Page 119 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“Fuck,” I bellow, moving away from the phone.

I’m flying blind. I know this is what Giuseppe wants. It’s what I would have advised him to do. Keep me blind and keep Dario out of my reach. I just knew I’d be able to rattle him into promoting Dario after killing thatfinookand scaring Dario in his home.

“Fucking fuck fuck,” I shout some more.

“Pop, what do you want me to do next?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. I’m trying to think through this headache. I have to come up with a plan.

“Listen, I need you to lie low for a bit. Get somewhere safe until I can get a handle on this. Keep checking in, so I know you’re good.”

“Why don’t we call in my uncles? They’ll help us get this back under control.”

I almost snarl that I don’t need help from those filthy Micks. Barbieri was the one who had his heart set on making that connection once I revealed to him who Sylvia’s family was. Don Ferrari has always been my backup plan.

That’s who I’m going to call on. I’ll head to Italy to find him when the time is right. He’s who can help me out of this.

I’m so close. I’m sure he’ll step in. He’s all about keeping this Italian.

I’ll only involve those Irish cocksuckers if I have to. However, I keep that all to myself. Franky is a good boy, but he’s too attached to his other side.

“Just do what I say,” I snap and hang up.

Chapter 47

Cry to Me

Jace

Vito is becoming more insistent about seeing Gio. He calls several times a day. However, Gio is putting him off a bit longer as we go to check in on Carleen. Holly and Ny mentioned that she’s showing. Gio wants to see for himself.

“You ready for this?” I ask Gio as we pull up to the gym where Ny, Holly, and Carleen are training.

“Yeah, let’s get this off my list,” he replies.

We step out of the car and head for the gym. I open the door and hold it for Gio. The first thing to grab my attention is Ny in the ring with Car. Car’s definitely showing.

It sets in that we need to make this happen now. She’s going to need to join Dario soon, or she may not be cleared to fly. We all thought of another way to trigger her.

We’ve known about Car’s ability to watch and pick things up. We want to see if watching us will trigger her. Gio suggested we team up the way we did when we were younger.

I think Gio wanted to avoid this route because Carleen used to cry when she didn’t think she could take us older boys. She could and eventually did.

I think the past trauma might be exactly what she needs as a trigger. Maybe those memories will push the door open. We can only hope.

Although that’s not what has me frozen as I stand here looking into the ring. I watch Ny, wishing it were her with the baby bump. My mind goes to images of two boys. One blond and one with dark hair. A little me and G.

They’ll be best friends, just like us. I’ll make sure of that. And if I can’t, I know Gio will. “You all right?” Gio turns and says.

I shake my head to clear it and start into the gym. Our time is coming. I just need to be patient.

* * *

Carleen

Gio called and said he’d be stopping by to check in on me for Dario. I’m nervous. I know he won’t miss this bump. I need him to understand I’m not ready to tell Dario. If I do, everything will change. I’m not ready.

The doors to the gym open and in walks Gio and Jace, like two bosses. Coats moving around them like models on a runway. I smile and shake my head. BDE is just something you have when around the Di Lorenzos. Even the way Jace pushes his loose hair from his face is sexy.

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