Page 50 of Fight Me Daddy

"You ask too many goddamn questions," I snapped. "Wrist, now."

His eyes narrowed. "You almost made me think you'd changed."

"Where did you get that assumption?" I asked as I waited for his wrist. "I was an asshole last week and I'll be one tomorrow. Some shit never changes."

"Tell me about it," Calix grumbled.

"Wrist, cane."

"I'm not your dog," he huffed.

"Aren't you? When you make that face you remind me of a frustrated little chihuahua. All bark and minimal bite." I rubbed my side where he'd kicked me earlier. "You're a little dangerous, but not life-threatening."

"Only to you."

We both froze and I stared at Calix. He blinked up at me as if he couldn't believe he'd spoken aloud. I smiled and took his moment of stunned confusion to grab his wrist. I pulled out the plain silver chain with the silver bar and fastened it on.

"There," I said. "My world is getting more dangerous by the day and I need to be able to protect you. This has our family crest engrained on it here," I said as I showed him the skull and rose wrapped around a gun. "People won't fuck with you if they see this."

"Except the ones that want to hurt you," he said, clearly having regained his voice. "Thank you," he said shortly before he glanced up from the bracelet to gaze at me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Quickly."

"Do you know where my father is?"

My stomach twisted. Yeah, I knew exactly where that asshole was. He had abandoned Calix and left his own son with the responsibility to pay it back. It made me want to grab and shake the man until he fell apart, but I simply kept a close eye on him. If I hurt him and Calix ever found out? I got the distinct feeling that Calix would detest me for the rest of my life.

“Gabriele?”

I cleared my throat. “No. I have no idea.”

Calix shot out of his chair. "You do know, don't you? Is he alive?"

Amadeo had told me to keep my mouth shut when he found Henry. And besides, it was good to keep the man away from Calix. I shrugged.

"Where is he?"

I reached out and grabbed his chin. "I told you, I don’t know,” I stressed. “Leave it alone.”

Amadeo hadn’t gone easy on the man when he first found him. He’d gotten his ass handed to him and only stopped because I stepped in. If I’d stood by and done nothing, one day Calix would have found out. And he would never forgive me for that.

"Gabriele, wait." He shuddered as I smashed my lips against his before he blinked at me. "You have to-"

"I don't have to do shit," I warned him. "Stay here and don't leave this house. I need to straighten things out." I turned on my heels and forced my feet to move. "Eat!" I called over my shoulder.

"Wait!"

I couldn't. Staying around any longer than I already had might cost my family and those that relied on us a hell of a lot. Calix would have to take my word for now. Later, however, I knew there would be questions I would have no choice but to answer.

***

"You're late."

I stared at my brother and nodded. There was no point in telling him that I was only late by three minutes because he would ream me for it. And I didn't want to argue. My time with Calix had left me emotionally raw.

"They really did a number on this place," I said as I stared at the flame-licked bricks. "How many?"

Dario walked up and groaned. "There's fifteen dead. Eight of our girls, two guys, and five guards. It looks like someone locked the room with the guards in it first before they set the fire so they wouldn't be able to escape."

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