Page 76 of Weaponized

“Fuck!” He runs his hand through his hair. Turns away from me. Paces. Takes a deep breath to calm himself. “What did you tell Taryn?” He is still obviously upset, although he’s trying very hard not to be.

“I, um, told her that my phone broke, and I stopped by to use hers, so I could call you.”

“So you didn’t ask for her brother’s number?”

I shake my head. “I figured it would be in her contacts. It was. I dialed the one under ‘Butthead Brother #1.’ Her oldest brother answered.” I look him right in the eye. “I remembered that the Walsh brothers are allies. He said they would find you, help you.”

He nods then sighs. “You must have reached Rafferty. He and Nolan showed up. Nolan usually likes to shoot first and ask questions later, but fortunately, that wasn’t necessary. He was, uh, sort of helpful, I guess. Nobody died.”

I nod at this. I suppose that was my goal. I couldn’t stand the idea of Rowan going off on his own with no protection. There was no way I was going to just sit there and wait. I also knew better than to get in his way. It was the best I could come up with. I’m about to ask exactly how Taryn’s brother was helpful, when Rowan jumps to the point.

“The Larozzis have the video,” my brother shares as he plates two slices of pizza. “Matteo called me a few minutes ago.”

“You saw them? That’s where you went?”

He nods. “It was definitely someone in the Family who planted the bugs,” my brother finally confirms. “Matteo said it wasn’t sanctioned, but apparently, a well-meaning relative was looking out for Luca.”

A well-meaning relative? What the hell?

“Yeah, I thought the same thing.” Did I say that out loud? “He said they will get rid of it. They don’t want Luca’s bare ass out on the internet any more than I want your—”

“Okay. I get it.” I sigh.

“Eat,” is his response. When I glare back, he says, “You need to eat. And we’re meeting with Matteo tomorrow morning to discuss exactly how this video was used.”

“We—what?!”

“Yeah. We’ll be having brunch together. They’ll give us a debrief then.”

I must blanch, because he says, “I don’t think Luca will be there.”

I nod absently and pick up my slice of pizza.

* * *

The next morning, I walk into Rena’s Diner with my brother’s hand on my shoulder. Matteo and Anthony are sitting in a booth already, waiting. They both stand when we walk over. Anthony puts his arm around me, and my brother startles.

“Hey, Lucky Charms,” he says softly to me. “How are you doing?”

The kindness in his voice almost breaks me. I can’t find my own voice to answer him, so I shake my head. He squeezes me closer, and my brother snaps, “Let her go, Larozzi.” Ant slowly removes his hand and slides back into the booth. Matteo follows and sits beside him.

Once Rowan and I are seated, Matteo speaks. “I thought about what I’d say to you when I saw you, Gráinne, and ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t seem like enough. You don’t deserve what’s happened.”

I suck in a breath but I don’t answer him. I can’t. I did get what I deserved for pretending that I could be someone else.

“No fucking kidding,” my brother grumbles and puts his arm around me protectively. “What are you going to do about it?”

“We know who set the cameras,” Matteo replies. “We are taking care of it.”

“Forgive me if that’s not a comfort,” my brother says flatly.

“What do you want, Rowan? We have the video, and we’ll make sure it doesn’t get out. What else is there?”

“I want it destroyed.Erased. Like it never existed.” My brother’s voice is starting to climb when the waiter comes over. The tension persists as we take a few minutes to order and coffee is poured.

“We can do that,” Matteo states calmly, sipping his coffee.

“And I want the person who did this,” my brother growls.

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