“You okay?” Romeo asks when I leave his place, heading towards Dante’s.
When I keep my head trained forward and grunt in reply, he chuckles beside me.
By the time we pull up near the Steel Reapers’ clubhouse, we’re all silent and focused on the job ahead. As I predicted, this place is a fucking dive, and just looking at it makes my jaw tighten, knowing it’s somewhere Emily should have never been.
Lorenzo has everything we need stored in the car’s boot, so we pull up our black hoods, slide our hands into the gloves Dante provided, and exit the vehicle.
We discussed how this would play out in length earlier today. After we cut through the lock on the gate with bolt cutters, we move through the shadows, hitting every entry point one by one. Heavy chains rattle in our hands as we lock each door from the outside, sealing the whole place shut. It’s methodical, controlled, not sloppy or rushed.
When the last lock clicks, Lorenzo tosses Dante a look, a question and a confirmation all in one.
Dante nods once, and a grin tugs at the corner of Lorenzo’s mouth. I catch the spark of something like pure excitement in his eyes, and it makes me wonder if that’s the same look I get when Emily is around.
The boss signals for Romeo and me to follow him back to the car, ready for the firebug to do his thing.
I lean against the vehicle, watching as the accelerant pours out. Lorenzo has thoughtfully curated every move he makes.
The flames catch with a whoosh, bright and vicious, climbing the walls like they’ve been starving for years. The fire spreads fast, too fast for anyone inside to do a damn thing about it.
We stand back, watching the inferno devour theclubhouse. Even from this distance, the heat licks at our faces as black smoke spirals into the night. The flames roar, hungry and relentless, and serve as a warning to anyone who wants to fuck with theFamiglia.
No one says a word.
We don’t need to.
They tried to torch La Riviera. We simply made sure it wouldn’t happen again.
When Lorenzo dropped us back at my car, the distant wail of sirens was in the air, but that hellhole was long gone. The fire was already out of control by the time we drove away.
We stripped out of our hoodies and peeled off our gloves, leaving everything in the vehicle for Lorenzo to dispose of.
After dropping Dante and Romeo back at their houses, I headed into town to find a late-night pharmacy. I should’ve known Griffith wouldn’t have one with extended hours. One of the joys of living in the bumfuck of nowhere.
I ended up driving to Wagga Wagga. One hundred and eighty kilometres each way. A four-fucking-hour round trip. But I already knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman. I would’ve driven all the way to damn Sydney if need be.
When I stopped to fill up on the way home, I even considered grabbing Emily a bunch of those cheap, nasty gas-station flowers, but decided not to. I don’t want to give her the wrong idea. I crossed a line with her last night, one that can’t happen again.
What could I say to her anyway? I’m sorry I stuck my fingers deep inside your tight pussy and brought you to orgasm. Fuck that, I’m not sorry. It’s a rare moment I’ll carrywith me forever, etched in my memory as one of the best in my life.
The sun is starting to peek over the horizon when I finally pull into the driveway.
I move as quietly as I can, slipping inside without a sound. Lil’ Peach’s room is the first one I pass, so I crack the door and peek inside. A smile tugs at my lips when I see her curled up with her teddy, sucking on her thumb as her breath comes out soft and even.
I head to Emily’s room next. She usually keeps it closed, so I get a shock when I see it wide open. Did she do that so she could hear my niece if she woke, or is it an invitation for me to join her?
I almost scoff at my last thought. She’s just lonely and confused. When she sees sense again, she’ll know I’m right. She’s been to hell and back these past few years, and dragging her into whatever this is between us would only make things worse.
That woman is a fucking goddess with a heart as golden as her hair. She deserves so much more than what I could ever give her, even if I wouldn’t hesitate to channel my inner Lorenzo and burn the entire fucking world down for her if push came to shove.
I intended to hang the paper bag I got from the pharmacy on her door handle, but when I reach her room, I hover on the threshold as an inner war rages inside me.
I’d give anything right now to be able to slip beneath those covers, bury my nose in her caramel-scented hair, and wrap her tightly in my arms.
From here, I can see she’s still sound asleep, and although I was never going to enter her room, my feet start moving of their own accord.
I pause when I reach the side of her bed, placing the bag on the bedside table. I also drop a wad of hundreds beside it, payment for looking after Lil’ Peach.
I grabbed everything the pharmacist recommended and more. Inside the bag is a tube of aloe vera gel, a bottle of after-sun lotion, a small jar of hydrocortisone cream, some ibuprofen, a fragrance-free moisturiser, and a caramel-flavoured Chapstick that contains SPF. It’s similar to the one I have of hers.
