there for him with his brother. He makes me feel things I've never felt before and I'm not sure if I can live without said feelings.

"I-I'm sure."

"Great!" Claps Gufo as Toro stands up abruptly.

Tony glares at his brother before grunting, exiting the room, leaving me confused and somewhat hurt that he left me. To say I did this for us and he just walked out, I feel my heart ache as the door slams on his way out and I'm left with his two younger brothers.