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I catch him up to the present, leaving off with our adventure at the casino.

“Wow. So that’s why you look a thousand years older than me now.”

“Fuck you, dumbass. I lookgood.” For the first time since he picked us up, I actually smile. “Nice place, by the way.”

The view of the ocean is unreal through the living room window. It’s quiet. Peaceful.

“The only good thing to come out of all of this,” he remarks tonelessly.

“How long will she be out for?” I change the subject, uncomfortable with the unfamiliarity between us.

“A while. Long enough.”

“For what?” I sit up, seeing the change in his demeanor. His gaze sharpens. He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees.

“For us to leave. Together. I have passports, money, weapons. It’s all set up. It’ll be you and me again.”

“And Abas will just let you go?”

“Ero Diamante is dead. So is Ciro, for all the governments of the world know. The people we are now can die too. We can start over.”

“Do you really believe that?”

He inhales, watching me. “You really have changed.”

“So have you. But the one thing we have in common is that neither of us can get out. Adil Abas would never suffer you to live as long as he owns you. And there is nowhere he couldn’t find you. You know that as well as I do.” Why do I feel like I really am talking to a younger sibling, like I am the mature one?

Ero grimaces, then nods reluctantly.

“But you aren’t running for a different reason,” he mutters, glancing to the bedroom.

“You’re not wrong. It’s more than that. The Bratva is my family now. They don’t just own me, I am one of them.” And I realize deep down that it’s true. I care about the people, the organization. Maybe it is all tied to Vanya and Matty. Or maybe I feel like I belong there.

The look of despair, of disappointment, on Ero’s face crushes my heart.

Like full-on tearjerker.

Stupid emotions.

“So that’s it. You turn your back on the Diamantes. On me.”

“That’s not fair. Or true.”

Still, he believes it. I see it in his eyes. Never mind that he’s in the same boat. Sworn to another crime family.

“Then I guess I’ll be following my orders after all. Get cleaned up. Get some rest.” Ero orders, his tone vacant and distant. I can only assume he’s meant to escort us to the nearest port or travel station.

But right now, I don’t care. My brother is alive.

As relieving as it is, our reunion is anything but joyful.

I just sit there, feeling miserable as he gets up and stalks out of the house.

23

VANYA

Static fuzz hisses in my head.