Chapter 33 #3
Both Salvatore brothers turned to me, and frankly, it gave me a stomachache. The gun in my hand wobbled. The urge to chew off my nails and, hell, maybe some skin made my arm waver even more.
Kieran materialized, his warm presence reassuring in a world where everything was falling apart. He reached for the gun, and I surrendered it easily, leaning back into his torso.
The Salvatores were still staring, my stomach still cramping.
“I get I’m the first person you’ve met with two-colored eyes, but staring is really rude.”
“You aren’t,” silver tie murmured.
I wasn’t sure I heard right. “What?”
“Our brother had heterochromia too,” red tie explained.
My stomach dipped. “Matteo?” I asked, suddenly hungry for information.
Red tie nodded. “One blue eye and one green. No one knew but close family. He wore contacts to conceal it.”
I got my eyes from my father.
Silver tie cleared his throat, his attention shifting to Kieran. “You have proof?”
He nodded. “The folder in my glove box.”
Silver tie snapped, and seconds later, the folder was handed to him.
“Let’s take this inside,” Red tie instructed.
“They’re leaving,” Kieran said, gesturing to Ghost and Rett. Ghost was looking pale, and a fine sheen of sweat dampened his forehead.
“They’ll stay,” red tie refuted.
“They aren’t involved in this. I’m the one who called. I’m the one who killed Grimaldi. They walk right now, or you can ask your brother about his son personally when I send you to hell.”
Tense silence clogged the air as the standoff dragged on.
Silver tie glanced at me, the malice from before replaced with curiosity. “You can go,” he called to our friends.
Kieran turned to Rett. “You drive. Keys are inside.”
Rett hung his head. “I don’t have a driver’s license.”
“You still probably drive better than Haz,” Kieran deadpanned.
I elbowed him in the stomach. He deserved it.
“I’ll drive,” Ghost offered, heading toward the driver’s seat. “In you go, pip,” He called, gesturing for Rett to get in too.
“You can’t drive. You’re shot.” I worried.
Ghost shot me a weak smile. “Don’t worry about me, half-pint. I’ve been through worse.”
That didn’t make me worry less. If anything, it made me feel worse because Kieran and Ghost had already been through enough. I didn’t need to add to it.
As soon as Rett was in the passenger seat, Ghost reversed around the cars blocking him and drove away.
“Follow them,” red tie ordered one of his lackeys.
I sucked in a breath. “What for?”
“Because we don’t trust you,” he said simply.
Pulling away from Kieran, I pushed between my new uncles and approached the man getting into a car to follow my friends.
“If you hurt my friends, I’ll rip your intestines out through your nose and strangle you with them,” I threatened. Leaning closer, I added, “The last thing you smell will be your own shit.”
The man I threatened looked back at his bosses.
“Go,” one ordered.
He yanked the car door out of my grasp and sped off.
I turned back, nearly colliding with Kieran. “Stay beside me at all times.”
“That was a good threat, right?”
Kieran rolled his eyes.
“It sounded like something Matteo would say,” silver tie answered.
“He was so uncouth,” red tie added.
“I’m calling Rocco,” silver tie announced, voice gruff.
“Who’s Rocco?” I asked.
Kieran grunted.
“If they didn’t want me to ask, they shouldn’t have brought it up.” I defended myself.
“He’s our other brother. He couldn’t make it in the limited amount of time we were given to get here,” red tie said, glaring at Kieran.
I have three uncles.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
He stared. I could tell he debated answering. Finally, he said, “Enzo.” Then, pointing to silver tie who was on the phone a few feet away, he added, “Gio.”
“Can I call you—”
He cut me off instantly. “No.”
Silver tie—I mean, Gio appeared, tucking his phone into his jacket. “Shall we?” he asked, gesturing inside.
I started ahead, but Kieran pulled me back. “Stay with me,” he instructed.
“If he is who he says he is, then you have nothing to worry about from us,” Enzo told him. “To a Salvatore, family is everything.”
“I don’t trust you,” Kieran deadpanned.
Enzo looked in the direction of the man Kieran killed. “I wouldn’t expect less. Especially not from a sanctioned operative with your background.”
Kieran stopped walking. “Excuse me?”
“We know who you are, Mr. Vaughn.” Gio was smug.
“Impossible.” Kieran denied it.
Gio tilted his head. “How else do you think we were able to track your phone to this location when you didn’t show up to the meeting?”
They seemed pretty mad about Kieran not showing up. You’d think someone attempting to murder you would be a good excuse, but I guess the mob didn’t think so.
“You have contacts in the government too,” Kieran concluded.
Gio inclined his head. “Don’t seem so surprised. You, of all people, should know just how corruptible the incorrupt are.”
“My patience wears thin,” Enzo snapped from inside the fish store. “This place is a dump.”
Gio glanced at me. “Things get bloody when Enzo gets impatient.”
“Now!” He snapped.
Amused, Gio disappeared inside, and we followed.
At the threshold, Kieran turned, eyes searching mine. “Are you ready for this?”
Ready or not, it was here. And I wasn’t going to run away.
“Will you hold my hand?” I asked, stretching it out.
Kieran’s lips rolled inward, and he took it, enclosing it in his. I knew it didn’t matter if the Salvatore brothers accepted or denied me because I’d already found my home.
“I’m ready,” I whispered.