Page 73 of The Best of Us

“I didn’t have a chance to steal anything. You showed up, screwing Jamie’s plans.”

AndI could breathe again. “I told you this morning what those men would have done to you had I not been there.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t know they were mafia until you told me. Jamie left that part out. He said they ripped him off, and if they didn’t accept the terms of some new arrangement he was trying to make with them, he needed me to steal something off the main dude.”

“That main dude would have cut off each of your fingers and used them as darts just for sport.” I let that ugly but realistic truth sink in before asking, “What’d Jamie want you to steal?”

“Just some guy’s wallet. He didn’t explain why, and I knew better than to ask. He just said if I did this favor for him, I wouldn’t have to do any more after that. He’d leave me alone. Let me date Lennon in peace.”

Wallet my ass.Like hell that was all it was about for Jamie. “Yeah, you could say it would’ve been your last time stealing for him because the Sicilians would’ve killed you. If not for that stunt you pulled with the fight, then for stealing from them.”

“Then use my fingers for darts, huh?” He rolled his eyes, and the fact my son wasn’t understanding the reality of the mess he’d stepped into was going to send me over the edge. “You’re being dramatic.”

I invaded his personal space, needing to make myself crystal clear. “You do not screw with the mafia. Do you hear me?” I pointed at his chest without touching him, my jaw locked tight as I stared him down.

He stumbled and would’ve gone into the glass coffee table if I hadn’t been fast enough to catch his arm and haul him upright. I overcorrected, and he lost his balance, falling against me. He shoved at my chest as if worried I might chance that hug I’d die to have from him.

“Yet, those mafia dudes are afraid ofyou. Make it make sense.”

I couldn’t, not without explaining my family’s history, and why his aunt was murdered, and the messy truth of my life after that. It’d be too much for anyone to hear, not just him or Juliette. Hell, it was my life. I had to live it. Most days, it was too much for me.

“Even if what you’re saying is true,” he began when it was clear I wouldn’t answer him, “wouldn’t Jamie and Daniel get burned if those mafia guys found out I stole from them? They’d assume they asked me to do it.”

“By the time the Sicilians picked you up for questioning,” I said with the least abrasive tone I could summon, “Jamie and Daniel would be long gone from the States. No more selling drugs on street corners for whoever calls the shots. They saw an opportunity to get out on their own, and they took it.”

Now Daniel’s remarks in our interrogation room made more sense. He was worried Jamie would find out about his impromptu mugging attempt happening so close to their plans, jeopardizing their meeting with the Sicilians.

Daniel must’ve thought he had no choice but to tell me about the rave and hope the mafia would take us out, saving him all around.

“But Daniel was too scared to admit to Jamie he’d been questioned by me, so Jamie was clueless I’d be at the rave. And clearly neither of them knew I was your father.”Hell, I just found out.“So, I showed up and ruined their plans.”

“And saved me,” he added, which was the most crucial part. “But what could be in that guy’s wallet that's valuable enough to risk everything for?”

“Leave all of that for me to handle. For now, I just need you to stay away from Jamie, Lennon, and all of them. Am I making myself clear?” I didn’t plan to let him go into the city without me anyway.

“No freaking way am I staying away from her. And if you think she’s anything like her brother, she’s not.”

“I don’t care if she’s an angel. It’s not safe for you to be involved with her.”

I also knew if someone told me to stay away from Juliette, I’d lay them the fuck out.

At his scowl, I adjusted course and remembered to temper my voice again. I was a work in progress at this dad thing.

“For your mom’s sake, can you stay away from heruntilI can ensure everything is safe? Texts and calls only, and don’t tell Lennon I’m your father or where you’re staying.”

He didn’t have a chance to answer because we were no longer alone. I turned to see Juliette hanging back, quietly observing us.

“Everything okay?” She glanced back and forth between us.

“Oh, things are great. Perfect,” Colin said sarcastically while facing me, and his eyes said it all:Go ahead, call me out, and I’ll do the same to you.

I didn’t have it in me for round two of that conversation with Juliette. Not yet.

“We were just discussing our favorite video games and disagreeing, that’s all,” Colin remarked without sarcasm that time. “Of course he prefers the old version ofCall of Duty, and I like the much newer one.”

I slid my hands in my pockets, biting down on my back teeth and fighting to maintain control. I didn’t want to lie, but I sure as hell wasn’t ready to tell her the truth, either.

“And he agreed to get me a new PS5 for the game room so I can prove the new COD is better.” Colin slapped me on the back, catching me off guard.

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