Page 10 of Burn the World Down

He wore tailored suit pants and a white shirt. The shirt contrasted with his bronze skin and the tattoos on his hands.I knew there was more ink under the cotton. He had dark, fathomless, brown eyes, and he was an intense, scary bastard. He’d given up the mafia life, but he lived by his own code.

One thing I knew about Alessio. He was loyal. To the bone.

He snuck off to do side jobs where he took out the worst of the worst. He especially hated those who preyed on women and children.

“I’m headed over to the casino to teach a close combat and takedown course with the security team.” I paused. “Want to help?”

Alessio nodded.

He didn’t talk much, but I didn’t mind. We got on well, regardless.

I cleaned up and we took the path that snaked through the golf course to the shiny curve of bronze metal and glass that made up the Avernus casino’s main building. The sun was out but it was cold today. December in Las Vegas usually brought cooler temperatures and some cloudy days. I bet back in Elk Falls there’d be snow on the ground. Sometimes I missed the snow.

Other villas neatly dotted the surrounding area. My gaze slid over Landon’s, Cole’s and Rafe’s. Alessio’s was tucked away out of sight. Bastian had a huge penthouse at the top of the casino.

“Job went okay?”

Alessio nodded. “Over quickly.” He glanced sideways. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Bastian said there was a problem in the high-rollers suite last night.”

I shrugged. “Three assholes decided to try and rob the high rollers. They brought in 3D-printed guns. We dealt with them.”

“Bastian said you seem to be…off.”

I rolled my eyes. “Damn, that man is like a mother hen. He pokes and pokes. I’mfine.”

Alessio stayed silent. We reached the staff entrance, and I pressed my hand to the scanner. Alessio did the same. The lock beeped and the door opened.

The air inside the casino was cool and it washed over me. I could feel Alessio’s gaze on me and I felt a sudden itch on my neck.

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

Alessio just raised a dark brow.

“Hell.” We stepped into the elevator and I stabbed a button. We zoomed down to the underground levels of the casino. The doors opened and I set off down the hall. “I thought you had to yank out teeth and fingernails to make people talk. Why do I feel like spilling my guts when you’re just standing there saying nothing?”

Alessio made a sound. “I never yanked teeth. That’s too messy.”

“I am…okay. I work, I grow my flowers. I play poker with you assholes. What more do you want?”

“You’re merely surviving, Nash. We want more than that for you. I get that we’re all…private. We had jobs where we worked alone, but not anymore.” He spread his hands. “For better or worse, we found each other.”

“A fucked-up found family of killers.”

Alessio’s lips quirked. “Yes, but it works for us. It’s our family. And no family is perfect.”

I snorted. “Look, Bastian fucks and works, Landon is a workaholic at the clinic, you sneak off for side jobs, Colt participates in the underground fights. Rafe gallivants around the world collecting art and who knows what else. None of us are the poster child for well-adjusted.”

“You’re ours, whether you like it or not.”

I blew out a breath. “I’m tired, and I don’t fucking know why.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Now I’m late for the class.”

Alessio kept pace beside me. “If you want to talk. I’m here. I also have an excellent bottle of Mitcher’s.”

I glanced at him. “How old?”