Page 154 of Filthy Liar

“You’ll come home with me, right?” Dante asked randomly as he kept his eyes on his friend, and I let out a sigh.

“Dante—”

“Papa’s gone, we can oversee everything personally ourselves. I can put you in charge of some of the men. I want your input on so many things,” he insisted, but I shook my head.

“Italy was never my home, bro. I belong here with Raven and the guys.”

“They could come too.”

“I don’t want them to upend everything like that, even if they said they would. They’re finally getting their lives on track, and to be honest, I feel so much more myself when I’m here. For the first time in a long time, I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore, or lie to those I care about.”

He studied me, and relief filled me when he took my shoulder in his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I hope she brings you the peace you deserve, brother.”

“She does,” I murmured, eyeing Raven across the yard as fire trucks and police finally started pulling in. “One day, I’ll bring her to Italy to visit you, as long as you’re okay with the guys coming too. It won’t be soon, it’s going to take a while for any of them to agree to that.”

“I still can’t believe you like to watch other men fuck her,” he said with a scrunch of his nose.

“It’s hot. Sue me,” I chuckled, ruffling his hair. “You really need a bath. You reek.”

“I’ve been held captive, asshole. I’ve been pissing in a bucket, so a shower was probably a little far from things I could negotiate,” he said flatly.

“Let’s get this shit over with and go entertain the Donovans for a few hours,” I smiled, steering him towards the others so we could check on Fabio and Elio.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

ZAVIER

Iwinced as Raven dabbed at the cut on my cheek, apology in her eyes as she tried to clean it. It had taken hours for the cops to get through everyone’s statements, and that was with BG half-assing it.

News reports were already circulating about how Stefano Ricci, head of the Italian mafia, had come to the States and kidnapped multiple people in an act of war towards the Psychos and Devils.

Speculation was everywhere, but the legal reports cleared all of us for self-defense, and Dante put on a big show about the sad loss of his father and not understanding why he went to such extremes to hurt people.

We were now all sitting around Rory’s kitchen being patched up since none of us had serious damage, other than Rory, who’d already been taken care of while we’d been with the cops.

She was sore, but she’d be okay once her body had some time to heal.

The devil didn’t want her anywhere near his throne yet, so I wasn’t surprised that she would recover.

Ander was standing in the corner with Dante and Antonio, discussing something with Hunter and Caden, and from the way Hunter seemed happy to shake their hands when they were done, told me they’d come to some kind of agreement.

Most likely over tech.

Cruz and Drake showed up at some point, and Cruz walked over to me and grabbed my chin with a tsk. “Aw, the bruises will only make you prettier, Lopez. Gives you a rugged vibe.”

“I’m so glad you think so,” I deadpanned, making Raven chuckle from beside me.

“I prefer it when he’s not bruised. I don’t worry about hurting him so much when I sit on his face.”

“If you sit down hard enough, you won’t hear his complaints anyway,” Cruz joked, giving me a wink.

I rolled my eyes, motioning to Ander. “Go play with Lavaro. His tech friend has been dying to meet you. Like, annoyingly telling us since we got here that he badly wanted to. Good news, the boner you have for him is reciprocated.”

“He’s here?” Cruz asked in a low voice, his eyes flicking around the room until they landed on Antonio, who was already watching us. “I’m nervous. What do I say?”

“How about something like,I’m Cruz. Where have you been all my life? Fancy a walk along the beach at sunset tonight?” I scoffed, knowing they were going to hit it off easily from what I’d already gathered from my short knowledge of Antonio.

“Not funny. He’s a tech genius, dude,” Cruz said flatly as Drake snickered, and thankfully, Ander motioned for him to join them and I didn’t have to hear about it.

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