And then off they went to the pool.Carlo carrying his daughter.
I wasn't sure which one of them was smiling more.
“You'll have that, too,” Nick said, surprising the fuck out of me.
I turned my head and looked at him.“Excuse me?”
He jerked his head at Carlo and Dani.“That.You'll have it, too.Don't lose hope.”
Nick always seemed to know what the hell I was thinking.Although it probably wasn't too difficult to guess.He knew I'd lost Giselle to Carlo.And everything that came with that deal.
No matter how hard I'd tried to lock down Francesca, she still ran.Lost her, too.
I'd lost a fuck of a lot in my life.Nick also knew that.He'd practically known me my whole life.He knew every single skeleton in my closet.Just like I knew his.
I didn't say a word.The only thing that would come out of my mouth would be some sad bullshit response.And I was fucking done with being pitied.
I needed to get on with my life and stop looking back.
That was what I told myself, anyway.
Who knew if I could actually do it?
19
Stefan
Fuck.
This was fucking painful.
Hours of playing cards.Which I normally wouldn't mind.If I was sitting down with the right people.
People I liked.
Not a bunch of assholes.
Namely Raul Ramiro.
Fuck, this guy was a real piece of work.
Surprisingly, he'd attached himself to me after a few tense moments.He'd asked, “Where's your brother?And Rosetti?”As he looked me over with cautious eyes.
I'd shrugged and answered back with, “Don't know.Don't care.After my little,” I sighed and crossed my arms, “accident, can't say I associate with either of them much.”
That news had delighted the hell out of him.A devious smile had crossed his face.“Good to know, Sovrano.Good to fuckin' know.”And then he'd slapped me on the back and invited me to sit beside him.
For hours, I made small talk.Lying about my relationship with my brother and Nick.Telling Raul how much I hated them.How they were the reason I'd almost died.How I didn't give a shit about them or their families.
Raul ate it all up with a fuckin' spoon.He couldn't get enough of my bullshit.
Nick's plan had worked.It was his idea to take this track with Raul.It was more than believable that I'd separate myself from my family and become a lone wolf of sorts.Carlo had agreed that was my best way into Raul's good graces as well.
While I had agreed to do this initially—I was now regretting my decision.
For one thing, Raul stunk like he'd bathed in his cologne.Which actually did absolutely nothing to mask the stench of his B.O.
Add that onto the fact that this guy constantly talked about women—in the most degrading way possible—and I was fucking done with his shit.
