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)
“You’ve really settled in here.”
It was a statement, but also a question.
“I have,” I agreed, nodding. “I know it’s hard to believe after all these years of animosity between our families, but I really like this crew. Especially Elian, Cinna, and Dav. Rico seems nice too, I just don’t know him very well.”
“And Renzo?” Cesare asked.
“No,” I said, watching his jaw tighten. “No, I don’t like Renzo. I love Renzo.”
Renzo - 2 days
It wasn’t as bad as it seemed right off after we used Michael’s cold, dead finger to unlock his phone, and give us access to his web of betrayal.
Eight associates, who were disposable on a good day, so it was no skin off our noses to track them down and take them all out.
Three soldiers. More rank. Actual members of the organization, technically, compared to the associates. People we knew better. Had shared drinks with, that kind of shit. But there was no love lost over having to put down a few disloyal fucks.
It was the one capo that had rocked us.
A capo.
A made fucking man.
Someone we’d seen at every gathering.
Someone who’d signed my cast when I’d busted my leg at seventeen.
Someone that had acted like a mentor to Cinna.
Who’d saved Rico’s life twice.
Who Dav considered a close friend.
We’d all stood there in shock when we saw his name in Michael’s phone, as we scrolled the texts full of deception and disloyalty.
“I want him,” Dav said, that darkness overtaking his features again.
It was my place to take him out, technically.
But I wasn’t going to deny him his revenge.
“Okay,” I agreed. “But Cinna goes with you.”
To that, he’d given me a tight nod, and the two of them had walked off to end this once and for all.
“What do you want from me?” Rico asked.
“Go get the kid, I guess.”
“Coal?” he clarified.
He’d been left alone for nearly two days at this rate. The guy was probably severely dehydrated and starving.
“Yeah. Free him. Get him cleaned up. Feed him. Then tell him to show up on my doorstep tomorrow morning.”
“You going home to your wife?” Rico asked, eyes knowing.
Fuck yeah, I was.
Lore - 2 weeks
The apartment was filled with familiar scents.
Turkey, gravy, buttery mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, fluffy rolls, the whole shebang.
Renzo had tried to insist that I should take the time off, slow down, recover after my ‘ordeal.’
But I’d never been more motivated to pull the whole Thanksgiving dinner idea together as I’d been following the attack, knowing how so many of these men and women had worked their asses off to protect Renzo and me.
After all the betrayal and loss, I felt like they needed this.
And I was happy to give it to them.
Well, me and Elian, who was by my side in the kitchen, lending the extra set of hands I didn’t realize I’d need so desperately, since I’d never done a whole holiday meal like this before.
The family had been through a lot that made them feel torn apart.
This, I hoped, would help them feel like a family again.
There was nothing better than everyone gathered around a table, enjoying a meal and conversation to help you connect.
“How is it?” I asked after Elian dipped a spoon into the mashed potatoes to taste them for me.
“If you weren’t married, I’d propose right now,” he said, smile warm.
“Well, married and like a little sister to you…”
“That too,” he agreed, looking across the room to where his sister was being casually charmed by the enigmatic Dav.
Elian’s brothers were also in attendance. I’d needed to buy an extension for our table and more chairs for this event.
A lot of the crew had their own families to go back to, but there was a surprising number of them who had no one and nowhere to go. Including the new kid, Coal.
No family.
Until now.
“Ready?” I asked as he grabbed the potatoes and I grabbed the rolls, the rest already on the table.
“Yep.”
“Dinner,” I called, making everyone’s heads turn to me.
But I only sought one face.
Renzo’s.
Finding him giving me that sweet smile as he came across the room to pull out my chair.
“Everything smells fucking amazing, mouse,” he said, kissing my temple, making my heart swell.
“Okay, so my family has a tradition,” I said when everyone started taking their seats. “We go around the table and someone says one thing they’re grateful for this year,” I told them.
“Easy,” Renzo said, staring right at me across the long table. “I’m fucking thankful for you.”
Lore - 3 years
“You’re home early,” I said as Renzo walked in, making a beeline for me.
He was kind of ruining my plans, actually.
I was only halfway done cooking a very important meal.
One that was going to come with an announcement at the end.
The whole ‘and baby makes three’ kind of announcement.
Big deal stuff.
And here he was.
Early for the first time in two weeks.