Paid In Full (Vitale Brothers Book 2)

Chapter 21

I groaned again.Penelope hopped onto my chest as if I’d invited him for a cuddle. Instead, I glared at him.

“Can’t you see I’m dying?”

“You’re not dying,” Tex said. He walked over and shoved a cigarette between my teeth before he rescued his cat. “Smoke that and calm down. It’s the only thing Enzo lets me have.”

I took in a drag of smoke and realized it was more than tobacco. Sweet, sweet weed filled my senses. I sank against the couch, giving into it as I blew out a cloud of smoke. Enzo walked out before he took a seat across from me and stared.

“What?” I asked.

“Why are you still here?”

I groaned. “Can’t you ever be happy to see me? Hi, big brother. How are you? Want to grab a drink? What happened?” I asked, showing him examples of all kinds of things that were a hell of a lot more appropriate than what he had asked me. “You could at least pretend to be happy to see me.”

Enzo sighed. “I’m always happy to see you, Gin. You know that.” He tilted his head. “Well, mostly. Today is a good day for a visit, though, and I don’t want to stab you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Gee, thanks, you’re so fucking generous.”

Enzo raised a brow. “What happened?”

Tex joined him, sitting on his lap like it was nothing. The former cop was huge, yet my brother had no issue adjusting him on his lap and wrapping his arms around Tex’s waist. Tex glanced back long enough to smile at Enzo. He left a little kiss on Enzo’s nose, and I watched my brother’s cheeks bloom pink before he cleared his throat and turned back to me once more.

I want to do that with Ash.

“Well?” Enzo asked.

I sank against the couch like I was waiting to drift into the cushions and never come back out again. The irritation on Enzo’s face grew. We both knew I was being dramatic as hell. Finally, I turned toward him.

“Ash is upset with me.”

“What did you do?” Tex asked.

My eyes darted up to him and then back to Enzo. I had no idea how much to disclose. Tex and Enzo were close, but even then, telling someone you murdered people as part of your living was a lot. I really didn’t want Enzo to stab me again.

“You can talk,” Enzo said with a nod. “Tex knows everything and is fine with it.”

“I wouldn’t say fine,” Tex muttered. “More like I’m used to Enzo’s insanity and accept it now.”

“Good enough,” Enzo said, his nails digging into Tex’s clothed thigh.

Tex rolled his eyes. “He’s crazy, but come on, keep going. Maybe we can help you.”

I doubted either of them could. Ash wasn’t like Tex. He didn’t sit on my knee, smother me in kisses, or tell me how much he loved me. He was a startled little puppy that had to put up with me, someone who had no idea how to be anything other than what he was. I picked at a frayed spot on the couch.

“Stop,” Enzo growled. “Pen scratches it up enough.”

“Okay, okay,” I muttered as I stared at the ceiling. “I was taking care of that guy who upset Ash. Keith.”

“Yeah?” Enzo said. “And?”

“Well, Keith was knocked out, and I picked up a call from Ash. He wanted breakfast. So simple, but it turned into a fucking mess. While I was listening to him, Keith woke up, started screaming for help, and well... you can guess what happened.”

“Ash freaked out?” Tex supplied. “Been there,” He whispered.

“Stop,” Enzo growled at his boyfriend. “Don’t pretend I’m anything like this psychopath.”

I raised a brow. “You are. We’re brothers.”

“Yes, but only one of us is an idiot.” When I pouted, Enzo pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like our brother, Benito. “What happened?”

I exhaled smoke and threw up my arms. “Ash went from looking like he wanted me to come home to him not wanting anything to do with me! He started sounding different, and then I heard him whispering to himself over the cameras that he should get away from me.” I shivered. “Fuck, I can’t stand that shit. I’ll kill him. I swear I will.”

Tex whistled. “Someone’s got it bad.”

“Got what bad?” I frowned. “I don’t got shit!”

“You like him.” Tex grinned. “No, I think it’s more than like. You care about what he thinks, you check in with him on the phone, and you’re here asking for advice when you could simply not care. You like, like him!” Tex said, pointing at me.

I threw a pillow at his face. “Fuck off. What is this, elementary school?”

“Well, you act like a child,” Enzo said. “Can’t blame him for it.”

“Oh, double fuck off. You two are so far up each other’s asses...”

“Only Enzo’s up my ass.” Tex grinned. “Every night.”

I blinked at them. Why the hell did I have to hear about my brother’s sex life? It made me sink into the cushions even more. If my brother knew I liked to take it up the ass, would he judge me for it? My teeth sank into my lip as Enzo chastised Tex for talking too much. When his eyes landed on me, my brother frowned.

“What’s wrong now?”

I didn’t have the right words to describe what the hell was wrong with me. Reaching over, I grabbed a cushion, pressed it against my belly, and wrapped my arms around it. Ash came to mind, and I groaned even deeper than before. He has to think I’m a real piece of shit.

“Here,” a soft voice spoke, drawing my eyes up. Tex’s mom, Kate, smiled down at me. She reminded me of my own mother before she passed. “A cup of peppermint and chamomile tea with honey. Drink this, and you’ll calm down.”

“Thanks, mom.” Tex smiled. “You don’t have to do this.”

She waved a hand. “Seeing you boys struggle makes me want to help you. All of you,” she said as her gaze fell on me. “Drink. You want something to eat?”

“Kate, don’t offer this demon food,” Enzo said.

“Whatever you have will be fine,” I said, sitting up. “Even better if it’s some kind of sandwich.”

She grinned. “Coming right up.”

