Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
We exchanged numbers, and I made my way to the door.
Then hesitated.
For once, not wanting to get out there.
Wanting more than anything to just go back upstairs with my wife.
“Take care of our girl,” I said, looking at all of them, then focusing on Nico.
“We will. Handle this shit.”
With that, I went out and did exactly that.
Knowing full well that when it was finally all done, I could go home to my woman.
I couldn’t fucking think of anything better.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Lore - 1 day
I slept hard and long, waking up disoriented and achy.
But alone.
The sun was streaming through the windows, telling me I’d at least slept through the night.
“Renzo?” I called after changing into a roomy sweatshirt and leggings, then making my way out of the bedroom.
“Sorry to disappoint,” a familiar voice called, making me rush forward toward the balcony.
And there he was.
Nico.
In the apartment.
As were the rest of my brothers.
The joy fizzled out into worry as I ran toward the steps.
“What’s going on? Where’s Renzo? Is he okay?” I asked, nearly falling off the last step in my haste.
“Hey, he’s alright,” Nico said, voice calming. “He asked us to come hang out with you while he was… working.”
“He asked you to babysit me while he handled the coup,” I clarified. “Don’t think I missed this,” I added, reaching out to tap under his arm where the firm outline of a gun was situated.
“Something like that,” Nico said, reaching out to snag my chin, turning my face from side to side. “What’s this from?”
“An airbag,” I told him. “Didn’t Renzo tell you?”
“The Cliffsnotes,” Cesare said, moving closer, holding out his arms.
I didn’t hesitate.
I folded myself into them, realizing again just how much I missed my family.
Having them here was a step in the right direction when it came to mending fences between our families, to having a true alliance, not just one in theory.
“Figure you can tell us the whole story,” Gavino said, accepting his hug.
I went around to them all before circling back to Nico, folding myself in, borrowing a little of his strength before moving away.
“I can do that,” I agreed, making my way toward the kitchen that someone, likely Nico, had already cleaned up. “But I need some coffee and acetaminophen first,” I told them.
The screaming in my head had become a dull, but ever-present, ache.
“Coffee is on the way,” Cesare said, making my brows pinch as I turned away from the coffee pot.
“You ordered?” I asked, looking at Nico, who was the only one of them who likely remembered how I took my coffee, since we went out and got it often.
“No,” he said as there was a knock on the door, making me stiffen.
“You’re okay,” Cesare said, voice soft, sensing my anxiety. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
I nodded tightly at that, pushing back the memories of the last time I stood in this kitchen, the confusion and fear I’d felt then.
But Nico pulled open the door, then let two people inside.
Cinna, carrying two cardboard trays of coffees.
And right beside her…
“Elian!” I said, heart leaping as I rushed toward him, wanting to throw my arms around him, but pulling back. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I said, arms still raised a bit, but not going for it.
“You won’t,” he said, reaching for me instead, holding on for a second. “Worried we lost you,” he admitted.
“Me?” I scoffed, pulling back. “I was worried about you,” I said, thinking of the pop of the gunshot, the thud that I knew now was him hitting the ground.
“He’s fine,” Cinna said. “Dug around in his chest a bit, pulled out a bullet, stitched him up, and pitched a small fit when he signed himself out first thing this morning.”
“Had to check on you,” Elian admitted, then his gaze slid from me to my brothers behind me. I could practically feel their gazes on us, trying to make sense of our obvious closeness.
“Guys, this is Elian. Who almost died for me yesterday,” I said. “And Cinna. Who is, like, Badass Barbie,” I said, getting a pained smile out of her. “Is Renzo okay?” I asked as Nico relieved her of the coffee trays.
“He’s… working,” she said, choosing the words carefully. “Which is where I need to be,” she added, snagging one of the coffees out of the tray Nico was holding. “Can I leave him with you?” she asked, patting Elian’s shoulder hard enough that it must have jostled his wound because he winced. “Make sure he doesn’t overdo it?”
“Of course,” I said, nodding, already reaching gently for Elian’s arm to lead him inside.
“Be careful, okay?” I asked Cinna. “And make sure Renzo is too. And Dav and Rico.”
“Always,” she agreed, nodding, giving my brothers a chin jerk, then heading out.
I felt Nico’s eyes on me as I led Elian to a chair, helping him sit down, then handing him one of the frozen coffees Cinna had picked up.