Page 73 of Light It Up Red
“How?”
“Zio Luca was part of the life. He knew the risks. And besides, he’s always getting shot. It wasn’t anything new to him.”
“He was a football player when he jumped in front of that bullet. I’ve watched some of the news clips. He was a hero, really. But that’s not the point. The point is… Travis got shot, but he survived, Lil, and you’re over here acting like the guy is dead.”
“No, trust me, I would not be functioning if he actually died.” I shake my head.
“Your hair looks like you haven’t washed it for a week, and you have the darkest bags under your eyes. But, sure, let’s pretend everything is just fine,” she says while gesturing to my face.
“Thanks a lot.” I shove at her shoulder.
“You know I love you, but I’m going to be honest when I think you’re being an idiot. You love him. He loves you. The end.” Aurora claps her hands together. Like that’s it. Like it’s a done deal.
I wish it were that simple. I wish love was enough to overcome everything. But it’s not.
“You’re being a martyr because you’re scared of getting hurt. But here’s the thing, coz… You’re a Valentino. We do not run from anything. We look our fears in the eye and suffocate it. What we don’t do is give it the freedom to grow and smother us.”
I look at her and snort. “Who gave you that little bit of wisdom?”
“Nonno.” She smiles. “And he’s right. No one is scarier than Nonno,” she says. “Well, except maybe Zio Theo. Your dad is on the same level.”
“He is.” I laugh.
Is she right, though? Am I only running from what Travis and I have because I’m scared? I know I’m terrified of something happening to him, of losing him forever. And pushing him away… well, that’s practically the same thing. Either way, I don’t have him in my life anymore.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The doorbell rings through the house, with a constant repeating chime. They won’t stop pressing the buzzer. I roll my eyes, making no effort to rush to invite them in. Whoever it is, I know they’re a Valentino-approved guest. If they weren’t, the men Lili’s father has surrounding my place would have prevented them from even making it to the front door.
At first, I wanted to refuse his help. Tell Mr. Valentino they all had to go. That I don’t need his protection. The only reason I didn’t is because he’s Lili’s father, and for once, the guy isn’t threatening to kill me. Instead, he’s my only real form of contact with her, the only one who answers when I ask how she’s doing a million times a day.
I pull the door open and frown. “What the fuck are you all doing here?” I ask Grayson, who is the first one to barge past me and help himself into my house. He’s closely followed by Liam King and Luke Jameson, my new teammates. Then Lili’s brother and one of her numerous cousins—Enzo, I think.
“Drinking our sorrows away,” Liam replies with a smirk while holding up a six-pack.
“You’re going to need more than that to drink your sorrows away, King. You’re about to have Monroe for a brother-in-law.” I laugh, even though I don’t feel like laughing. And I sure as shit don’t feel like entertaining these assholes right now either.
“Fuck off. Have you seen the family you’re marrying into, fucker?” Grayson throws out an arm towards Alessandro and Enzo.
My heart fucking aches at the thought of Lili. I couldn’t give a shit who her family is. I would marry that girl tomorrow if she’d let me. That thought has me frozen to the spot.
Would she let me? Would she say no if I asked her?
“Who the fuck says they’re getting married? I didn’t see no ring on my sister’s finger,” Alessandro grunts.
“Yet,” I tell him. “But there will be.”
“Good luck with that. She won’t even talk to you right now.” Enzo laughs. I glare at him, which only causes him to laugh harder.
“Again, why the fuck are you all here?” I look at each of the guys currently filling my otherwise empty foyer.
“Drinking,” Luke says. “It’s our day off and we won last night. So we’re drinking.”
I don’t tell him that I didn’t even play. That I didn’t win shit. The team did great, sure, but when you did fuck all to contribute to that game, you can’t really claim the glory.
“I’m not in the mood,” I huff.
“Too bad. We’re drinking. His little sister just arrived in town, which means sometime within the next twelve hours, we’re going to have to bail her out of some fucked-up shit she managed to get herself into. And I, for one, need a shit-ton of alcohol for that,” Alessandro says, pointing at Enzo.
