I kiss her forehead.
“List the car. I’ll get you a new one in the morning. I would today, but I’m hanging with my brothers.”
I flick my wrist to check the time. Dario and Dante should be waiting for me. I tap Ny’s ass and she straightens.
“You’re really getting me a new car? I didn’t mean for you to think I wanted a new one.”
I peck her lips. “I should have gotten you a new one by now. List it. It’s no big deal.”
She gives a teary smile. “You guys spoil me. First the house, then Jace fully furnishing the place, now a new car. If I haven’t told you guys thank you, thank you so much. I mean it. You both know you don’t have to do things like this for me.”
“But we do it because we want to,” Jace says as he walks up behind her and kisses the back of her head.
Nyla looks up at him and smiles then turns back to me. “Where are you and the guys going?”
“I’m taking them skating.”
I know Ny has plans to go to the rink and I wanted to be around her. I’ve only been in town for a week and it always feels like something is off when she’s not around.
“Do you think they’ll remember me?”
I look her over. Nyla looks nothing like she did when she was fifteen. From the bob she wears now to the toned curves of her body, I wouldn’t put the two together if I didn’t know better.
“No. Besides, we’ll keep our distance. That’s important now. Outside of this house we’re strangers.”
I catch the sad look in her eyes before she covers it. I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do. This is how it has to be.
“Come here,” I murmur.
She moves into my embrace, and I kiss her forehead. Someday this will be how I treat her all the time. Today just can’t be it.
CHAPTER 28
Brotherly Love
Jace
We’re taking a skate break, sitting at one of the tables with nachos and fries in front of us. I work my jaw and try not to draw Gio’s attention to what I’m looking at. Some guy has been trying to hit on Ny for the last thirty minutes. I want to smash his face in.
Ny catches my eye and smiles at me. I give a slight nod to let her know I’m watching and ready to knock this guy the fuck out. Gio is too busy laughing with his little brothers to notice and that’s the way it needs to remain.
If he sees this shit he’s going to blow. There will be no question as to who Nyla is to him. I dial back into the conversation as I take a deep breath.
“She was going to kiss me,” Dante says and pouts.
“In your dreams. This guy thinks he’s so cool,” Dario teases.
“Well, at least I’m not in love with my best friend and won’t do anything about it.”
“Fuck you.”
Dario frowns and folds his arms across his chest. I can’t help but smile. Dario is totally in love with Carleen. I’m surprised she didn’t tag along today. She’s a pretty girl. I can see why he’s crushing so hard.
“Are you two focusing on your books the way you are the girls?” Gio asks. They both groan and palm their foreheads. “Listen, I was all about the girls at your age too, but you’re destined to be a part of something. You guys need to be ready for that. Our legacy means something.”
Dario’s eyes light up and he leans in. “Are you talking about that thing? You know, la cosa nostra.”
“Che ne sai a riguardo?” Gio says, switching to Italian.
“I know what Papa Esposito told me.” Dario pokes his chest out.
“Yeah, well, be careful of the shit coming out of his mouth. This isn’t the place, but I’ll teach you what you need to know from here. You should learn from a Di Lorenzo.”
“I told you,” Dante grumbles as Dario’s smile falls and he looks down at the table.
Dante pops a fry into his mouth with a smug grin. It’s no secret Dante hates Riccardo. I was livid to find out he wanted to place Dante in a psych home.
“What about you, Dario? You’re not letting Carleen out study you, are you?” Gio changes the subject.
Dario blushes. “She’s going to be a surgeon. She has to study more.”
“Bullshit. You guys still hang out all the time?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I want you in the books with her. I bet she’s not here because she had to study.”
“But she doesn’t have a cool brother in town,” Dario mutters.
Gio reaches to mess his hair. “I’ll be around. We’ll spend plenty of time together. You just make sure you’re using that brain for good and not just thinking about tits and ass.”
“But there’s nothing wrong with tits and ass, right? Because I love a good pair and a nice ass,” Dante says with a goofy grin.