Page 47 of Vicious Vows

I hated that he lived with the memory of his mother getting in that car and then, in an instant, it was all over. That demon haunted him every second of every day. He didn’t have to talk about it for me to know.

“You don’t know that,” he said.

“It’s not going to happen because you’re going to protect me.”

“Did I protect you last night?” he asked. “When we were dodging bullets and taking cover?”

“You had no control over that.”

“If you believe that, then you’re naive.” Anger filled his voice.

“You said you didn’t know who the target was, so how could it be your fault? Maybe I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“If you’re with me, you will always be in the wrong place. It doesn’t matter if it was my enemies taking a shot at me or if it’s an associate’s enemies. I assume the risk because this is my life. My family’s legacy. How can I ask you to put yourself in danger every time we go outside?”

“You didn’t ask me to do anything.”

“You’re right. I forced you at gunpoint.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I did know who you were when we met, and that’s because I come from this world too. I’ve been living it my whole life.”

“It’s different now. Things weren’t this dangerous when you were a kid. The families were at peace for a long time, but this business is changing. The cartels are becoming more demanding of all of us because they need our resources. People who wouldn’t normally turn on one another are doing that out of necessity.”

“People like my father?”

“Our families have always had conflict.”

“Not like this,” I said. “I remember a time when they were civilized to one another.”

“Like I said, things have changed.”

“Would they be different if your dad was here?”

“My father’s absence created an opportunity for others to come after what’s ours. One that I should have been on top of.”

“I sidetracked you.”

“I made my choices, and I stand by them.”

Marchello didn’t want my help when it came to his father. Lorenzo warned me not to get involved, but my gut wouldn’t allow me to let it go. If I could find a way to get Nico home, maybe this war would end and everyone could just go back to that peaceful time.

Perhaps our fathers could find a way to make things right now that Marchello and I were together. They would never be friends, but they could co-exist. Couldn’t they?

“Whatever you’re plotting, stop it right now.” Marchello moved me away from his chest so he could look at me. “I mean it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re suspiciously quiet,” he said. “That’s never a good sign.”

He knew me better than I knew myself.

“I don’t want you to worry about me,” I said. “You have enough going on.”

“You had a trauma to your body last night. You have to concentrate on healing.”

“I will.”

“I want you to relax today. After you eat, I’ll help you bathe and get some fresh clothes on.” He ran his fingers through my matted hair. “The doctor sent some pain meds and an antibiotic. It’s almost time to take them.”

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