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He launches himself at me, knocking me back over the sofa. We tumble over the side and fall into a heap on the floor.
“Max. Dante. Stop!” Joey yells, but we ignore her, throwing punches and rolling around the floor as we try to get the better of each other. I punch him in the mouth and split his lip, and he lands a blow to the side of my head that makes me see stars.
Joey screams and hollers in the background, but neither of us pay any attention. Dante remains focused on ripping my head off and I’m occupied by my attempts to prevent that from happening.
“Dante!” another voice cuts through the air, and that’s when he stops. We both do. Lorenzo stands in the open doorway, and the sun shining from behind him makes him look like a vengeful shadow. “Enough,” he barks, then looks over at his sister. “Get in the car.”
She folds her arms across her chest. “No. I’m not leaving Max.”
Lorenzo closes his eyes and rubs his temples. “I don’t have fucking time for this. Get into the car, Joey. Now.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Your family needs you. Now get in the fucking car.”
Joey looks to me as Dante and I haul our asses off the floor and straighten ourselves up.
I jerk my head at the door. “Go with them.”
“No.” She shakes her head. Tears prick at her eyes and a sob catches in her throat.
“You can’t stay with me, Joey. Not right now.”
“But you said!” Pain contorts her beautiful face.
“I’ll fix this, I promise. Just give me a few days.”
“The fuck you will,” Dante says with a snort.
“The car, Guiseppina. Now!” Lorenzo shouts.
I nod at her, and with a glare, she swats the tears from her cheeks before storming out of the house. I look at Lorenzo, hoping he might see reason because at least he hasn’t punched me in the mouth yet, but all I find is disappointment and anguish. Fuck! His wife is dying and he’s here dealing with this instead of spending time with her.
“I’m sorry, I…” I swallow the thick knot lodged in my throat.
“No you’re not,” Lorenzo spits. The venom in his tone hurts me even more than his younger brother’s fists. The three of us have been best friends for as long as I can remember, and the way they’re looking at me right now fucking kills me.
“No, I’m not,” I admit. “But I should have done things differently.”
“You could have any fucking woman you want,” Dante says as he steps over to join his brother—to stand against me. “But you had to pick our kid sister. Why the fuck, Max?”
“I didn’t plan this.”
“How long?” Lorenzo asks.
“Was the whole date with Toby just a cover?” Dante adds.
“No. She went on a date with Toby. She was upset. I picked her up.”
“So, you took advantage of her?” Dante accuses.
“No,” I protest. “I would never fucking do that.”
“You are a lying piece of shit, Max. Why the fuck would I trust anything that comes out of your mouth ever again?”
“Because you know me,” I remind them.
“Not anymore. You’re fucking dead to me.” Dante spins on his heel and strides out of the house.
