Page 88 of Lorenzo & Lily

Alex glanced towards the others, then faced Lorenzo. “I’ve called a last-ditch strike aversion meeting. Nate and I are going in just a few minutes.”

Lorenzo shot up again. “The hell you are. You were almost killed.”

Alex shook his head. “It’s necessary.”

“Don’t pull that bullshit. I’ll go.”

“You were shot.”

“Just once.”

“You were shot!” The room went still at Alex’s uncharacteristic outburst.

“Alex, I’m fine.”

“You were shot. You are not fine. I was there.” Alex leaned towards him. “I was there. You were out of it when it happened.”

Shit.His brother was pissing him off. “Yeah, I was out of it. People who have been through traumatic experiences have triggers that can send them back. Since I was shot before, and I got shot tonight, it’s not surprising I had a flashback.”

“You need time to recover from that.”

“No, I fucking don’t. I already talked to my therapist about it. I’m meeting him again tomorrow. Since I already see him on a regular basis, this shit pops up, I’ll be able to work it through with him.” He leaned towards Alex. “I’m. Fucking. Fine.”

“I’m worried about you.”

Shit. His anger left him. “I appreciate that, Alex, I really fucking do. But you, of all people, know you don’t get over shit like this in a day, or ten days, or even ten months sometimes.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You over Rebecca getting kidnapped, beat up, and almost assaulted?”

Alex took a step back. “That’s different.”

“Yeah?” Lorenzo turned to Nate. “You and Charlie were shot barely a year ago. Are you over it? Is Charlie?”

He turned to Marcello without waiting for Nate to respond. “You over almost getting killed. Repeatedly, I might add? How about when Grace and Cat were almost hurt?”

Marcello rubbed the back of his neck. “Lorenzo, that’s different.”

“Is it? Marcello’s been through worse than me, yet I’m treated with kid gloves all the time.” Lorenzo locked eyes with Alex. “Earlier tonight you said you trusted me. Believed in me. Was that a lie?”

“No, it wasn’t,” Alex said immediately. “We do trust you.”

“Am I anything like I was six years ago? Or even after Lily left? Do I resemble that person anymore?”

Nate squeezed the shoulder of his uninjured arm. “No, you don’t. We’re sorry, Lorenzo. You’re right. We just can’t help seeing you as you were all those years ago, and we never want to see that again.”

“I can understand that. However, things are different now. I’m a different man, and now I’m a father, too. I’ll need your support – not your babying or interference – to be a good one. Are you all on board with that?”

Alex leaned down and kissed Lorenzo’s forehead. “Yes, we are.”

Finally!“Thank fuck. Now about the strike meeting–”

“We’re going,” Alex said with a soft finality. “We’ll have lots of agents with us, and they’re meeting at the castle’s conference center, so we’ll have the upper hand. Security is tight at the castle; they won’t be able to try anything there. Marcello’s had agents sweeping just to be safe and nothing’s come up. We won’t be exposed like we were at the docks. We’ll be safe.”

Lorenzo knew Alex would never risk bringing danger to the castle where the entire family was staying. “What about the press?”

“They’re focusing on the ‘assassination attempt’ as they call it, rather than the strike. It’s unfortunate, but after the meeting, we’ll host a press conference that will refocus the news.”

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