Page 139 of Contempt

He was always coming back here.

Simple as that.

Plus, New York was Lucia’s home, too. This was where her family was always going to be. She might have stayed away for a while—because she so badly needed that space—but she had closed the distance, now. Sure, there was still some work yet to go before all those burned bridges could and would be rebuilt, but it would happen.

Eventually.

“Was thinking,” Diego said, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s all.”

“About what?” Renzo asked.

He crossed the room, and wordlessly, dropped down to one knee so that he and Diego could be on a more level playing field, so to speak. While he was down there, he put his hands to work and fixed Diego’s bowtie that had somehow managed to get a little twisted during the time he spent running around with the other kids in the church.

“I guess …” Diego started, his cheeks pinking as he glanced away from Renzo again, “… well, I’ve got the coolest big brother, right?”

Renzo’s hands froze on Diego’s bowtie.

He stilled all over.

His brother still wasn’t looking at him when Renzo peered up at him after his statement. Diego seemed more interested in watching the cartoon playing on the television in the corner. Not like he’d just blurted something out that kind of stunned Renzo like nothing else ever had before. So was the way of kids.

In an attempt to make Diego understand where his big brother had been for the last few years, and why he hadn’t been around, Renzo and Rose tried to explain without too many details. Mostly because a lot of the information wasn’t kid-appropriate. Plus, he didn’t think Diego would understand very much about The League. At least, not until he was older. But they did try to explain as much as they possibly could.

Renzo wondered … before all of this, how did Diego see him, then? When he was nothing more than a drug dealer trying to make do on the streets to keep them afloat, was he still the coolest?

Diego’s next statement let him know. “But you always were, Ren.”

Renzo chuckled. “If you say so, buddy.”

“There you are!”

Rose’s head popped into the doorway of the private room, and a sweet smile split her face as her gaze landed on Diego and Renzo. Standing quickly from the floor, Renzo patted Diego on the shoulder, knowing Rose was likely here just to get him to the other side of the church again with the other children, so he could get ready to take his place and walk down the aisle. If he was a little bit older, Renzo would have put his brother beside him on the altar.

But Diego wanted something else. Something that he felt was a bigger responsibility.

He wanted to carry the rings for Renzo and Lucia in their wedding. Renzo didn’t know how to refuse the kid anything. Still, even after all these years apart, that hadn’t changed, it seemed.

Rose took a couple of steps into the room, and even as she offered a hand out for Diego to take, her gaze drifted to Renzo. Looking him over, another one of those soft smiles curved her lips, and pride shined in her eyes. “You clean up well, huh?”

Renzo laughed, and swept his hands down the front of his tuxedo. “Thanks, I guess.”

“First time I’ve ever seen you in a tux, Ren.”

He cleared his throat, and glanced to the side where a mirror showcased his form covered in very expensive, tailored-to-fit Armani. A silk periwinkle blue tie, matching vest, and pocket square added the final touches to his shined shoes and black tux. She wasn’t lying. He never did the suit or tux thing—not even now. Black leather and dark-wash jeans all the way. Preferably with a pair of combat boots that were well-worn, and scuffed all to hell.

He liked a bit of character in his clothing.

But for today … this was good, too.

“I can’t believe you’re actually getting married,” Rose said. Renzo opened his mouth to reply to his sister, but before he could, she glanced down at her watch, and her gaze narrowed. “Shoot—I promised to help Cella with the kids. I’ll make sure to circle back around and see you before everything gets started, okay, Ren?”

That was Rose. Always looking out for everyone else and taking care of them before herself. Maybe before Renzo had caused a mess in her life, she had been able to be a little selfish. She only had to take care of herself, then. When he turned around and put the responsibility that only he had constantly carried for his siblings—in a way—on her, he kind of forced Rose to grow up quick, fast, and in a real fucking hurry.

But she did it.

Amazingly.

“No worries,” he said, waving a hand. And then to Diego, he was quick to add, “You be good, huh? And don’t lose those rings, right?”