Page 26 of Lani

“Wait, Vinny. Maybe we should get more information out of him. I can’t stand the thought of young girls like this being stuck in this life.” Vinny lowers his gun and studies me.

“I want to kill this motherfucker just as much as you, but just imagine if we get all of these sick fucks.” Trey smirks, bending down to Charles. “But know, you are going to die. That is non-negotiable. Your suffering is just getting extended.” Trey pats his face hard.

“I’ll call the guys to bring a van for this dipshit, then we can get out of here.” Trey walks away and pulls out his phone.

I walk up to Vinny and wrap my arms around his middle. This has been a shitshow and it must be hard knowing that this happened right under his nose.

I put my hands on his cheeks, demanding he look at me. “Vinny, this is not your fault. You’re a survivor too. You got out of here. That takes guts, baby. They were so mean to you,” I whisper, trying to stop that ache in his heart I know he has.

“Be a fucking man. Tell her to shut up,” Charles bitches from the ground.

Vinny spins around, punching him hard in the face. “Do not look at her, speak to her or even hint at talking about her. I will save the prospects the trouble of driving out here and kill you now. You disgust me.”

I take his hand and pull him away from Charles. “Baby, don’t be hurt over this. You were so young when you left. This is not on you, but what we can do is get revenge.”

He smiles at that and kisses my forehead. “I am so thankful you came into my life.”

I grip his sides. “I’m so thankful for you too.”

Trey joins in and kisses me softly. “I’m thankful for the both of you.” He holds my cheek as he kisses Vinny, and I smile at the small intimate moment we’re having.

“Oh shit, I forgot. Their husbands will be back,” I whisper-yell, and I run around the side of the house to the front so I can check on the girls.

Vinny runs with me. Trey stays back so he can keep an eye on Charles. “You nervous to talk to them?” I ask Vinny, taking his hand as we get closer.

“Yes, I haven’t seen them since they were really young. I just never expected all of this when I planned on visiting today. In my mind I was going to confront my parents for how they acted. I didn’t know it ran this deep.”

I surely never expected this.

Vinny opens the truck door, hops into the driver’s seat and I get in the passenger’s seat. “You okay?” Vinny asks Lynn and Etta.

Lynn is holding her sleeping daughter. “Are you sure it’s okay we come live with you, Vinny?” she asks.

Vinny smiles. “Yes, baby sister. I’ll put you both in school and college, and you’ll live with me, Trey and Lani until you’re ready to move out. Whatever you want to do, I will support it.”

Etta’s eyes fill with tears. “Thank you so much.” She leans over the seat and hugs Vinny tightly. “I’ve missed you so much, Vinny, but I was happy when you left. It hurt me when they hurt you,” she whispers so softly, but I hear her.

I think I need to hop out of this truck and beat the fuck out of his dad. “I’m going to go check on Trey. I’ll be back in a few.” I kiss his cheek, hitting the lock when I leave.

Vinny rolls his eyes at me before I shut the door. I know it may be useless because he’s a badass biker guy, but I want to protect him too.

I walk around the house. His mother is sitting on the back porch just watching. I settle next to Trey. “Did you know that he beat Vinny as a way to reform him?” I whisper low enough that Vinny’s mother on the porch doesn’t hear.

“No, but that’s good information.” Trey takes his knife out of his pocket and walks up to Charles. “This is just a small taste of what’s to come.” Trey lifts the knife high and buries it deep into his thigh, then pulls down, leaving a deep cut.

Charles screams at the top of his lungs. Trey puts his hand over his mouth. “Shut your fucking mouth before I cut off your tongue.”

I should be freaking out right now, but I want to hurt him just as bad. He caused so much pain in people’s lives.

Charles hushes and we back away, settling against the house. I lean over and rest my head on Trey’s shoulder, “You okay?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.

“I had a horrible feeling that shit was going to be bad when we got here. I saw the demons in Vinny’s eyes, but this is so much worse.”

Trey lets out a deep breath. “Vinny hasn’t really talked to me any about his childhood. It was something we avoided.” He runs his fingers through his short, dark hair. “I should have come and killed him years ago.”

I shake my head. “You can’t blame yourself. We’re just a protective bunch.” I grip his cut in my hands. “But his time is coming soon.” I look over my shoulder at Charles, who is rolling around on the ground in pain.

Trey cups my face and I smile. “I’m protective over you, too. Those who have wronged you will die also.” He bends down and kisses me softly, tenderly.

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