Page 209 of Remy

She keeps clinging to me. “I’m sorry, Remy.”

I grab her chin and stare into those slaying eyes. “Don’t be. This was bound to happen when I lack the restraint to stay away from you. I just need to figure out a way to get us through it.”

A bang rattles the front window.

“Come on, dickhead,” Salvo shouts. “I have better things to police than your love life.”

I snarl. “I’m going to kill him.”

Ollie pulls a half-hearted smile. “Can I watch?”

“No, Pyro, you can participate.”

35

REMY

Ollie chuckles, the cadence spiritless.

I hope it’s not the last sound I hear from her.

“Be safe,” she whispers. “I’ll be waiting.”

I place a kiss to her hairline and force myself to stride for the door, not looking back as I walk outside.

Salvo waits against the railing of her porch, arms crossed over his chest, brows raised and mocking.

I don’t say a word. I keep my animosity locked tight and stalk for the Escalade.

He follows, climbing into the passenger seat.

“Where the fuck is your car?” I growl.

“I was dropped here. I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. And the hag next door is nosey as fuck.”

I shoot a glance toward the neighbor’s house, my gaze colliding with Lesley’s as she stares at me through her front window.

Inquisitive old bat.

“Head to my townhouse,” Salvo instructs.

I reverse out of Ollie’s drive, stopping short of squealing the tires as I take off down the road.

We’re a few blocks into the trip when he opens his mouth again. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

I keep my focus on upcoming traffic, knowing transparency won’t work in my favor. He won’t understand. He’s never loved anyone other than our mother. Not our dad. Not high school sweethearts. He’s always been a cold, heartless bastard like that.

“Why would you go against Lorenzo?” His tone becomes subdued, no longer edged with ego. “Why willingly give yourself a weakness?”

I lock my jaw and pretend I don’t hear the concern in his voice.

“I thought we had a good thing here,” he says. “We have freedom, and money, and fucking power. We’ve never had any of that before. And you’re out here risking it all, for what?”

For her.

For Ollie.

For a relationship that may undermine all those things Salvo boasts about, but somehow gives me so much more.

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