Page 81 of Once A Crime Lord

“I was in for a year. I don’t know how Roque’s handled being in for seven.”

“I don’t either. Once he’s out, I’m going to the Bahamas.”

“You’ve shouldered the load for a long time.”

“Same as you.” Raul shook his head. “I don’t know how you and Roque do it. If it wasn’t for Angel, I would have let the underworld go a long time ago.”

“It’s in our blood, just as it was in our father’s.”

The Roman family had their fair share of heartaches and betrayal. It went hand in hand with being a part of the underworld. They all paid a price for being crime lords. He couldn’t imagine Roque being imprisoned for nearly eight years. Every criminal in prison would be gunning for him. How many men did Roque murder to stay alive? If Roque was a force to be reckoned with before, New York would shudder in terror when he was released.

They reached the third floor. Angel slammed open the door that led into a massive kitchen, which had all the latest appliances. A beautiful woman with dreamy green eyes and waist-length dark brown curls stood in front of the kitchen island scraping cookies onto a large platter.

“You can’t be done already!” she complained. “There were six women. I should have another hour at least! You need to work on your stamina, Angel.”

Angel grabbed a cookie and tapped her nose. “I’m going to Sin City, princess!”

Luciana frowned at her brother and didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he wore only his underwear and had hickeys, bite marks, and lipstick on his skin.

“What are you talking about? Are those girls still here? I want them to try my almond cookies.”

“I’ll take one of those,” Gavin said as he stepped into the kitchen.

Angel ducked as his sister tossed the metal spatula and hurled herself at Gavin as if she were eight years old.

“Gavin!” she screamed.

He couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he caught Luciana and whirled her around as if she were still a kid instead of a full-grown adult. Luciana shrieked in delight and kissed him on both cheeks.

“What are you doing here? Do you want some cookies?”

“Yes, I would,” he said and set her down.

Luciana rushed to the platter and used tongs to put two cookies on a dainty plate that felt as sturdy as construction paper in his hand.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” she asked.

He suppressed a flinch. “No, thank you.”

Luciana pushed him onto a stool and propped her chin on her fists. “What are you doing here, Gavin?”

“I need help.” He took a bite of the warm cookie and felt his eyes flutter as the taste awakened a sweet tooth he didn’t know he possessed. “Fuck me.”

“You need help?” Luciana sounded shocked.

“I’m human,” he said with a shrug.

“Which iswhy,” Angel said dramatically to get his sister’s attention, “I’m going with him.”

Luciana’s eyes bounced from Gavin to Angel and then to Raul who poured himself a cup of tea.

“You’re going to Las Vegas? I want to go too!”

“The situation isn’t good, Luci,” he said as he reached for more cookies.

“You’re going to leave me with Raul?” Luciana said indignantly.

Raul scowled. “What’s wrong with that?”

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