Page 130 of Love Him Like Water

“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.

“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.

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