“It’s that or he’s homeschooled.” Backing down wasn’t in my nature. I’d compromised enough to offer this solution. I refused to go further. “He should get a say in this.”
“He’s six.” Lila spat the words with bullet precision. “He’s going to think it’s cool.”
“He’s older than I was when my father forced me to decide whether the nanny lived or died when he found her stealing from us.” I stopped the memory with a sharp shake of my head. “This isn’t ideal for either of us, but it’s the best I can do.”
“It’s a shitty choice.”
“Agreed.”
She seemed ready to say something else, but my quick agreement caught her off guard. Her lips closed, her nostrils flaring with every breath as she debated within herself. Her fingers hooked into the grout between the bricks and picked at the material with a savageness I respected. “I’ll ask Leo.”
“He’s on his way. Renzo is bringing him up.” I checked my watch. “I asked him to join us.” Renzo and I had a lot to discuss. I’d already accepted his apology for the man who’d betrayed us, a man Renzo had vetted and trusted but had been swayed by the Verducci’s promise of more money.
“Did she live?” Lila stopped picking at the bricks and turned her back to me.
“Yes.” It was the truth, even if she refused to believe me. “I am a monster, Lila, but I’m notyourmonster.”
“I’m trying to understand what you are, but you make it pretty damned difficult when you refuse to tell me what this is all about.” The scowl was back on her face, pinching her pretty nose and brows.
The door slammed open, Leo racing inside and cutting Lila off before she pushed for more details.
The boy scanned the room with Renzo’s quick efficiency, making me wonder what else he’d picked up in his short time with us.
With a calmness Lila only gave her son, she gave Leo the choice of going back to school with a bodyguard or homeschooling. Leo jumped at the chance.
“Seriously? I can have my own bodyguard? Can it be Renzo?” He patted Renzo’s pocket with a look of adoration as he peered up at the big man.
“We’ll talk about it,” Renzo promised.
Lila relaxed slightly and made her way toward the door, stopping to grab Leo’s hand on her way. The two of them left with Lila ignoring me the entire way.
“You can’t go with him,” I reminded Renzo. “We need you here. After Justin…” I let the thought trail off.
Renzo stiffened until every part of him turned savage. “Of course.”
Any other time, I might hesitate to manipulate Renzo with guilt, but I needed to keep him here no matter what. If things went south, there was no better man to turn them around than Renzo. He might be the best man to guard Leo, but he’d also find the best he knew to cover my son. Hell, I’d go to school with him if I thought it would be our best strategy.
“How long do we have before the Verduccis come for us again?” I sat at my desk, steepling my hands.
“Impossible to say.” His words were short, clipped, and angry. “It’s time to focus on our enemies rather than emotions.” It sounded almost like he was trying to convince himself as well as me.
I understood. We’d been running high in protective mode to cover Lila and Leo. We’d gone on the defensive and given the Verduccis too much power.
“What would you have me do?” I’d learned to listen to Renzo. His instincts were unmatched, and the rare moment of frankness that always came alongside his commands proved he intended to be heard.
The door behind Renzo opened and Matteo ducked into the room. “You didn’t tell her.” He stalked to the desk and pointed at the door he’d stormed through. “She’s still in the fucking dark about this bullshit.”
“She knows there’s a bounty on Leo’s head. Thanks to you.” I’d almost punched his fucking lights out when he told me. “That’s enough.”
“No.” Matteo shook his head. “She needs to know all of it. She can’t protect herself if she doesn’t know what’s coming.”
“Nothing is coming.” I was my father’s son in many ways, and it was time Matteo remembered. I stood up, back straight to show off my full height and weight. “We are the nightmares that slink through the dark and command respect from our enemies. The Verduccis have forgotten that. And you have forgotten who you’re talking to.”
“I remember.” He strode around the desk to me without an ounce of fear. “I knowexactlywho you are. And right now, you’re a motherfucking coward who’s using Lila as a pawn in your war.”
I shoved him back when he stepped too close. “Watch what you say to me.”
“Fuck you.” His fist grabbed my collar. “You’re lying to her and treating her like a possession you can move around without any thought to her feelings.” He spat on the floor near my feet. “And you say you love her.”
