Page 31 of Only Fools Rush

“Chiara,” I called instead. If we couldn’t follow, she at least needed to know we were coming. “We’ll find you, okay? Don’t lose hope.”

“I’ll be fine, Cas,” she responded, voice stronger than I expected. “Just stay with Leona.”

“Max!” I pounded on the door. “I’m coming for you. We all are. This isn’t over.”

Both Obi and Wynn stood beside me, fuming, just as I was. Leona and Ciel were silent in our earpieces, but I knew they could hear everything.

All six of us were coming for him.

“Not even close to over, brother,” he replied. “I own the Tommasos now. Tell Leona this is just the beginning.”

And then they were gone, only silence on the other side. I slammed my fist against the door, but he was right. This was steel, molded into the stone walls on either side. We needed welding gear or some fucking shit like that to get through it.

Obi placed his hand on my shoulder again.

God-fucking-damnit.

This was my fault.

10

LEONA

Isat on the couch, staring off into space.

Thoughts whizzed through my brain, too fast to catch them. What just happened? Vincenzo was dead. What did that mean? Did Maxreallyget engaged to my best friend? What did Chiara think? Was she trying to tell me that all along? Was she trying to warn me?

I had to get in touch with her, but what if?—

“L-Leona,” Ciel finally said aloud, momentarily stopping the rushing train of thoughts. I blinked, focusing my vision.

The rest of the guys sat around me in uncomfortable silence.

My mouth tasted like copper and ash. But they were all staring at me, looking at me for something. Did they expect me to break down? Fall apart? Rage? Fight?

I didn’t want to do any of those things. Numbness made my fingers cold and tingly.

I had to say something. Do something.

But I couldn’t move.

Had I just deluded myself into thinking I could be a queen? Queens didn’t react like this, did they?

Cas shifted next to me, grimacing and biting back a groan.

“Are you all right?” I asked, finally breaking my silence. Tonight hadn’t just affected me. He’d pushed himself too far, like he always did, and if I wasn’t careful, I would be the death of him.

If that happened, I’d never be able to live with myself. None of this would mean anything.

Thatsnapped me out of the stupor.

Obi had already lost respect for me. The other guys would, too, if I couldn’t get my shit together. I could handle this. I could bestrong.

Cas’s eyes flicked to me. “Areyou?”

With a sigh, I unfolded my legs, and stretched my arms from side to side. I was not okay, but sitting here doing nothing wouldn’t change anything. It was only going to make them lose faith in me.

I forced the words from my mouth, even as nausea rolled through my belly. “We have to talk about what just happened.”