“Drew was born November 12, 2018.”
Gio sighed. “Reggie won’t be happy.”
“He doesn’t have a choice, Gio,” Lorenzo commented. “He knows that.”
“I know, but he hates the family right now for how we handled Dwayne. You know as well as I do, Lo, that Reggie isn’t one to forgive quickly.”
“What does it matter?” Layla asked. “The family is out of the game. Our kids are free to be whatever they want.”
“I wish it were that easy,Tesoro,” the tired man muttered, looking over to the foam pool where all the kids laughed and played. “Were we ever that carefree, Lo?”
Smirking, Lorenzo replied, “Maybe, I don’t remember.”
“Luciano talked about you all the time, Giovanni. He knew the burden you carried and wished nothing but a life ofhappiness for you. He said that because of you, he could do anything, be anything he wanted. That’s why he gave everything to his painting. He wanted you to be proud of him because he felt the family cheated you out of what you really wanted.”
Gio smirked. “He said all that, did he?”
I nodded. “Yes, but he never elaborated. What did you want to be growing up?”
“Gio?” Layla smiled lovingly at her husband.
Shaking his head, he muttered, “I wanted to be a farmer and start my own winery.”
“Like Nona’s family back in the old country?” Lorenzo asked.
He nodded. “It was just a stupid dream.”
“Luciano didn’t think so,” I advised softly. “He said if anyone could do it, it would be you. Maybe take a page out of his book and chase that dream, now that you have nothing holding you back.”
“I see why my brother chose you, my dear. You have a very gentle ease about life and what matters most. Where will you head next?”
Looking at Christian, he simply offered, “Nebraska. I have a childhood friend that moved there.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Fury
Diamond Creek, Nebraska,
Pulling up to the gate, I rolled down my window, hearing the hinges groan as a prospect emerged from the guard shack. His footsteps crunched on the gravel as he approached. Seeing the wordProspectover the nameArchieon his cut, I leaned against the door and said, “Prospect. Go get Matlock”
“He’s in church.”
“Then call him.”
The young kid blinked several times, then gulped and slowly shook his head. “Can’t do that. He will kill me.”
I smirked at that.
Nice to know my former friend still hadn’t lost his touch.
“So will I if you don’t make that call.” I issued a warning while simultaneously opening my coat to show him the gun tucked into my waistband, leaving no doubt about the seriousness of my intentions. Fear choked the kid, making him gulp before he could even begin to walk back to the looming guard shack. Watching the kid fumble with his phone, I leaned back against the worn leather headrest and sighed, the scent of old upholstery filling my nostrils. Yeah, I felt awful about scaring the kid, but the constant feeling of being watched ever since we left Chicago was unnerving.
I didn’t want to upset Carly, so I kept it to myself. I had no intention of visiting any motorcycle clubs, knowing that such a visit would inevitably get back to Montana. However, given that I was positive we were being followed, I had no other option.
I would not risk Carly or the kids.
The problem was, picking a club that would keep their mouths shut.