The Untouchables(23)

“I think he was going to say, ‘shove it up your old ass.’” Mel stated with ease, causing the whole family to pause. Even I couldn’t speak to the asshole like that.

No matter how high up I was, no matter how powerful, custom made it impossible. When our grandfather passed down the family business, he had my father sign a contract—the same one I had to sign—stating that he’d get five percent of everything, and that he was always treated with respect deserved. Everything was put into writing like this was some civilized business deal. It used to be based on honor, but everyone wised up to that real quick. Families had to sign their souls away in ink to make sure people knew their place.

His wrinkled old hand tightly gripped his wooden cane as he took a step forward. If you were to age my father thirty years and give him silver hair, he and my grandfather would look exactly the same.

As children, Declan and I used to joke that the reason he had so few wrinkles was the fact that he would scare them away when he looked in the mirror. Though now he did look rather worn out.

“You must be the Italian cow now sharing my last name.” He looked her up and down with disgust. As I stood, Mel glared, telling me to back the down or else.

She moved from behind the desk and stood directly in front of his face, causing his bodyguards to step forward as well.

“Old man, you’re in my house. That makes you a fucking guest. I don’t owe you shit and you will respect me if you want my respect. My name is Melody. Mrs. Callahan if it suits you, but…” She leaned in until their noses were almost touching. She was shorter, but the black heels helped. “If you ever call me a cow again, I will kill you painfully slow. I don’t care how many motherfucking body guards you have.”

Two of his bodyguards drew their guns and the last had a knife hidden in his sleeve.

Shit. I thought as she pulled her gun. Declan and Neal were already backing her up. My father just rolled his eyes and took my mother into the corner, all while drinking his brandy. This was ridiculous.

“Lower your weapons,” Grandfather said as he glared into her eyes. “The Italian cow…”

The moment he said it, three bullets went flying into them. One in the chest, one in the wrist and the other the knee; they all went down like cards. You don’t out gun Mel.

“What the fuck? Where did she pull the gun out from?” Neal whispered. “I swear, she’s a motherfucking ninja.”

“M-E-L-O-D-Y. Me-lo-dy. I will let the second time slide due to your old age. I’ve heard hearing loss is common.” She stepped back, looking to the guards as she took off the silencer on her gun. “Please stop bleeding all over our rug, it’s quite rude.”

My grandfather looked down and smirked. “Shame. It was their first day too, I warned them that you could be as ruthless as your repetition called for, Giovanni.”

“Better…who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Mel replied, and my blood began to boil.

“You came across the fucking ocean just to test my wife?” I snapped, stepping forward as well.

“Adriana!” I roared, causing the ex-ugly duckling to come in, “Have a doctor see to these idiots, and then have a new rug brought up.”

She nodded, opening the door for the men to crawl out like the pieces of shit they were.

My grandfather simply stepped around them, pulled out a pipe, cleaned the handle of the chair and sat down like he fucking owned it.

“I heard about the Bloody Melody that was now part of my family and I figured a trip to this godforsaken country was worth it, so we could speak face to face,” he said as he blew out smoke.

“Try using Skype next time.” I glared at him.

He glared in return before turning to my parents. “You should have taken my advice and beat the wit out of him as a child.”

“You can’t beat out personality, Shamus,” Evelyn said respectfully. “I kind of enjoy it actually.”

“Of course you do.” He sighed, turning to my father. “Son, do I not get a welcoming?”

“Welcome, Shamus,” was all Sedric said.

“Grandfather…”

“Speak when spoken to, child, or did all those seizures distort your brain as a youth?” he asked, reminding me once again why I hated him.

“They helped me become head of this fucking family, so, with respect, I’m asking you to get out of my chair,” I hissed through my teeth.

“And what a man you are. Allowing your home to burn down, your wife to lose her child, and losing millions in the process, I applaud you. I bow down to your greatness, child.” He snickered and Melody stood forward, but it was my turn to glare at her.