“What the fuck?” My head snapped to meet his hard stare. “Don’t give me that shit, Rayden. I was there, remember. I picked up the pieces. I put you back together so you could live. So don’t fucking tell me that I’ll break you. I’m not the people that hurt you. Don’t you pour that fucking unable to trust shit on me.” His words dripped hardened steel. “I gave you every fucking inch of myself. You took my life, my sleep, my reason to live but I did it because I always pretended you’d walk back into my life. Every time the door to my home opened, I hoped it was you walking through, but you chose not to come back.”
Anger, I couldn’t understand, blazed through me. “Why did you leave me to do it then?”
“Leave you? Fuck, Rayden. I didn’t leave you. I let you fucking walk away while my heart bled. Nine years ago, I acted like it wasn’t a big deal when you walked, but it was. It broke my fucking heart so badly, I had to kill just to live again. Then you did it again that evening. You didn’t give me a fucking chance to explain. You refused to and I let you walk away, once more. Because I fucking love you. I loved you enough to let you go, twice and I’m doing it again. For you. Can’t you see that?” I opened my mouth to say something, and he shook his head. “Go, Rayden. Go live the fucking life that you want because I’m done letting you trample over my heart. You talk about people breaking your heart. Stop and ask yourself what you’ve done to mine. Three fucking times. And I let you.” He let out a caustic laugh, the sarcasm not lost on me. I took a step toward him. “Get the fuck out of here. Now!” The anger behind those words, told me not to test his patience. I didn’t.
Chapter 45
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ELEVEN MONTHS AGO...Two Days After Christmas Eve
Lorenzo (39yrs)
“I thought our route to New Orleans was secured. What was the fuck up last week?” I looked at Carlo, one of the managers at the distribution centers.
“Surprise DEA roadblock.”
I frowned then looked at Remo. “What happened to our inside man?”
“Apparently he came down with the flu and wasn’t aware of the set up in time.”
“I smell a fucking rat, Remo, I want it checked out. I don’t pay those assholes to come down with the fucking flu.” Remo nodded as Dario entered the room.
“We have a situation at the gate, boss.”
Ever ready for action, Remo shot to his feet, gun already in hand. “Let’s go.” He moved toward the door and when he noticed Dario wasn’t following, stopped and looked at my bodyguard. “You coming or must I handle this shit myself?”
Dario shifted his gaze between me and my brother and something in his expression, told me he wanted me to go with him.
“Leave.” I glanced around the table. The six distributions managers I’d called for a check in meeting, all stood and filed out of the room, one by one. “What’s the situation, Dario?” I asked when they left.
He hesitated, something I’ve never seen him do. “Rayden.”
The air left my lungs in a slow exhale. I tried not think why he’d arrived at my door almost eight years after he escaped. I clenched a fist, recalling the twisted agony of waking up for days after he’d left and waiting, hoping he’d call, send a text. It never came. My chest tightened and I resisted the urge to rub the spot. I couldn't go through that again. Knowing he was within reach but I couldn’t—having him in my life and then watch him walk out because he was scared of what we represented together.
Clamping down on my emotions, I hardened my expression. “He needs to leave.” I avoided looking at Remo but caught the shake of his head in my periphery.
