Page 65 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“You know, there is something you can do for me.”

“Name it.”

“Stop running. He loves you. You don’t have to hide behind me and Lizzy. Take it from me. Running hurts you both and it solves nothing.”

“Ah, so you’re talking to yourself. Is that it? When did you become the adult and I the child?”

“That’s my point. There aren’t any children anymore. Car has grown up, Lizzy will find her way soon, and I’m a grown woman, flaws and all.”

“You can’t put him off in the name of helping Dante with Bella. I didn’t get the impression that they remembered either of us. And yeah, I might be talking to myself, but my situation is different. Our problems are deeper.”

“It’s all the same, Ny. Fear is keeping me from Elijah. I’ve known you all your life. As strong as you are, you’re still afraid. I’ve just been asking myself, of what? Are you afraid to choose or lose?”

“There is no choice.”

She nods and looks me in the eyes. “Then you’re afraid of losing them. Let’s make a deal. I’ll open up to Elijah and live my life when you begin to live yours.”

“Deal.”

“That was too easy.” She chuckles.

I shrug. “I think I may have been misreading a few things this time around.”

“Mm. Come on. Let’s get out of here. I know I didn’t misread Gio. You have something to do for him.”

I grin and shake my head. I should’ve known she would have read the room. Gio is his mother. Ava would have called for the same move.

We collect our things and walk out of the restaurant. As I climb into the back seat, I watch Gwen and Elijah. He closes her door and rounds the car to get inside.

Once inside, he reaches over to grasp the back of her neck and kisses her forehead before he runs his nose against hers. I’ve seen the love these two have had for each other over the years. Martin was a true friend and stayed married to her until he had a heart attack and passed away.

She took the loss hard, but I think I’ve watched her mourn this relationship more than anything. My thoughts go back to Gio and the tenderness he showed me earlier. I get lost in my thoughts, daring to believe things will be different this time.

I don’t want to mourn what could have been. We all deserve better. I shake the thought off as a text comes in from Gio.

Gio:Before anything else you were one of my best friends. Tonight, we’ll find our way back there. Trust me. I mean to fix what I’ve broken.

Me:See you later.

I don’t allow myself to think too deeply about his text. I know he means to build up my alibi. I’ll focus on us when he has time to prove his word.

* * *

Bethany

I sit in my car, glaring at the screen on the dashboard as the call rings out. It’s about the tenth call. Franky won’t answer. He’s been calling me for weeks since the breakup, but now he won’t answer.

I’m ready to tell him everything I know about the Di Lorenzo family and he’s not taking my calls. For years, I’ve been collecting information on Dante and his brothers. However, I wasn’t going to hand all that over without a plan for my life.

I’m not about to get screwed by Franky, my dad, or Riccardo. I know better than that. So I’ve kept as much as I could to myself. Now, now I have nothing. Dante has cut me off and I need to get the fuck out.

“I said too much,” I sob to myself and lift the bottle of champagne to my lips.

My hands tremble. Gio and Dario are going to come for me. I saw it in their eyes.

“Fuck,” I scream as Franky’s voice mail picks up again. “You need to call me back. I think I’m in trouble.”

I hang up and down the rest of the bottle. Maybe I should go home and fuck Dante’s brains out. I could get pregnant again and he’d keep me safe then.

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