“I’ve never heardanyonespeak to Dad like that, let aloneyou.”
“Yeah, well, that man is no longer my father. He’s a stranger to me moving forward.”
A warm hand lands on my shoulder. “We’re with you, brother,” Gio says, then another warm hand finds its way to my other shoulder.
“The three of us have and will always stick together,” Gui says.
“Thanks guys,” I say. Knowing we’re all each other has left is a fucking striking thing to think about. Our family has always been close, but now we’re falling apart, and I just fucking pray this doesn’t become the end of us.
Liana’s voice sounds from my phone. “Massi?”
I pick it up and press the unmute button. “Yeah, baby. I’m here. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, we’re done talking.”
I glance across the parking lot to where Vittoria’s guard is, and notice he’s fucking sleeping.
Fucking amateur.
“I’m going to pull up to the door. Your mom’s guard is sleeping, but I don’t want to chance anything.”
“Sleeping?”
“Yeah… Fucking idiot,” I mumble. “See you in a second.”
I pull up to the front door, and Liana comes running out, swiftly getting into the car. I glance back at the guard, and the asshole is still leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed and his mouth agape.
“How are you doing?” I ask her.
“Honestly? I’m not sure. I feel elated that the conversation went well, beyond angry that Ignazio has stolen over ten years of my life from me, exhausted from all the emotions I’m feeling, and anxious for what’s to come.”
“Well, I have to tell you, I just got off the phone with my dad.”
Liana whips her head in my direction. “You did?”
“He was calling to let me know Ignazio is looking for us. It seems your mom tipping him off has sent him on a warpath to find us.”
“So he’s warning you now?” she says, turning her head to face forward. She crosses her arms and stares ahead at the road. “How nice of him.”
“Don’t worry, sis, Massi had your back and reamed him,” Gui says.
“You have terrible fucking timing sometimes, dude,” Gio mutters.
“What? I thought she’d want to knowwe allhave her back. What our parents did was fucked up, and she needs to know we’re herefor her. Whatever we can do to help you and your mom, we’ll do it becausewe’re family.”
It’s silent for a moment, then Gio says, “Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the worst fucking timing on your part.”
“Never doubt me, bro.”
Liana glances back over her shoulder at my brothers. “I really appreciate that, but I’m not trying to force you guys to take sides. They’re your parents. I understand what losing them could mean for you all, and I don’t want to be the reason that happens.”
“What they did is unforgivable, Liana,” I growl out. “They might still be our parents, but they’re strangers to us now.”
Liana faces forward again, her shoulders rounding forward.
I let out a sigh, not liking the tone I just used with her, but she needs to understand how serious I’m taking this. I’m surprised she would think I’d feel any other way.
“So what’re we going to do now?” Gui asks.
