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“Because Nico’s not gonna whack your ass. At least, not yet.”

Dad lets out a dry laugh. “With the way I feel right now, death would be a welcome change.”

“Dad,” I say, sliding my can across the counter and leaning forward. “It buys us time…time to figure out where to find Mikey and Gianni and to take care of them once and for all. With all of the distractions, I know I can get you guys out of here. We can get Mom back from her girls’ trip, and put you both on a plane—”

Dad holds up a hand. “Max, stop. You know it’ll never get that far. And if you do that, your head will be on the chopping block. I’m not going to have that on my conscience.”

I make a face. “Really? You’ve suddenly developed one of those? After all the years of screwing over people, including me?”

“Better late than never,” he quips, nodding to my can as I raise it to my lips. “That crap is pure poison, by the way. You should drink more water.”

“I like poison. It’s tastes good. And I need something good right now.” I smirk and take a long sip. “But I appreciate your concern. Again, better late than never.”

We stand at the counter for a few minutes, staring at the granite top. Neither one of us says a word, but there are plenty hanging in the air between us.

“I can arrange it,” I say quietly. “I know we can do this, Dad. We can figure out a way to get you and Mom out of here.”

“She’d never go,” he says in a flat voice. “She’d never leave you or your sister to follow me. I fucked everything up, Max. Do you really think she’d go when she finds out what I’ve done and the danger I’ve put you all in?”

“She loves you. She’d never let you go by yourself.”

“She shouldn’t have to make that choice.” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Besides, we both know I won’t make it long enough for her to even get home from the city. My hours are numbered, Max.”

“Listen,” I say, trying to control my voice so it doesn’t quiver like the rest of me. “I talked to Nico, and he’s busy trying to figure out what to do about the Bonnaros. He’s not going after you right now. He’s got a bigger mess to handle.”

“You do know Nico, right?” Dad smirks and leans his arms on the counter. “He always has a million things going at once, but he’s a master at making you believe it’s only one. Until he wants you to know what else he has cooking. There’s no way he’s going to let me escape. Not after what I did to the family and to his dad. He doesn’t abandon the code, Max. not ever. And to be honest, it scares the hell out of me that your sister is still with him. I fear for her, for all of you, because he’ll always do what’s expected of him. He won’t shuffle priorities around because of his emotions.”

“Like me,” I mutter.

“If his dad had been in my position and was making underhanded deals to save his own ass at the expense of the family, do you think he’d have helped him get away?”

I let out a deep breath. “I’d like to think he would.”

“Nico has a lot of good qualities, but he’s ruthless. You don’t get to his position without that gene.”

“I think he’s just been really lucky.”

“Luck plays a part, yes. But he never forgets his objective.” A sad smile lifts my father’s lips. “And he never acts out of desperation. He’s very calculating, and he doesn’t take unnecessary risks.”

“Yep, he’s basically the exact opposite of me.”

“Yeah, but, Max, none of that means he’s a better person than you. You’re hot-headed, impulsive, and you don’t bother with consequences, but you always try to do what’s right. I mean, look at us. If you were like Nico, you’d have already popped me even though I’m your father.”

“I really don’t think Nico would have killed his dad.”

My father shrugs. “Maybe he wouldn’t have pulled the trigger himself. But I wouldn’t put it past him to have someone else do the job.”

“I think you’re wrong. He’s a good guy, he’s just in a different place than me. He has to deal with more bullshit.”

Dad nods. “And I know there are a lot of responsibilities that go along with it. He’s kept things moving since his grandfather died and since his dad has been out of commission. He had to step into a very demanding role without any notice, and he’s very good at it. But you saw first-hand that he’ll turn on you in a hot second if he thinks you’ve crossed him.”

I nod, recalling the time not too long ago when he fired me from my security job at Culaccino because he thought I’d gone behind his back and screwed him over.

I didn’t, and it was actually Shaye who’d opened her mouth without knowing she shouldn’t.

But the fact that he could attack me without a second thought and without even confirming if I’d hung him out to dry has bothered me ever since.

I clench a fist and give the counter a little pounding. That really pissed me off, and my dad knows it. Why the fuck is he trying to get under my skin? Now of all times?

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