Page 75 of Gabe

Newt and I both agreed that Sebastian would probably always walk with a limp but based on the progress that he’d made so far, we could probably get him to the point where he would only need a basic leg brace and maybe a cane for support, rather than the bulky crutch. He’d probably even be able to return to his private investigator work, if he wanted. Although, at the moment, all talk of the future was vague at best. We’d all been so focused on surviving, that none of us had given much thought to what we wanted to do after the whole ordeal was over.

Luckily, we had time to figure it out.

The FBI had provided us compensation, as well as a temporary place to stay. They’d actually offered us multiple apartments, but after living in hiding for so long, we all felt more comfortable staying together for now.

Newt took a seat at Sebastian’s side, instinctively checking his leg, though it wasn’t as necessary now.

“Will your brother be coming back? I know you want to see him.”

With a sigh, Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose while at the same time leaning into Newt’s touch.

“I don’t know. I told him about what happened, and that we’re all alive. He was happy to hear it, but he couldn’t talk for long. I think something must be happening with… whatever he’s doing because he seemed distracted.”

I took a seat on the other couch and pulled Gabe down with me so I could tuck myself under his arm. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Damien is even busier now. We burned down the pedophile ring, and Ozias has agreed to go into witness protection to testify against them, but there’s nothing stopping the Mariano family from just funding another operation somewhere else.”

“That won’t happen.”

All four of us jumped to our feet at the sound of the unexpected voice.

A man I’d never seen before stood in the doorway, just a few feet away. He was well built, in a lean way, with dark hair and even darker eyes. A silver ring glinted on one eyebrow, complimenting his dark olive complexion.

Just behind him stood the largest man I’d ever seen. He wasn’t much taller than Gabe or Sebastian, but his shoulders seemed to go on forever, and he maintained a wide, sturdy stance that seemed specifically designed to take up as much space as possible.

“How did you get in here?” I demanded, while at the same time wondering why no one else was talking. Gabe was usually the silent type, but even he would speak up when needed, and Sebastian was never known for holding his tongue. Yet the two of them stood there in complete silence.

We hadn’t even heard the two strangers enter the apartment.

How had they snuck up on us so easily?

As usual, when I was nervous, my attitude made itself known.

“We aren’t entertaining guests right now. You’ll have to come back later.”

I approached them, although I had no idea what I intended to do. However, before I could take more than a single step, Gabe grabbed my arm and pushed me behind him.

Usually, Gabe was careful with his strength, but he gripped me so tight that I could already feel bruises forming.

Any protest I would have made died when I noticed the look on his face. It was a mix of terror and fury that instantly stole my voice.

“Alex Mariano,” he said through clenched teeth, as though that single name should answer any questions.

In a way it did. The name Alex wasn’t familiar to me, but Mariano definitely was. This man had some connection to the Mafia Boss, and here he was standing in our living room as if he had every right to be there.

“Well, I guess that means introductions aren’t necessary,” Alex said as he took a seat in the room’s only remaining chair.

The other unnamed man stood just behind him, probably acting as a bodyguard. With a better look, I could see a bit of gray at the man’s temples, marking him as the oldest person in the room, but I wasn’t fooled into thinking that a few more years made him less dangerous. The man carried himself the same as Gabe, like he was a walking weapon just waiting to be aimed at someone.

Alex looked at us expectantly, one leg crossed over the other in a relaxed pose. When no one moved, he gestured toward the couches. “Sit. Let’s talk.”

Sebastian took a stumbling step forward, nearly tripping on his crutch. “I’m not sitting until you explain what the hell David Russo’s son is doing in our apartment. How did you even find us?”

Well, that explained Alex’s connection all right. The head of the Italian mafia was so intertwined with Sebastian and Gabe’s lives, yet he’d always seemed like more of a myth than a man. I’d never pictured him having a family. Yet, here sat his son, just as flesh and blood as anyone else.

I wasn’t sure if that made the Mafia Boss more or less intimidating.

Alex chuckled under his breath. “Finding you wasn’t actually that hard.”

Gripping his crutch tighter, Sebastian stood a little taller. “Your father has been trying to find my brother and I for years without success.”

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