Page 116 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

He walks over to me and plants a kiss on my forehead. I grab hold of his open dress shirt and look into his eyes. He looks tired.

“I know it’s last minute, but I thought you’d like some time away, no matter how short. It will be good for all of us.”

Jace appears in the living room and laughs. “That’s code for pack your things or he’s going to tie you to our bed for three days.”

I laugh with him. “You heard that too?”

“Yup, but I can’t say I wouldn’t help him.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head. I guess I should go pack. Barbados sounds nice. I peck Gio’s lips and go to turn to pack.

He grabs my wrist to halt me. “You look happy. I want it to stay that way.”

“I get that. Thank you.”

Chapter 44

Bone Collector

Gio

We walk up to the table surrounded by stern-faced men. There’s no fear in my heart, but I can see how others might shit their drawers heading for this group. It’s the man sitting at the table in the center of them all who exudes power and danger.

“Big man. It’s gud to see yuh,” Kingston says, then brings a glass covered in condensation to his lips.

As warm and dry as it is, I wouldn’t mind a glass. The weather here is a far cry from the winter wonderland we left behind in New York.

“It’s good to see you too, Kingston.”

“Ah, ya brought ma friend. Come sit.”

I place a hand on Ny’s back and lead her to the seat next to Kingston. He stands and pulls Ny into a hug. He then pulls me into a one-arm embrace before doing the same with Jace. The men around us seem to relax.

We all sit and Kingston waves for the waitress to come over. When she does, we all order drinks. Kingston talks to Ny while our drink orders are taken.

Once the waitress walks away, he turns his focus back on me. “Yuh haf someting fa muh?”

“I have what I promised, but I have a few questions too,” I say.

“Go on, ask yer questions.”

“What do you know about the Kelleys? What do I need to know about them?”

I want to hear what he knows. I’ve had my eyes on the Kelleys for years, they’ve never been much of a threat from what I’ve seen. However, this hasn’t come up as a coincidence. And with what I now know, I’m positive Kingston will reveal something useful.

“Yuh mean da goatheads in America or the ones in der homeland?”

“I mean the ones threatening me.”

He leans forward and narrows his eyes. Something sinister flashes in his gaze and I get the feeling he’s not happy to hear this.

“Because yuh yuh, I’m not gine run dem down and crush everything dey love. Yuh tell muh wat yuh need and I’ll make it happen, yuh understand?”

He shrugs. “Ya friends der in New Jersey na’in to worry bout. The ones in der homeland dey ya take serious. Dey come knocking and yer gine haffi answer with ya whole heart, yuh understand?”

I nod. Now that makes more sense. It’s time I dig deeper into this long-distance relationship of Riccardo’s.

I pull a piece of paper from my pocket and slide it across the table. Kingston picks it up and looks at it. The fire that enters his eyes could set us all ablaze.

---