Page 32 of Desperate Decisions

I laughed again. “That’s her job now.” I flipped him the bird as I walked out of his apartment and back to my car.

Drug dealers were always strangely entertaining to play with. They liked to act like they were the top rung on the ladder, but they capitulated the second someone bigger came along. Anthony Pesci was no different. A posturing bully and a coward. They would all bend the knee with the right motivation.

That was something too many people forgot. We all had a price and we all had a breaking point. Some liked to think they were beyond that, and then people like me came along to show them exactly how wrong they were.

With Amara installed at the restaurant to help with the money laundering and her father under my thumb to get us into Rossi territory, my omega was suddenly a lot more useful to the Gallo Empire. Hopefully that would protect her further.

My phone rang with an unknown number. I answered it. “Angelo.”

“Elio, it’s Anita.”

“Hey. All settled?”

“Unfortunately. The Hebrides are boring as fuck. I’m not an island girl.”

I chuckled. “Boring means safe.”

“So you’re going to be joining me here, then?”

“Keep a spare bed available for me,” I said as I slipped into my vehicle.

“Wait, are you serious?”

“We’ll see how things shake out, but yes.”

I had no fucking clue what I would do with a life on some tiny Scottish island, except that I knew if I did make it there, Amara would be safe, and whatever kids we had by the time we got out would be safe too. It was a fantasy. I knew that. But if I could plan ahead for at least Amara to get out when the war came…if it turned for the worst, that gave me a bit of comfort.

“Did you find her?” Anita asked.

“I did. She’s at the compound with me now.”

“Poor little bitch.”

Her words caught me off guard and I started to laugh. “Look at you making me miss you already.”

“I’m offended you didn’t miss me the second you were out of my presence.”

“I had a lot of shit going on. No time to miss anyone.”

“Except your omega,” Anita corrected.

“That’s different.”

“I suppose so. Come for a visit sometime. I’d like to meet her. I would come to you, but you’ve already forbidden us from going.”

“Wait until the war is over and see if I’m still alive before you plan the trip.”

Anita tutted. “I’d say you’re cynical, but the Angelo men haven’t had good luck getting to old age.”

“Exactly. I would hate to break family tradition.”

“Don’t even fucking joke. We’d be dead if not for you, and you are not allowed to say things like that. I want you to break the mold. Live until you’re bald and wrinkled and have a million grandchildren tripping over your ankles.”

“It’s a nice thought.” And it was, one that I wanted but knew I would never see. “We both understand the reality of this life better than most.”

“Well, I’ll keep a room open for you if you ever decide you’re ready to get out from under the thumb of that cunt.”

“I appreciate it. Stay safe.”

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