AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gio paled under the wash of the Mustang’s headlights. “I thought…”
“You thought,” Lazarus repeated. “Next time youthink, Gio, you’d better be far from me.” The Mafia Prince’s voice grew dangerous. “Don’t go back to school. In fact, don't go anywhere in this city. Go home, pack your shit, and leave. I see you and you’re done, feel me?”
Gio’s eyes widened, but there was no getting out of this. His shoulders slumped as resignation hit home. “Yeah, Laz.”
“Mr. Rossi to you.” Freddy made sure the point was driven home. “And I’ll personally make it my mission to drive by your place tomorrow…you know, just to make sure you got out of the city. Might check on your mom, too, just to ensure she’s okay.”
I hadn’t thought Gio could look any sicker…I was wrong.
He left, his head drooped low, slinking away like a beaten animal.
“He’s not coming back,” Lazarus reassured as he looked at me. “I’ll make sure of that. But I don’t know where your father is, Ryth. If I did, I would’ve told you. I might be a bastard, but I value family.”
“You wanted to kill him,” I answered, there was no way I’d believe him.
“Is he dead?”
I stiffened at the question. Panic flared as I glanced at Tobias, Nick, and Caleb, then slowly answered, “No.”
“Ever ask yourself why that is?”
I met Lazarus’ piercing stare. “No.”
“Maybe you should.” He turned and strode away toward his bodyguards. “If I find your dad, Ryth, believe me, you’ll be the first to know.”
He left me stunned, my mind reeling, as Nick stepped close. His fingers trembled when they grazed my cheek. “Jesus, Ryth.”
“Are you hurt?” Tobias grasped my hand, as his gaze searched my body for cuts or blood.
“No,” I whispered, leaning against them. I wound one arm around Nick, then the other as far around Tobias and Caleb as I could reach. “Thank God.”
Their hands held me, pulling me against their warmth as I shuddered and shook.
“Let’s get you home,” Nick murmured in my ear. “Then we can work out what the hell this all meant.”
FORTY-THREE
ryth
I climbedinto the backseat of the Mustang and Tobias drove the Jeep behind us all the way home. By the time we pulled up in the driveway, my entire body was shaking and my head was pounding viciously. Nick opened the door and I tried to climb out, but my knees buckled.
He lunged, grabbed me around the waist, and lifted me. “Easy,” he whispered, pulling me against his chest.
I took in his warmth, clutching him, and let him carry me inside. We were through the door and climbing the stairs before I knew it.
“It was for nothing.” My tears fell as I lifted my head. “It was all for nothing.”
“No.” Tobias shook his head. “It wasn’t for nothing. I knew Lazarus wasn’t behind any of this, but at least now we know for sure.”
I lifted my head as Nick carried me into his bedroom and gently placed me on the foot of his bed, bending over to part my hair. I hissed with the sting of his fingers.
“You have a gash,” Nick said, pulling back.
But Tobias peered closer, smoothing my hair down. “No. That’s a goddamn tear.”
“He had me by my hair.”
All three of my brothers froze, then turned their gazes sharply my way.
