Page 56 of The Fractured

Something shifted in his eyes, and for a second, I wondered if he knew something. He already knew that Lily’s dad was investigating him, that his kids were out for revenge, and that his businesses and life could go under at any moment, but could he possibly know more than I thought he did?

“I have a hard time trusting most people anyway,” I said.

“Except for Lily.”

Something coiled in my gut as I maintained that unbothered demeanor.

“Except for Lily,” I repeated in agreement.

“How are things going there?”

“She hasn’t said anything to her father, if that’s what you mean.”

But I have.

He chuckled. “Good to know, but I was asking because last I heard, you had thrown away your relationship, and she was injured.”

Antonio wants to chat about my love life?

It threw me off slightly. I was so used to figuring out his angle to keep my guard up, but this topic left me feeling confused.

“We’re alright,” I said. “She’s healed okay too.”

“Good. I couldn’t imagine how it must’ve felt to see her like that.” He glanced through the windowpane.

I followed his gaze to his wife standing at the center of the party under the warm glow of the fairy lights strung up around the garden.

After a sigh, Antonio continued. “I don’t have any spares at the moment, but I’ll have Vince track one down for you.”

“Thanks, boss.” I stepped away from the window, but Antonio made no indication of leaving yet.

“What’s going on with Seb? My people can’t reach him… He hasn’t decided to fight for my children, has he? Because it would be such a shame to lose him.”

“No, you haven’t lost him...” I rubbed the back of my neck. “He, uh, broke his phone.”

Antonio lifted a brow, slightly amused. “That’s all?”

“Yep. The repairs are taking longer than he thought. Trust me when I say you aren’t the only one wonderin’ about his whereabouts.”

“Well. Next time you see him, tell him to get a new phone.” Antonio’s tone was less of a suggestion and more of an order with a gentle warning.

I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Will do, boss.”

Chapter 20

Dean

“I love you. Be careful. And please come home conscious.”

Lily’s words had become something of a mini mantra since I arrived at Castello di Vetro, sizing up the large glass box in the center of the club's basement.

It had been a minute since my last fight, and it showed in the bounce in my leg. I had everything to lose now and the more I looked at the large cube with the familiar face waiting inside it, the more I understood how ridiculous this shit was.

I walked onto the platform and stopped before the glass door of the cube as the spectators roared. They weren’t cheering for me, not like the crowd at The Den. This was a different crowd. Upper class but just as bloodthirsty as the last ones I had done this in front of. This crowd had no idea who I was, and their cheering was purely for the fight itself.

I glanced up to the VIP section of the mezzanine that wrapped around the basement and spotted Roxy standing right beside Gabriele. She was already working her charm to get him to trust her completely so she could get any information she could about how Antonio’s kids ran their little operation. Most ofwhat she discovered was stuff we already figured out; they were here to create disorder. Not only to their dad but to the entire underground.

Fucking overachievers.