Page 29 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

I fully turn and wrap an arm around her. Somewhere along the line, this girl has become one of my best friends. I have no words for what she’s just offered.

I kiss her forehead. “Thank you, but I still have hope for meandyou. Let’s not give up yet. Okay?”

“Okay.”

* * *

Gio

Dario stands to leave out of my office as Jace returns. I head for another drink. As I look down into my glass, I smile.

“Do you know why Tony kept his mouth shut?” I snort into my glass, not turning to look at Jace.

“No, but it better be a good fucking reason.”

“Nyla and some chick she has with her hung him by his ankles over the balcony of the penthouse suite and threatened him if he told.”

I burst into laughter now that I’m fully processing Tony’s frantic call to give me an explanation. I don’t know what I want more, to laugh or fuck Ny. I laugh because it’s all I can do for now.

“Are you shitting me?”

“No, but he probably shit his pants.”

Jace laughs. “I miss her so much.”

I change the subject because I know he’s going to try to talk me into telling her to come home. Ny didn’t talk to me, and she took off. Yes, I wanted her to hold on to her anger and build my collection properly this time, but now she’s operating in her feelings again and treating me like a mind reader.

The fact that I’m ready to bring her home and she’s taken off to hide tells me we’re not where we need to be. We still don’t communicate and that temper of hers clashes with mine at every turn. Now that I have the facts and I’ve set everything I need in motion, I want her home, but this last move tells me she still needs time.

“The pictures are of Franky. He’s the one watching Dario atAnima Mias.Have one of the girls he’s never seen follow him. If he wants to watch my brother, I’ll be watching him.”

“Got it. Now, about Ny.”

“No,” I bark and down my drink.

Chapter 13

Incomplete

Gio

“What’s your problem?” I turn to look at Jace as he drives to the office this morning.

He’s been acting pissy all morning. I’m not in the mood for his shit. I had the most vivid dream about Ny last night. At first, we were fucking, I could feel her around me, soaking my cock. Then we were on a beach, and she was running with a swollen belly. I’ve been on edge since I woke up.

“Why won’t you just swallow your pride and tell her to come home,” he mutters.

“You know why.”

“Bullshit.”

“Obviously, you have something you want to say. Say it.”

“Neither of you thinks of me. You’re both missing the point. I matter in this. I’m losing time here too.”

“Then why the hell do this?” I bark and turn to glare at him.

“Because it’s what I know. It’s familiar,” he yells back. “I can’t remember a time in my life when someone wasn’t there for me to make sure I was okay—that I was fed, looked after, loved. Even when my mother and father were busy. There was someone there.

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