Page 120 of Charity's Redemption

This moment was oddly reminiscent of when the IFC enforcer tried to carve out my liver while clowns danced around us.

Okay, fine, clowns weren’t there, but they were in the area.

“Yeah, but you already know how I feel. Was Zoe your first time killing someone?”

“Technically, I didn’t kill her, you did.”

“Okay, Mr. Lawyer. I guess you get off on a technicality there.”

He laughed, which had me guessing it didn’t bother him too much if he could still put a smile on his face.

“I told you. I can handle my own. I just choose not to partake in the violence of this lifestyle. That doesn’t mean I haven’t done it before.”

“So you have killed someone?”

Curiosity piqued my interest as I turned towards him, careful to avoid my shoulder.

“Yes.”

“How many?”

“You’re morbid, you know that?”

“How are you just now figuring this out?” I grinned. “Tell me.”

“Three.”

“Three?” I said, raising my voice louder than I expected.

“Yeah.”

“Who, when, why, and most importantly, how?”

He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It was before Pops sent me off to law school. There were talks in the works that these three guys were planning to overthrow Pops and take over his position. Luca’s first was the man who told us who they were.” His lip tugged upward in disgust as he recalled the memory. “That was when I figured out just how perfect Luca was for this job.”

The door cracked open, interrupting Nico from continuing.

Max walked through the door, empty-handed, not bearing any food-like gifts other than his delicious presence.

“What’s going on in here?”

“Story time.” I raised a brow and grinned.

“About?”

“Nico’s first time.”

“And I’m gone.” Max turned on his heel, ready to walk out the door.

“Not that first time,” I giggled. “Get back over here, it was just getting good.”

Max turned back around and bounced on the end of the bed as he collapsed with his head resting in his palm, his elbow dug into the mattress. “Proceed.”

“Anyway, Pops found these three guys. They confessed to it all with a bit of coercion.”

“I know where this is going. I remember the stories,” Max said.

I put my finger to my lips. “Shh.”