Page 103 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“Marone. I can hear the bullshit in your tone. How did you fuck up this time?”

“It’s over. She’s dating Dario.”

“What the fuck did you just say to me?”

“I just left the restaurant, they both confirmed they’re seeing each other.”

“How could you fail me so royally? You had one job. One. Fuck themulignonand keep her away from Dario.”

“Well fuck, Pop. What does it matter? If you plan to kill him off and take over, she’s irrelevant.”

“I’ll say who’s irrelevant and when,” he snarls.

“You’re irrelevant, as is all this bullshit. I’m done. I have a great business going. I don’t need this. Good night, Pop.”

I hang up and round my car to get in. Fuck him and this bullshit.

“I’m still hungry and it’s Christmas eve. Where are we going to find a decent meal?” My mother pouts.

“I have some salmon at the house. I’ll make it for us.”

“Oh lord, you’re not the chef in the family. I’m too hungry to be the polite mother tonight.”

“Ah, fuck this. I’m taking you home. Eat whatever you have in your refrigerator. I’m sick of this family for tonight.”

“Harrumph. You’re just mad because the Italian is fucking your girl. Like father, like son,” she taunts and folds her arms over her chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Your father had a thing for that woman and was jealous of Lucas. As if I didn’t know. My brothers would have had him by his balls if he didn’t provide for me. If not for those Bajan assholes, none of this would have gone down.”

Chapter 40

Family Christmas

Jace

I’ve been waiting for this day. The new truck for Ny was delivered an hour ago. Gio and I have allowed her to sleep while we get ready for Christmas Day at Dante’s house.

This is going to be an interesting day. We’re a hundred-percent positive Riccardo will show up. With Dario ignoring his calls, he’s going to want to find out what’s going on.

Boy, is he in for a surprise. I can’t wait to see his face. However, first I want to see the look on Ny’s face when we gift her the truck that will replace the car Riccardo destroyed.

Gio had offered to allow me to purchase the car, but it felt right for us to go half. As he said, she’s ours. We both should work together to give her the things she needs.

The custom black-on-black bulletproof BMW truck is everything we hoped for and more. I think she’s going to love it. I smile harder as I pull on my black knit sweater and look into the full-length mirror in my closet.

I nod and push my hair out of my face. The light-blue jeans make me feel comfortable, but the sweater dresses the outfit up for a nice holiday vibe. I think Ny will like it.

I grab my wristwatch and place it on as I move out of the closet. Next, I work to smooth my hair up to place it in a man bun. When I step out of the closet, Gio is coming out of his. He’s dressed in a gray V-neck knit sweater with black jeans and black dress shoes. I chuckle. We were thinking alike.

“You ready?” he says and gestures toward the bed where we left Ny sleeping.

“Yeah.”

We move to the foot of the bed. Gio crosses his arms over his chest. I reach up to hold on to the overhead bedpost. Ny stirs in the bed a bit but doesn’t wake.

“Buon Natale, Nyla. Svegliati, piccola,” Gio croons in Italian.

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