Tex shook his head at me. “Don’t take advantage of my mom.”

I frowned. “At least you have one. Share!”

Tex sighed. “Okay, okay, just tell us what happened. All of it. From the beginning. Or I’m telling her not to make you a damn thing.”

I picked up the cup of tea Kate had left behind. Taking a long sip, I gave into the soothing drink before I bit my bottom lip. Telling them everything was a lot, but I had to if I wanted some advice. Ash was unlike anyone that I had ever met. I didn’t want to lose that big-eyed, innocent little puppy. Not if I could help it. I’d already corrupted him, I didn’t want him gone. Even if I had just threatened to kill him.

I would never. Unless he left me. That’s not unreasonable, right?

As I clutched the drink in my hands, I told them everything. From the moment we met to our current situation. Of course, I left some things out; they didn’t need to know everything. Like the way I shoved my ass at Ash to plow. That was a little... unnerving. Not that my brothers didn’t know I was all over the map. People like us? Rumors swirled around us. But letting them know that Ash was a part of that, his exact role, made me want to punch someone in the face. What we did was no one’s goddamn business.

Tex whistled. “Shit. You love him.”

I stared at him. “What? No,” I hissed. “I just don’t want him to freak out!”

Tex and Enzo shared a look. Whatever silent conversation they had made me want to smack them both upside the head. They turned their focus on me once more, and I finally put out my joint. At least the nicotine and pot had done their job; I was more serene than I’d been in a long ass time.

“Here you go, honey,” Kate said as she set a big sandwich in front of me. “Eat, eat. You need to settle your stomach.”

I grabbed her hand. “Will you be my mommy?”

The woman burst out laughing, but she laid her hand on top of mine. “Any family of Enzo is family of mine.” She brushed her hand against my cheek. “Eat! You won’t find any answers on an empty stomach. I’m going to go clean up.”

Reluctantly, I let her hand go while staring after her. For the first time in so long, I ached for my own mother. She would have been the same, holding my hand, making me something to eat, and kissing my forehead to comfort me. It had been years without her, and I was a mess from the moment she was lowered into the ground. Glancing down at the cup of tea, I tried to shove those emotions down.

“It’s okay,” Enzo said. He was up, moving Tex to the chair before he stepped over to me. He sat beside me before his hand laid on my back. “I know you miss her.”

Emotions stuck in my chest while I choked on my words. Our father was the biggest whore on the planet. Three women, four sons, and three half-brothers left in his wake. Somehow, we got along. We formed deep bonds. Nothing and no one could tear us apart. They’d tried, yet we were still going strong. I glanced at Enzo. He was like me, tossed out into the world, both of our mothers long dead. The only one who still had a breathing mother was Benito, and he didn’t even talk to her until she came back around needing something from him.

I sucked down a deep breath. “Thanks, Enzo,” I muttered, feeling sheepish for my display of emotions. “I shouldn’t have bothered you all.”

Enzo shrugged. “Yeah, you should have. I always tell you that if you need someone to listen to your shit, I’m here, brother.” He clapped a hand on my back. “I love you.”

I stared at the sincerity in his eyes. “I love you too.” My shoulders slumped. “I still don’t know what to do about Ash. He’s not built for this life. What if he’s just like Sarah-Lynn?”

“Who’s Sarah-Lynn?” Tex asked.

“That’s his ex-girlfriend,” Enzo pointed out. “She left a while ago because she couldn’t handle... what we are.”

What we are.I wanted to laugh. We were monsters. Of course, she couldn’t stomach that for more than a short time. Ash was no different. His father was a son of a bitch, but I doubted he had ever received a call where the man was beating someone to death. My shoulders slumped.

I shouldn’t have taken the call.

Every instinct in me had screamed not to, but I couldn’t deny Ash. If I hadn’t picked up, he would have thought I was ignoring him. That was far from the truth. I jumped up from the couch, pacing back and forth as I thought about him.

I need to see him. Even if he doesn’t want to see me, I’ll hold him down and make him see me.

Ash had turned me from a playboy with zero fucks to give to a worrier who was always concerned about his feelings. I groaned.

“When did I turn into this?”

“Congrats, you’re feeling stuff,” Tex said, slapping me on the back. “Go home and tell him you give a damn. I bet he’ll calm down.”

Yeah, I had no idea if I was even capable of that. I had to do something, though. I sucked down every bit of my bullshit and nodded. Go home, talk to Ash, tell him I wanted him around, make him fuck me in the ass so hard he saw stars and trap him. It was the perfect plan.

“Please act like you have common sense,” Enzo said. “Do something nice for him. Maybe take him on a date.” He waved to Tex. “I did that with him, and he settled right down.”

Tex narrowed his eyes at Enzo. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You went on a date with me to settle me down?”

Enzo gave me a weary look. “See what you started? Get out.”

Tex growled. “He didn’t start shit! I swear to God I will kill you.”

I shook my head. “My bad, handle your shit,” I said, laughing as both Tex and Enzo glared at me. “Thanks for everything, Kate! I’m going home!”

“Bye, Gin!”

I grabbed the plate and slipped out while Enzo and Tex argued. Enzo would definitely be on my ass to give it back, but that was fine. It was fun to make him sweat sometimes. I ate as I drove to the house. I had to get back to Ash and see if he was still there. My stomach turned. If he’s not home, I’ll hunt his ass down.

Even after all the times I told him that he was free to go, I couldn’t go through with it. If Ash left me, I would drag him back, kicking and screaming. My puppy was way too entertaining to ever let him go.