Page 48 of Sinful Secrets

He’s going to wonder why Rhett and I aren’t at practice. He’s going to ask what we are keeping from him.

And I can’t tell him anything.

Joey and Rhett have made it clear Gage is not ready to be in the family, and I am not allowed to tell him anything.

Where were you this morning? You and half of the starting line missed practice… again.

I show my phone to Rhett, who sighs in response. “You can tell him you’re up here with us, but he’s getting to be a real pain in my ass.”

I’m in NY with Rhett and Francesca for a couple of days.

His reply is almost immediate.

A fucking vacation? I’m not the only player to notice the unexcused absences. People are talking and we’re not happy.

My fingers pound on my phone screen as I type my message.

Not a fucking vacation. A funeral. Arturo and Joey wanted Rhett and me to escort Francesca to keep her safe. You know how protective they are of her.

That is the truth. She’s the only girl and the youngest, so of course they are protective of her.

And it’s not a vacation. I’d much rather be lounging on a beach somewhere, or better yet, a yacht.

Anger fills my veins as I pound out another message.

And let people talk. All of my absences have been approved. I’m not out fucking around.

I place my phone in my lap and take a deep breath. I can’t deal with Gage and his drama right now.

I shouldn’t have responded to his text. I should have turned my phone off and not turn it back on until we were back in Savannah.

My phone vibrates with another message.

Yeah, okay. I know when I’m being lied to and when I’m being placated.

I lean over and whisper, “Gage is hurt and likely to catch an attitude with snide remarks when we return.”

Rhett shrugs. “Let him. I’ll pull the captain card and let him know he can either drop it and move on with his life, or we’re going to have problems.”

There have been several times where I had to come between Rhett and Joey or Rhett and Gage, but this time, I’m bowing out.

The two of them can hash things out. I have other things to worry about.

Like getting back home to the woman I love and trying to figure out how to tell her who I really am and what I do for work.

Francesca stands abruptly. The people sitting in front of us complain she bumps into the back of them. “I’ll see you two after the funeral service.”

Rhett lifts his arm to block her from leaving our pew. “Francesca, where do you think you’re going?”

His tone is serious and deep, with a hint of a warning laced in it.

She rolls her eyes and says, “To sit with Giuseppe. It would be rude of me to refuse his offer.”

Rhett’s hand reaches out and wraps around Francesca’s waist. “The hell you are. Look around. They have men everywhere.”

Her gaze moves around the elegant church. “I’ll be protected.”

“You can’t be this naïve, Chessie. They are the enemy, and the more we stand out, the more of a target we put on ourselves.”

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