Page 114 of The Retaliation You Deliver

I shake my head at him knowing that he only left me alone in there for about four minutes tops.

“H-how?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just know I’ve organized something good.”

He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles.

Feeling the heat of Luca’s stare in the mirror once more, I glance over at him.

“She looks good on you, bro. Hold her fucking tight.”

My heart slams against my ribs. Knowing I’ve got Luca’s approval means more to me than it should. But a lifetime of never fitting in or belonging anywhere does that to a person.

“I fully intend to, bro.” Tugging on my arm, he pulls me closer and drops a kiss to my temple before whispering, “you’re mine,” so that only I can hear.

It’s only seconds later when Luca brings the car to a stop. I look out at the house before us to see the front door open and a little boy comes speeding out on a pair of crutches, a wide beaming smile spread across his face, quickly followed by an exasperated but happy woman.

Both Leon and Luca step out of the car to meet their brother, but I don’t move. I can’t, I’m transfixed watching as they greet him.

“They’re incredible with him,” Peyton muses, startling me.

I’d forgotten she was still in the car with me.

“He looks so happy.”

“He literally thinks they hung the moon. Like, they are the two coolest guys in the world.”

“Ugh, he hasn’t told them that, has he?” I joke, knowing full well that both of their egos are already big enough.

“He doesn’t need to with that look on his face.”

“That’s one lucky little boy right there.” I don’t really mean to say it aloud, but I can’t deny it’s true.

“For a while I thought he’d been handed a shit deal with Mom and everything.” She doesn’t go into detail, obviously not knowing how much I know about the situation. “But, yeah, things have turned out good.”

“Families don’t need to be conventional to work,” I say, as if I’m a freaking expert on the matter.

I’ve barely ever had a family let alone a working one.

“I know. And with Brett gone, this family is only going to get stronger.”

Ripping her eyes away from the guys as they joke around with Kayden, she glances back at me.

“You’re a part of it now, Macie, whether you like it or not. Leon has never let anyone in. Letty got somewhere close, but you… you’re it for him.” A lump crawls up my throat at her words. “I know it hasn’t been the most romantic of starts for the two of you, but I’m pretty sure that what lies ahead is going to be so much more…”

“Satisfying,” I offer before I realize what I’ve said. My face burns with embarrassment while Peyton laughs.

“Oh yeah. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of that.”

“He’s like a completely different person now the weight has been lifted.”

“Leon’s been through some dark shit. I know you don’t need to hear me say it, you’re more than aware. I think more so than any of us.” Her eyes hold mine in the mirror. “You know everything, don’t you?”

I swallow nervously as I think about everything he confessed to me.

“All the things he’s refused to tell the rest of us.”

“I-I… um… I don’t know what—”