Page 455 of Dark Love

“I would never hurt an innocent woman.”

Close enough.

“Then why were you yelling, and why was he fighting with my dad?”

“Because they are two little boys solving their problems with their fists.”

“What problem?”

Hope is way too curious. How do I answer that?

“Hope Vincenti, how did you get here?”

Max’s angry dad tone scares me, and I didn’t do anything?

“I…um…”

“What have I told you about going out at night alone?”

Uh oh!

“But this was important. I heard Prue scream.” The little nose wrinkles and head tilt don’t bode well. Are we going to see another fight? This time between father and daughter.

“Which is the exact reason you should be in the house with your nonna and not outside in the middle of the night running into a dangerous situation ALONE.”

Talon might be even scarier than Max when he’s irritated.

“I’m not some stupid child.”

Um, fighting back with them might be a little not smart.

“I brought a gun and my knives.” She palms one in the blink of an eye. “And I called Tito War and Tito Gabe.”

“The rule is you aren’t outside alone at night.” Max moves next to Talon, making a wall of stern parents.

“I’m allowed out in the backyard, so I climbed the fences and stayed in backyards until I got here.”

It’s like a debate rolled into a battle of wills and neither side is going to win… maybe.

“Where’s all the action?” War walks into the yard with a gun in hand and nothing but pajama bottoms on.

For an older man, he makes for some pretty viewing.

“Hope, I thought you said there was a fight?” A cross between a male model and a bodybuilder walks in. He’s got to be Hope’s uncle Gabe. When people write poems about the beauty of the male physique, they had to have this man in mind.

“He’s the only one that came without a weapon,” I whisper to Vex.

“I am the weapon, beautiful. But don’t worry, I came prepared.” Gabe pulls a gun out of the back of his pajama pants.

Did they buy the guns in bulk? They all look the same.

How did a quiet night at home turn into a party? One I could sell tickets to, but I’d really like to not be at myself regardless of the visually stunning company.

“Max, take your daughter home.” Vex has had enough, it seems.

“Wait, that can’t be it. I want to punch someone.” Gabe pouts.

He can’t be real. A man can’t be that pretty when they’re acting like a child about not getting to hit someone.

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