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“What? What are you thinking?”

“Nothing, boss. Not my place to say.”

“If you think you know something or suspect an issue, then it’s your duty to tell me. Today isn’t the day to piss me off, Gio. I think you know me well enough to realize that.”

He swallowed visibly. “Yes, sir, I do. I don’t like Drago. Maybe it’s something personal, but I swear that man is planning something. You can just tell. You know? After all the years I’ve been in this business, you know a person. You can sense a lying sack of shit from a mile away.”

I thought about his comment and sighed. “Having good instincts is invaluable. Keep an eye on him. Keep an ear to the ground and ensure we still have men on the streets. Also, gather the informants. I might need to have a chat with them.”

“Yes, sir. I hate to say that shit, but as you said, it’s my obligation.”

“Yeah, it is, Gio. Don’t lose track of that.”

“I won’t, sir.”

Drago.

I didn’t like the man. In fact, I’d come close to engaging in a fistfight for the sake of showing superiority. Not that it would have accomplished anything other than putting an exclamation point on the rules I’d set forth, yet I’d felt a strong need to ensure he knew I was top dog.

The thought of where I stood in the hierarchy of the alliance should disgust me.

That simply wasn’t the case.

There were so many appealing aspects of the darkness of night. I usually took solace in the shadows, the lack of light allowing me to think clearly.

Tonight wasn’t one of those nights.

Even the glow of the moon didn’t provide a sense of serenity as it normally did.

I returned to the house, hearing music. I shoved my hands into my pockets and returned to the living room, immediately noticing she’d moved the weapon I’d given her to another table closer to where she was standing.

Trust would be extremely difficult to come by.

She knew I was watching her. I could tell by the way she started to dance to the music the moment I’d walked into the room.

Yet she remained engrossed in the jazz beat, facing away from the entrance.

I moved to my drink, allowing myself to enjoy the sultry show while indulging in a few moments of the very serenity I’d hoped to find.

When the song ended, she turned to face me, more nervous than she’d been before.

“Nothing will ever be normal again. Will it, Alejandro?”

“Define normal.”

“The ability to enjoy the simpler things in life.”

“Such as?”

Her sigh was more exaggerated than before. I noticed her hand was shaking as she brushed her fingers through her hair. “Getting up in the morning and going to work. Coming home to a family where everyone was too loud and too boisterous, but happy to be away from the grind of work and school. Making dinner while enjoying wine, maybe listening to music. Then a movie before bed. Maybe the weekend plans would include going to a friend’s house or a barbeque. Every so often planning for a quick or extended getaway. That’s normal.”

“Who says we can’t have that?”

This time, I cringed hearing her laugh. “Two armies, a thousand weapons, a hundred enemies, and at least four law enforcement agencies who would love to put almost everyone behind bars.”

“Well, when you put it that way, then I guess you’re right.”

“That’s why I worked so hard to get the hell away from my family. It’s not about love or respect. I feel both deeply, but how can anyone live with a target on their back fearful that someone will appear out of the shadows with a gun in their hand?”