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“We’ll try the shelter,” I tell her, knowing that I need to sleep. In the shelter, people are better behaved. They’re grateful for the warm bed and hot food they get. I’m able to sleep better there. I don’t take advantage of the shelter, only using it once a week, maybe once every two weeks. I know there are a lot of people who need warmth more than I do.
Nell gives me a wide grin, and I know she needs the shelter. She needs to be around more people. She misses her family, and being in the shelter gives her a little bit of her family back. They used to stay there a lot, so it’s a place Nell loves. “What about Ursula, Markus, and Paulie?” she asks.
I try not to show the irritation on my face. Nell loves them and always sees the best in them. However, over the last few weeks, I’ve come to realize just how much those three use Nell. My girl is amazing at finding food and clothes for everyone she meets. She’ll give you her food if she thinks you need it. So Ursula, Markus, and Paulie only come around whenever they’re low on food. It pisses me off that they do that, but on the other hand, they do protect her. They’ll watch out for her when I’m not around, and for that I tolerate them.
“They’ll find us whenever they need us,” I tell her with a forced smile. “You know those three, they like to be alone.”
She nods, a huge smile on her face. “Okay, so I’ll meet you at the shelter this evening?”
I sigh. I hate it when she wants to go off alone. I raise a brow. “Rule number three,” I remind her, and she blinks and then nods. “I’ll come with you.”
She gives me a grateful smile. “I want to go to the graves.”
I nod. “Let’s go,” I tell her.
I stand in the line, really regretting not coming earlier. There’s a crowd starting to gather already, so it’s going to be chaos trying to get in. Nell’s speaking with her grandmother’s friend, the two of them catching up. The city is alight with the rumors of a turf war between the local motorcycle chapter against the Gallo’s and the Gallagher’s. The local MC has a lot of guts going up against two of the biggest families in this city and in Chicago. That’s some bold moves, but so fucking stupid. My heart aches when I think about the Gallo’s. The Gallo Famiglia were the family my father worked for, and the moment he was dead, they turned their backs on me.
I spot a timid brunette walking toward the line, her eyes wide as she walks toward me. “Hey,” I call out, and she turns to face me, her eyes wide and filled with a pain that hits me deep. “You’re new.”
She nods but doesn’t say a word. She’s cautious. I get that. I reach for her and pull her into the line beside me. “What’s your story?” I ask her.
“My dad died, and I have nowhere to live,” she tells me. I see the heartache in her eyes, but I feel as though I’m missing something. Like it’s not the full story.
There’s an aura about this girl that pulls at me. It’s just as I felt when I met Nell. My gut is never wrong, so I’m going to pull this girl under my wing and keep her with Nell and me.
“I’m sorry about your dad. Girl, stick with me. We’ll get you sorted. I’m Portia,” I tell her with a smile, hoping I don’t scare her off. The last thing I want is for her to get spooked and run away.
She gives me a soft smile. “Hey, Portia. I’m Tee.”
I know it’s not her name. It could be a fake name or it could be a shortened version of her name. Either way, that’s the one she’s given me and that’s what I’ll call her. “They’ll be opening the doors soon. We should be good to go in and get a bed. Some nights, it’s chaotic with people trying to get one. It’s always worse when the weather turns nasty.”
I need to explain things quickly to her. I also need her to understand that being alone is dangerous.
“There are a few rules you have to learn, Tee. Rule one: don’t steal anything from another one of us. That shit’s not tolerated. We band together in groups. There’s now six of us. There’s Ursula, Markus, Nell, and Paulie. It’s always better in numbers. Remember that.”
She nods. She’s listening attentively, which is good.
“Rule number two,” I say as I check each finger. “Don’t trust anyone. No matter who they are.”
Her eyes flash with acknowledgement.
“Rule number three: never, and I mean never, be alone. No matter where you go, you have to do it in pairs. The streets are dangerous, especially now that the motorcycle club has been taken out. It’s every criminal for themselves right now trying to fight for that turf.”
Her eyes widen. “An entire chapter was taken out?” There’s a little off key to her voice and it’s got me wondering who this girl is.
I continue, wanting to give her the full low down so she knows what could happen if she mixes with the wrong crowd. “Get this: the Gallagher’s took them out. Or so the word on the street says. Well, them along with the Gallo’s. From what I’ve heard, the Demons took a Gallagher girl, and the family were out for revenge. As for the Gallo’s, the Demons sideswiped one of the Gallo’s cars, injuring the second brother. It’s fucked up, if you ask me. Who the hell goes after the biggest and most connected crime family of them all?”
She shakes her head. “Crazy,” she murmurs.
Yeah, this girl is definitely hiding something, and from the way her body has tightened while speaking about the motorcycle club, I can only assume she had a run in with those animals before.
“Exactly. Only those who are either crazy or power hungry would try and take on such a force.” I release a tut. “Stupidity. And now look where it’s got them. Six feet under.”
“Who are the Gallo’s?”
My eyes widen. How the hell has this girl survived this long without knowing the who’s who of the mafia world? “Girl, the family dynamics of the Gallagher’s are crazy, but I can give you a quick rundown on the Gallo’s.” I pull in a sharp breath and scan the crowd, making sure Nell stays in my line of sight at all times. “You know Jade Gallagher, right? The daughter of Liam—he’s the boss of Chicago? Well, she married the Capo of the Italian mafia in Chicago. The two of them are the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. Vicious, ruthless, and so in love it’s sickening. But Rocco is a Gallo. Hence why you’d be stupid to take on the Gallagher’s. They’re connected, but more than that, they’re powerful.”
Her lips part in surprise. It’s not easy hearing about the criminals that run the city, but I know the Gallos. I have known them since I was a child. My dad was the captain four years ago. He helped build the Famiglia from the ground up. He loved the family. He’d have done anything to protect them.
