Page 118 of Frayed Bonds

“I think somewhere around the CFP dinner.” Fuck to say it aloud and realise how long I’ve been keeping this from him. It’s been months, long before anything even happened with Ambrose. I had so many opportunities to tell him.

“I wanted to tell you as soon as I started feeling something for him, but then you called and warned me to stay away so I knew you wouldn't approve.”

“Val I’m your fucking best friend, I don’t approve of half the shit you do but that’s never stopped you from telling me anything before.”

“This was different, how was I supposed to tell you ‘I think I'm in love with your older brother’?” I stare at him slightly annoyed.

“The same way you did our entire childhood,” he shrugs.

“Those times were different Nino, this time was real.”

He stares at me and sighs. “I guess I’m just scared.”

“Scared of what?”

He turns to face the water. “Scared we won’t be as close anymore.”

I scoff. “That’s never going to happen. Now that I’m not hiding anything anymore I won’t be avoiding you any longer .” I bite my lip and he chuckles.

I bump my shoulder into his. “I really am sorry I lied to you.”

“It’s okay, I probably would've done the same if I was in your position.”

“Ah.” I hit his shoulder. “You're supposed to at least lie and say you’d never do that to me.”

“We both know I’m a horrible liar, especially when you know my tell,” he smiles at me and I see a glimpse of my best friend again for the first time in what feels like months.

A loud bang slices through the air and we both jump. “Get down!” Antonio whispers and grabs my arm. Then suddenly he’s dragging me, crouched down, towards the house.

Another two loud bangs sound and it's only then when I realise what they are.

Gunshots.

“What the fuck is going on?” I whisper.

“Valerie will you hurry the fuck up, we can chit-chat in a second.” He pulls me even faster towards the house.

“Go towards the library.” He instructs as he closes the back door and locks it.

Instead of asking another question, I do as I’m told and rush towards the small room under the stairs. It’s probably the only room I haven't been in since it’s been reserved strictly for Luciano and well, since he’s no longer here no one has any real use for it.

Antonio walks in a few minutes later, phone up to his ear. “They're somewhere nearby, at least two snipers.”

He closes the door before typing in a code and an electric lock sounds.

“Yes, I’ve got her into the library now, I’ll call mamá and tell her to stay at Uncle Luca’s, not that she needs to be told. Okay, bye.”

“Who was that?”

‘’Ambrose,’’ he whispers before relaying the information to his mom who seems all too relaxed with what is going on right now.

“Antonio.” I finally get his full attention. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Those were some of Mattheo's, uhm associates.”

My brows furrow. “Stop speaking to me like I’m twelve, what is going on?”

“I’m not sure if you know but Mattheo was involved in a lot of illegal shit. Adriano found out after he did some digging on Horatio after our one meeting,” he explains.

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