Page 143 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

I’ve been so out of it. The gunshots didn’t register with me at first. I mean, the girls are always doing target practice. I brush her hair back and kiss her forehead. Closing my eyes, I remind myself who we are as a family. G is only doing what he has to.

“All that loud banging was you?”

“Mm-hmm. Uncle Jace says I’m tall for my age and that will work for me. You and Lizzy started when you were younger than me, but I’ll catch up. Nobody is going to mess with my mommy and daddy.” She freezes and her eyes widen. “I mean, Lizzy and Daddy.”

“Honey, I think Uncle G wants to protect you for now. We have Lizzy and your dad.”

“Why aren’t you at the other house with us?”

“I have to stay here to protect your secret grandma from the bad people who found her.”

We didn’t know Ava turned around to go see Dante when she came for Bertice. We think someone traced her after. She’s also been too lax with Gianni so close.

Her cousin has spent a lot of time here on the farm and they’ve traveled farther than Ava should have. She’s been blaming herself. We still don’t know who the guys were that ambushed them.

Holly had been in the bathroom when the attack happened. Thank God for Blake. She now holds a special place in Ava’s heart.

Gio and Jace appear and lie on either side of me. It feels like my soul settles with their presence. Gio runs a hand over Bella’s hair.

“Nonnais looking for you. We have to go soon, so give her all the love and kisses you can,” he says to Bella.

“Okay,” Bella chimes before she kisses my cheek. “See you later, Ms. Ny.”

“See you, honey.”

She stands and takes off. Gio and Jace both grab a hand and squeeze. I turn to look at Gio.

“How is she?”

“It’s not enough. She wants more time. She wants to come home. Knowing the entire family is here is killing her.”

I look down. “I know. She hasn’t been the same since you guys arrived. I thought I was going to have to kick her ass that first night.”

They both chuckle. “That, I’d like to see,” Gio scoffs. “How are you? How you holding up?”

“I’m sad our plans are on hold, but this place gives me peace. Knowing how close we are to ending this is going a long way to help.”

We all fall silent. I pull from the strength they’re passing me through their hands. I close my eyes and soak them in.

We should totally have our wedding here or at Nonno’s. It would be so beautiful. We have so many memories in Italy and Sicily. It would be perfect.

“I was thinking,” they say at the same time.

I laugh and open my eyes. “One at a time, boys,” I tease.

“That’s a first,” Gio tosses back.

“Bite me,” I say with no real heat.

“You go,” Jace says.

“What if we married at Nonno’s in Italy? The estate where we began. We can do the wedding first and then the handfasting,” Gio says.

“I swear, that’s what I was about to say.”

“Oh my God, I was thinking the exact same thing.”

“Good, we should start planning. Jace isn’t getting any younger. He’s starting to look his age. He can’t be fucking up our wedding looking like Dobby and shit.”

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