Page 9 of Charity's Redemption

“Do you need that much?” he said, eying the unnecessarily full cup in my hand.

“Yep.”

He’d had an issue with my latest drinking habit, and he’d made his opinion about it well known—voicing his disgust at every turn.

Luca put the pot back on the burner, then sipped the steaming mug while I gulped the smooth liquor.

“Did you take care of that shipment for Alek?”

Alek was our broker who handled anything from drugs and weapons, to smuggling and distribution.

“It’s already delivered. I sent Ignazio and Gavino to handle the exchange. Just waiting for Sacha.”

He nodded. “Good. Keep me apprised of that.”

“Always do.”

I swallowed the rest of the liquor, then cleared my throat as a droplet went down the wrong tube.

“When are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?”

I bunched my chin and shook my head, looking away from him. “Not sure what you mean?”

Putting the glass in the sink, Luca narrowed his gaze in a way that told me I shouldn’t make him spell it out. He hated repeating himself.

Vito walked in before he could put looks to words. “We’ve got a problem, boss.”

My insides released their tension as Luca exhaled and placed his fresh coffee on the counter, then nodded towards Vito and glanced back towards me. “Whatever you’re going through that has you drowning in alcohol, you better work it out and get back on track.” He walked towards the door and struck his palm against the door frame. “You may be family, but I won’t have you compromising us because you don’t have it together.”

He walked away without so much as a glance back while I gave him the middle finger salute.

What did he know, anyway? I wasn’t doing anything to this family that he hadn’t done already.

Picking the glass out of the sink, I filled it just to spite him, but this time only a finger full, and swallowed it in one gulp.

The liquid burn sent fire down my throat, settling in my belly as it brought about that numbing satisfaction I so desperately sought.

Nico walked out of theshop, my gaze planted on his ass, when Justine clambered up beside me.

“Please tell me he has a brother?”

I smiled with a smidgen of unwarranted jealousy, then bit back the raging remark I wanted to make. “He does… but he’s also mine.”

“Shut up.” She placed her hand to her mouth in shock. “You’re dating both of them?”

I supposed that would be shocking news since dating three men at the same time isn’t all that common. Even though I wouldn’t consider us dating as we were exclusive. Wasexclusiveeven the right word when I had three?

“And their cousin.”

“How about you save some for us?”

I laughed. “There are plenty of fish in this toxic sea.”

“Well, I’m envious.” She sighed, making me feel somewhat sympathetic for her. “It’s been all too long since I’ve been on a date.”

“Well, it only took me six years to nab them, so I’m sure your time is coming.”

Justine laughed as she locked the front door, and I pulled the till to count the money. “I doubt it. My resources have dried up. Not even my dating apps work anymore.”

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