Page 82 of Once A Crime Lord

“You never come home, and you don’t let me do anything! At least Angel takes me dancing once a week.”

Angel grinned at her. “I’m sure Raul will take you to the office to show you his accounting skills.”

Her eyes widened in horror. Gavin stiffened when she focused those hypnotizing green eyes on him.

“Can I come too?”

Raul and Angel tensed, but they didn’t try to interfere. He was leery of accepting Angel’s help after what had happened to Vinny, but he trusted Raul’s judgment. If Raul said Angel could do it, he believed him. But there was no way in hell he would toss Luciana into the mix.

“It’s too dangerous,” he said and took another cookie.

“But Angel’s going!”

He wasn’t used to having anyone argue with him aside from Lyla. Emotional outbursts weren’t his scene.

“I have a gun, and I know how to use it,” Angel said loftily and leaned against the wall, looking like a Hispanic version of James Dean.

Luciana grabbed a knife from the chopping block and hurled it at Angel. The knife imbedded into the wall three inches above his head. Angel raised a brow while Raul glared at his sister.

“What did I tell you two about playing with knives?” Raul snapped.

“I’m an excellent shot,” she said hotly. “I can take care of myself. And don’t you dare lecture me about guns. You know I’m just as good as both of you.”

No one who knew the Roman’s reputation would be able to imagine them gathered in a kitchen at three in the morning arguing while drinking tea and eating warm almond cookies like a normal family. The appliances in the kitchen changed, but the feeling of belonging and warmth hadn’t. Gavin rummaged in the fridge for milk as Raul and Luciana began to shout at one another.

“Gavin’s searching for Uncle Manny and Vinny’s killer, Luci. This is serious shit. And after, he’s going to step down,” Raul said.

Her eyes popped. “Step down? And who’s going to take—Angel? You? No!”

Angel’s expression softened. “You know I’ve been wanting to do my own thing for a while now.”

“But…” Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s so sudden! When are you leaving?”

“Tonight.”

As a tear slipped down her cheek, Angel pushed off the wall and hugged her. He whispered in her ear as she cried. If anyone paid a high price for being a Roman besides Roque, it was Luciana. She had been twelve when her parents were murdered and had witnessed the whole thing. Her brothers were understandably overprotective, and her life was much more restricted than Lyla’s.

He was forcefully reminded of Nora as he watched Angel console his sister. How would he react when Nora wanted to go off on her own? Would he refuse or accompany her? What if she wanted to go to college in another city? It sent a chill down his spine. He shook away the disturbing thought. He would deal with it when the time came... or lock Nora in the basement until she saw things his way.

“When can I visit?” Luciana asked as she wiped away her tears.

“As soon as it’s over,” he assured her.

“You promise?”

“Yes. I’ll send for you and then you can meet my wife and daughter.”

“You have a daughter?” She thumped his chest with surprising force. “And you haven’t sent me pictures? What the hell is wrong with you?”

He didn’t know how to react, but he noticed Raul hiding a grin behind his teacup. Dainty bastard.

“I’ve been busy killing people,” he said.

“That’s not a good excuse,” she said, not cowed by in the least. She put her hands on her hips. “Your daughter’s the first of the new generation. She needs to know her extended family.”

Her words warmed him. This is why he came. For too long he had gone without family, without support. He isolated himself after Vinny and his father’s death instead of reaching out. Reuniting with his cousins made him feel as if he had an army around him. Their support gave him hope that this nightmare would be over soon.

A maid wearing a uniform that looked as if she worked in a high-end resort walked into the kitchen and inclined her head.

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