Page 57 of Until Death or Defeat

“Well, Uncle didn’t want my father or me around, but I never wanted to walk away from everything,” Leo says as he walks back over to his seat.

My dad didn’t want them around?

“But I thought that your dad was the one who didn’t want to be involved with the family anymore?” I ask, eyeing them both.

“Some sibling rivalry,” Leo says, waving his hand dismissively. “The details don’t matter, Gigi. I’m tired of all the old Heads in our lives telling us who to feud with.”

I turn to Caesar, and he looks so happy to have Leo here.

It isn’t that I don’t want Leo here, it just all seems so weird to me, and I don’t know why I’m getting this weird feeling.

“I wanted to come see you myself after the wedding to reconnect but I suspected your uh,husbandwouldn’t have appreciated it,” Leo adds with a smirk.

“It doesn’t really matter what he appreciates, my family is my family,” I say as I go to join them on the couch.

Leo’s expression stays mischievous at my reply, and he sets his glass down.

“Caesar told me about how well you two know each other,” he adds.

I roll my eyes and get comfortable on the couch. “Yeah, really well.”

“Tell me you haven’t done anything drastic yet,” Caesar asks, seeing my expression.

“Well . . . ” I say and he sighs, and Leo laughs.

“What did you do now?”

“I may or may not have blown up his Mercedes,” I say shrugging, and Caesar almost spits out his drink.

“Dad would have killed you if he knew that,” he says as he wipes his mouth and I laugh.

“He must be easy on you if he let you do that,” Leo says.

I scoff. “Artem is an asshole, he knew he deserved it.”

“You two still haven’t gotten along after two weeks of marriage?”

I shake my head, and he nods as he takes another sip of his drink. I don’t know why but I feel like he’s analyzing every fucking word that I’m saying and it’s weirding me out.

“Well, I always kept my distance when I was younger from him too. Their whole family has always felt off to me.” I furrow my brows a bit at his words, wondering what he means by that. Before anyone can reply, his phone starts ringing.

“I’ll be back,” he says looking at Caesar as he nods.

“So, Leo huh?” I ask when we’re alone.

“Give him a chance, Gigi. I know he was a troublemaker when we were young but that was over ten years ago. He just wants us all to be close again like we used to be.”

“I’m not trying to be difficult, it’s just so random. The timing, I mean.”

He sighs and gets up to pour another drink for himself. “Don’t do that thing you do and put up a million walls. We were all inseparable as kids,” he says with a thoughtful smile.

He’s a sentimental sap, but I don’t want to be a bitch and crush his dreams of having everyone be rainbows and sunshine together again.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt again. Leo has always been a little complicated,” I warn.

“Well, I trust him. Ireallydo, I’m not just saying that. I have to think of everyone in the family now, and I wouldn’t let him in if I didn’t.”

I sigh, but nod.