Page 79 of Fight Me Daddy

Gabriele

"Wereyou able to find anything else?" Amadeo asked as he sat back in his chair, his eyebrows drawn together. "What came back?"

I shook my head. I'd been checking my sources since we arrived at his house, but there was nothing. The name Andrei wasn't all that uncommon and the tattoo wasn't giving me any results either. As much as I wanted to find the bastard, there was nothing to go on.

"You're going to have to give me a few more days to shake something loose," I said as I scratched at my beard. "Whoever he is, the guy I sliced into last night was terrified of him."

Dario frowned. "You think he's running things?"

I shrugged. "Sounds like it." I went back to pacing so I could keep my thoughts straight. "Nothing else is giving us any results so let's keep following this lead for now."

Amadeo nodded. "Alright, but I still want every last one of us out there turning over rocks until we find this worm. Whoever he is, he's crossed the line several times. I'm not burying anyone else." He looked me over. "Anything else?"

"No, not now."

"Okay." Amadeo stood up. "Then let's talk about Calix."

I groaned. "Fuck no," I cursed. "I don't want to have a conversation about that."

"Too bad," he said. "So, you love him?"

Rayna whistled. "Love is a big word," she said. "You? The whore of the family loves someone?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm the whore of the family?" I asked as I grabbed a cigarette and lit it. "I thought that was you, Rayna."

She smirked. "Sometimes." Rayna shook her head. "I never thought you'd be the type to settle down."

"Yeah well," I shrugged.

What was I supposed to say to them? I didn't think I wanted that either. Or at least I'd never admitted it to myself. I couldn't think of a single person who didn't crave having someone else beside them. But I'd never thought it was possible. Not until I met Calix.

"I noticed a large amount of money at his house," Amadeo said.

I glanced up at him. Oh yeah, the money. I had been about to tell Calix I didn't fucking want it when we were interrupted.

"Tell him to hand over every dime and we'll lose some of the paperwork on the interest,” Amadeo said. “I'll consider him paid off and his father can come home. As long as he doesn't try to take out another loan, we're good."

"How can you be sure that isn't his plan?" Riccardo interrupted. "What if he's been trying to climb into bed with you so he can save his father?"

I frowned at my brother. Riccardo was always the cynical one, but I couldn't blame him. When it came to Calix, however, I knew that he wouldn't do that. He couldn't stand me at first and it was impossible to fake that kind of hatred.

"No," I said as I shook my head. "I believe him." I turned to Amadeo. "He'll give you the money. Calix is with me now, so he doesn't need money anyway."

"Glad we could come to an understanding." Amadeo held out a hand. "Sorry I was a dick about him. I'm protective. Over all of you."

I took his hand. "I understand," I said. "But I would have kept him anyway."

"I have no doubt you would have," he mused. "Regardless of how much I kicked your ass. That's how I know you really give a damn about him."

"Awww they're so cute together," Nic whispered loud enough for people down the hall to hear. "Kiss and make up. Kiss!"

I flung a pillow at his head and Nic grunted as he went down. "Someone needs to put you on a leash."

"Never!" his muffled voice echoed back before he yanked down the pillow and grinned. "I'll never become the two of you," he said pointing. "Riccardo and I are bachelors for life."

Ric nodded. "Yeah."

I couldn't take either one of them right now. Amadeo and I were square, Calix's debt was forgiven, and I was itching to get back to my boy.

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