“I want to give her the Tribeca apartment,” I admit.“She won’t take it.She says it’s too much.That her mom won’t let her accept it either.”
Dex lets out a low whistle.“Reparations,” he says.
“That’s the word,” I agree.“I want to buy her mother a house.Something safe.Something that’s theirs.No strings.”
Jett studies me.“Those are super cool ideas.Make it happen, I say.”
I intend to.“I’ll need to convince Maya to take the Tribeca apartment, and then I’ll need her help convincing her mom.She worries about her mom constantly, about her health and the fact that she’s still working when she shouldn’t have to.This is me trying to put things right.”
“It’s very noble of you, brother,” Dex remarks.“Turning thirty has clearly given you a conscience.”
“Dude,” Rio cries.“he’s always had a conscience.It’s you who could do with one.”
Dex looks aghast.“Are you for real, brother?”
They trade insults, breaking the tension in the air, then silence falls again.
“I want to walk away,” I admit.“From him.From all of it.”
Dex stares at me.“You’re the one who loved him the most.And now you’re the one willing to walk.”
“We can’t,” Jett says immediately.“We all need to stick together.”
“So why do we stay?”I ask.
“Power and leverage, while making sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else,” Enzo says.
Dex shrugs.“We can’t leave, because if we do, he wins, and I never want that old man to win.”
Rio says nothing, but his silence speaks volumes.
Matteo leans back against the railing, crossing his arms.“I’ll tell you one thing.If he were lying dead in a ditch, I wouldn’t lift a finger.”
I startle not just at Matteo’s words but at his tone.He’s really pissed off.As he should be.As we all are.I move the conversation away.“The security issues—are they sorted?”
He makes a face.“We’re trying different things.Tightening access points.Watching patterns.”
“Good,” I say.“We have to be careful.”
We hear noises coming from the apartment.Brooke’s infectious laugh.Cari and Maya chattering.The girls are back.
Cari and Maya took Brooke out to pick up a rabbit.Apparently, my niece has decided that a sibling is non-negotiable, and Jett negotiated back with floppy ears and a cage.
Cari steps out first, smiling despite the carrier in her arms.Maya follows, careful and quiet, holding Brooke’s hand as she chatters excitedly about floppy ears and feeding schedules.The rabbit’s cage isn’t big, but it’s sturdy and manageable between them.
I move over to take it from Maya, then set it down carefully near the patio doors.Inside, a small grey-and-white rabbit shifts on its bedding, pink nose twitching, long ears flopping.
“Cute,” I comment, before taking Maya’s hand in mine.“You okay?”I ask, wrapping my arms around her.
“Yes,” she says, before pulling apart.I sense she’s not comfortable with public displays of affection just yet, especially around these boys.“Where are Raquel and Dani?”
“They’ll be here soon.Raquel’s finishing up on some work, and Dani’s at the gym.”
She looks visibly relieved.Brooke sees Jett and bolts towards him.
“Daddy!”She throws her arms around him.“Thank you for Mr.Whiskers!”
Jett groans softly.“I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
