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“I know, Uncle Crow. I love you too.”
“I like Bosco.”
“You do?” I asked.
“He’s rough around the edges, but any man who’s experienced real life is bound to be that way. He reminds me of Griffin—which is a great compliment.”
“It is.”
“I think your father has changed his mind about him.”
“Yeah, I think so too. As he should…”
He patted my back gently. “Cut him some slack. He just loves you.”
“I’ve never held a grudge against him for it. I know his feelings came from a good place.”
“They always do.” He lowered his arm. “Something good came out of this. Now we never have to worry about that piece of shit again. Mia deserved real justice—now she has it.”
“Carter does too.” I knew Egor must still haunt Carter since he loved Mia so much.
“Yeah. Now they both have some peace.” His eyes moved to Bosco, who stood off to the side alone. His hands rested in his pockets as he stared at Egor’s body. His men moved in the background and departed with the prisoners they took. They slowly cleaned up the screen and sprayed the blood off the pavement. “He doesn’t look happy.”
“He’s just…still angry. He wishes he could kill Egor again. Once isn’t enough.”
Crow nodded. “I know how that is…”
My father and Carter came back, my father’s hand on Carter’s shoulder. “I guess we’ll head home. The wives are all upset right now.”
“I told Pearl everyone is okay,” Uncle Crow said. “I’m sure she told the others.”
My brother hugged me. “I’m so sorry, Carmen. This is all my—”
“I’m glad it happened. I’m glad Bosco killed him. I’m glad that our family can have some real peace. Mia deserves this justice. I’d gladly get hit in the face again for that joy. It was totally worth it.”
Carter pulled away and gave me a slight smile. “Well, I wish you didn’t have to get hit in the face…but I’m glad he’s dead too. Really glad. It’s like…a huge weight off my chest. I would still think about him, anxious that he would figure it out and swarm my house. But now, I never have to worry about it again.”
“None of us do.”
Carter glanced at Bosco before he looked at me again. “He’s alright in my book, in case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t,” I teased.
He smiled. “Maybe he and I can hang out. Get to know each other.”
“He would love that. All he has is his brother. I know he would love it if we could all make him feel like family. He lost his mom a few years ago, and he says he hasn’t been himself ever since.”
“Until he met you,” Carter said. “At least, that’s what my guess is.”
It wasn’t until a few hours later when we returned to the penthouse.
Wordlessly, Bosco shed his clothes and got into the shower.
I watched him from the doorway, watched him just stand there as the warm water dripped down his muscular frame. The warm water must have soothed him because he didn’t seem to care about shampooing his hair or rubbing soap across his body.
I took off my clothes and joined him even though he asked for his space. I came up behind him and rested my forehead against his back, my hands holding on to his triceps. I let the warm water cleanse me, wipe away the dirt under my fingernails. I was frozen from hitting the cold concrete so many times, and I didn’t realize how numb I was until I started to thaw.
He didn’t react to my touch or ask me to leave.
After a few minutes passed, he turned around and lifted my chin so I would look him in the eye. There was still a hint of violence in his eyes, but the softness was beginning to return. “I wouldn’t be able to go on if I lost you.”
My fingers wrapped around his wrist. “I know.”
“I don’t judge your father for crying, because I would have cried too.”
“I know.”
He kissed my forehead then my lips. “I know you’re a tough woman who can handle herself pretty well. I know you’re strong enough to not let this hurt you, to overcome it, to not be afraid of what could have been. That helps me too…helps me let it go.”
“Honestly, I’m happy all of this happened. If given the choice, I would have done it again. I knew you were coming for me. I just had to be a little more patient this time.”
“I will always come for you. Bullets and knives can’t stop me.”
“I know. And that’s why my father shook your hand and admitted he was wrong. In case you haven’t noticed…he never admits he’s wrong.”
Finally, a ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. “Yeah…I noticed.”
I pressed my face to his chest and kissed the muscles over his heart. “So, should I cancel the lease on my apartment? It sucks paying for a place I don’t even use.”
