Page 128 of Love Him Like Water

“It’s Renzo,” I said, hearing the tension like static on the line. “Get your brothers and come to my place,” I said, rattling off my address. “I need someone to protect Lore while I make sure she never needs it again,” I said.

“Again?” he asked, voice tight, and I could already hear the movement as he left wherever he was, the city sounds coming up in the background.

“Someone wasn’t happy about our alliance. Tried to stage a coup. One of my men is shot. Lore was hit over the head and taken. I got her back,” I rushed to say. “And believe me, the fuck who tried to do worse to her was praying for death by the time it came.”

Nico made a growling noise in his throat. “Is she okay?”

“She’s got an egg. And some scratches and bruises, maybe some whiplash, from an airbag hitting her in the face. Other than that, she’s okay. Sleeping. She’ll be happy to see you guys here when she wakes up.”

It might distract her from my absence.

“We’ll be there in… forty minutes. Tops.”

Then they were, filing into the apartment, faces grim, stinking up the place with their combination of anger and concern.

“You guys packing, or you need to borrow?” I asked.

Nico moved his jacket to the side, showing a gun in a shoulder holster.

“We’re covered.”

“Lorenzo,” Cesare, her brother I’d almost had killed said, speaking of the Capo dei Capi, “wants to know if you want men to help you question the rest of your crew.”

“Don’t have an answer on that yet,” I admitted. “Was focused on getting Lore home and settled,” I added. “Haven’t been able to suss out anything else yet. But I will let him know, if need be.”

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.

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