What We Stand To Lose

The Romano crossbones battle.

From what Elle had been able to gather, it was a decisive way of handling a leadership squabble with as much bloodshed avoided as possible. It could either be a spur of the moment thing. A challenge issued when emotions were high, and acted on almost instantly.

Gio's father had killed his own brother during such a confrontation. Unplanned, bloody violence.

Then there was the second form of the crossbones, this one was more deliberate, slower. All the details ironed out, gone over, and ironed out again. No stone left unturned until everything was absolutely perfect, the stage set for two family members to cut each other to pieces.

That was the cross bones battle that Gio had hanging over his future. And while Elle had anticipated it being hard on him, she had not planned on just how hard the whole thing would affect her.

Time, that was the issue.