Page 14 of Evolve

“Baby girl,” Madd sighs, taking my hands in his, “Nyx didn’t tell uswhyyou were on the bridge. He just said he met you there. He said you saved him. We assumed you were just like, running that morning or driving by. Were you,” Maddox winces and rubs the back of his neck with one of his hands. “Were you uh, there for the same thing as Nyx?”Fuck.

I nod once and shrug, not happy about the turn of this conversation,at all. I thought they fucking knew. Way to put your foot in your mouth, Ella. You just outed your crazy.

Gage grits his teeth, processing my words, and Maddox, well, he’s looking at me like I’m about to break in his hands. I don’t like it.

“I’m fine you guys, I swear. Like I said, it’s been a rough year. I’ve struggled and I’ve been through a lot and I still haven’t contemplated taking my life, not once. I’m in a better place. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I’m not going to fall apart.”

“After what happened with that piece of shit, do we need to be worried about you relapsing? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Mental health is fucking important and we just want to be here for you, however, you need us,” Gage states, bracing himself on the island and looking at me with nothing but support and honesty. It makes me want to cry, but I won’t because then they will actually worry about me.

“I appreciate that, and I know how important it is. Like I said, I’ve done a lot of work to heal myself. But you don’t have to worry about me,” I say as I take my hands from Madd’s big paws and finish off my coffee. Maddox and Gage both huff at the same time.

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Maddox says as he tosses his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. “You’re stuck with us baby girl and Gage is the biggest worry-wart I know.”

I chuckle at that, knowing full well that Gage is a worrier. The first time I met him with Benny, he was worse than a mother hen.

“How do you know so much about mental health?” I ask because it seems like an odd thing for gangsters to find important. What with all the crime and killing and all.

Gage shrugs, “You’re not the only one who’s had a fucked up life. Us four probably have you beat in that category, ten times over. And like I’ve said, Stones a fucking genius.”

“And he forces us to hear all sorts of smart people shit,” Maddox grumbles as he rolls his eyes. Everyone sits in silence for a few moments but it’s time to get on with it.

“So, should we get to the elephant in the room?” I murmur. Gage juts his chin out as if to say, ‘go on, floors yours.’

I take a deep breath and steady myself before loudly blurting, “You’re gangsters?”

Maddox busts out laughing and Gage chuckles. Even I smile and shake my head. I didn’t mean to shout the question at them, but oh well, it’s effective. They continue to laugh but don’t answer.

“Well, are you? You said Hunter was right. You’re Los Diablos, which I know is a gang. The gang that runs the city. You said you’re dangerous and powerful and you ownRush. That’s it. That’s all the things I know. And that you said that I’m the safest when I’m with you, but I need more than that guys. If you want me to stay here, I think I deserve more information.”There, that wasn’t so hard.My sweaty palms beg to differ.

“I agree. We want you here and we want you to feel safe. How about this. You can ask us anything and if we can, we’ll answer,” Gage says as he makes me another cup of coffee. He walks around the kitchen, fiddling with the espresso maker and cream, like some sort of domesticated housewife. Not at all like a criminal who is divulging his gang-banging secrets.

He slides the cup in front of me and I nod, agreeing to his terms. I figured as much. I didn’t think they were just going to tell me everything about their lives in one go.

Gage smiles and leans against the counter opposite Maddox and me. Madd is bracing himself on his forearms and looking nervous but resigned to have this conversation.

“So to answer your first questions, yes, like we said yesterday, we are a part of Los Diablos. It functions as a high-powered gang. We are not a cartel or the mafia like your friend thought. In order to be one of those, we would have to have some sort of powerful bloodline as well as international ties. Our father is Augustus Luna and he’s the leader. Los Diablos is his enterprise and because I’m the oldest, it’s set to be mine when he steps down or dies. If anything happened to me, it would be Maddox’s. Stone and Nyxon are high up in the syndicate but not blood-related,” Gage says pausing for me to process.

I nod and lean back on the cushy stool, bringing my knees up under my chin, and giving him my full attention. I keep my face blank intentionally. I feel like if my face gave any indication as to how I’m feeling, he might stop and I want all the information they will give me. He nod’s before continuing.

“We ownRushindependently, just likeThe Den.They are two of our private businesses that we established on our own. They are not attached to Los Diablos whatsoever. Each of us has a role within the syndicate and because of that, we have jobs we have to do for Gus. We travel sometimes and we have a lot of cards flying in all different directions at all times. We also have our own shit to take care of. We are wealthy, powerful men Cariño. We work fucking hard for what we have, and I don’t mean within the syndicate. We care about our businesses, our home. It’s important to us. And we care about each other. You don’t know us well yet and you haven’t met Stone, but us four, we’re solid. We’re brothers, a team, a unit, and together, we’re doing everything we can to forge our own path.”

Wow. I sit and soak in all that Gage has shared. That is a lot to process. I’m relieved to hear they aren’t in the mafia or cartel but honestly, I’m not sure why. Besides the fact that both of those just sound so much worse and more terrifying than your average gangsters, but they aren’t average are they? No. Gage said they are powerful and they run the city. From rumors, I’ve heard it’s more than just San Francisco though.

“Is it just the city your, uh, gang, runs?” I ask, sipping my coffee.

Maddox shakes his head. “No. Los Diablos territory branches as far south as Half-Moon bay, north is San Rafael, and we have all of San Francisco as well as the East Bay. Other gangs hold Santa Cruz and the Sonoma area.”

Holy shit. That’s the whole peninsula, most of north and south bay, and all of the east bay? Fuck. No wonder everyone knows who they are.

“And you said you each have jobs within the, what did you call it? Syndicate?” I hedge.

“How much of the dirty details do you really want to know, Cariño? Do you want to know the dark shit we have to do in our world? Or do you want us to just give you the highlights?” Gage asks, looking like he’s preparing for the worst but hoping I’ll go with the simpler answer. He should know me better by now. I gulp, preparing myself.

“All of it. Whatever you can tell me. I can take it.”

Maddox sighs and drops his head in his hands, tucking himself in like he’s trying to hide in plain sight. Gage’s jaw ticks as he watches his brother, but neither of them says anything. The tension between them shoots up, making the room feel heavy.

“What’s going on? What just happened?” I mumble.

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