Page 114 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“Gio,” she says through her teeth. “Did she know she was pregnant when she asked? Wait, Dario has no fucking clue, does he?”

I shake my head. “For some reason, she didn’t tell him.”

She snorts. “I can take a wild guess as to why. What if something happens? Fraya could hurt her.”

“She won’t. Car is skilled, she just doesn’t remember how skilled. Worst case, Fraya will trigger her and make you guys’ job easier.”

She palms her face and groans. I move behind her and wrap her in my arms. Kissing the top of her head, I then move to her ear. “She’s going to need friends right now. A baby, and we’re waking her to some shit that might be heavy to process. You and Holly are perfect for this.”

“Why Holly?”

“She knows Car. They have a bond. She’s on the right side of her memory. You’re in her past. I’m hoping the two will make it all click. If it doesn’t, you guys will be able to protect her and the baby and she’ll at least have friends while her best friends are gone. Blake is going to call, I know she will.”

After our meeting with Blake, she took off. I’m thinking she needs time to process, but she’ll be back. That I can promise. I’ll give her time.

“Fuck. I hate you so much right now.”

I cup beneath her chin and tip her head back, then kiss her lips. “You love me.”

She narrows her eyes. “I might… sometimes. Promise me you won’t take this too far.”

“No one will get hurt,” I reply.

“Gio, that’s not the same thing.”

“That’s what I have for you.”

She rolls her eyes and glares at me. My phone rings, saving the day before we get into a fight. I know this isn’t over.

* * *

Jace

I can’t blame Nyla for being annoyed with Gio. I understand where both are coming from. My thoughts are with Ny as we head to see Gustloff after dropping her and Holly off.

It was good to see the smile on her face when I brought Holly to the apartment after picking her up from her flight. Gio may want Holly here for Carleen, but I think Ny needs her just as much.

“You made that call?” Gio says, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, they’re moving him to PC.”

What Gio has done is genius. Adrian has been calling home for months. While he has told his father he’s in Rikers, when Gustloff goes to see him or sends a lawyer to find him, there’s no record of him. He can’t be found in any correctional database.

Gio could keep this up for years and Adrian would never be released. It’s like he no longer exists. Only Gio has the power to get him out. Exactly what he wants. Placing Adrian in protective custody has its own motive, real nasty work there.

I pull into an old abandoned warehouse and place the truck in park. I snort as I see Gustloff with Arty at his side. We step out of the car and head to the front where Gustloff waits.

The windows in this place are cracked and broken. The wind from outside blows through as if we’re not indoors at all, so much so our leather peacoats blow in the gust. I tug my scarf up and roll my shoulders back, folding my hands in front of me, mirroring Gio’s posture.

“How you doing, Gustloff? You wanted to see me,” Gio says as he settles into his stance.

“I need you to get my boy out. No one else can find him in the system. I was thinking your boy there could represent him and get him out. You know, pull some favors so they find him, and I can get him out. They’re going to kill him in there,” Gustloff says pleadingly.

Gio nods his understanding. “First, Jace is as old as I am. Neither one of us are boys.”

“No disrespect, Gio. I just really need your help. He has four broken ribs. He ain’t going to survive in there and I know he ain’t killed Vega. He’s a good boy, I keep him out of this shit.”

I roll my tongue in my mouth, knowing that’s bullshit. It’s the reason Gio picked Adrian to begin with. He helps his father with the drug side of the business.

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