Page 196 of With Us

“And her finding out about Larson’s death?”

“I’d hooked my phone to your smart TV and streamed the recorded news. It was an old broadcast, but she was too caught up to notice. I’d figured she’d leave, or you’d lie and then she’d leave. It tore her apart, but she stayed.” His lip curled in disgust. “I don’t think you even know how much of herself she sacrificed to come to terms with who we all are. What we do.”

“All this because I only tortured and killed three people? Luca and I didn’t give them a slap on the wrist and let them walk away. We took ourtime.”

Niall spoke for the first time. “He’s not lying. They left those bodies in the middle of a building that was supposed to be safe guarded. Scared the shit out of everyone to know it was compromised and what they were capable of. Looked like a feckin’ horror movie.”

Ben’s face contorted with anger, his focus on his single-minded vengeance. “What about how I found them? How I foundher? She was my mother!”

“Ay,” Niall said, “and she was my sister!”

“But it was my fault! I had to do something.” Ben’s eyes were filled with a wild grief. “They all need to pay. Every last one of them.”

Since being old enough to get involved in Amato business, I’d never hesitated. We didn’t follow the law, but we had our own code. A clear right and wrong.

He’d betrayed the family and that called for his death.

But for the first time ever, I hesitated and almost lowered my arm.

“You don’t do it.” Niall pushed my gun out of the way and replaced it with his own. “I do.”

“He’s your family—” I started.

“No.” Niall’s face was blank. “Family has your back. They don’t turn on you to serve themselves. They don’t set you up to fall.Amatois my family.”

Ben slumped slightly against the wall, as if he’d just released a heavy weight he’d been carrying around for ten years. He met my eyes. “If you have any soul at all, you’ll let her go.”

I shook my head once. “No.”

A single shot rang out, echoing around us as Ben’s body hit the floor.

I reached out and squeezed Niall’s shoulder. “I’ll have Gabe here in an hour.”

He covered my hand and squeezed, but didn’t speak or turn around as I left.

Taking the steps three at a time, I gulped in the fresh air but still felt the weight on my chest. I got in my car and dialed Gabe.

“Hello?” he answered on the second ring.

“Clean up. I’ll text you the address.”

“How many?”

“One. At least I hope like fuck it’ll only be one.” I ran my hand down my face. “Maybe plan for two.”

His voice was low and almost gentle, the same soft tone he used with Mar and Tina. “What’s going on, boss?”

“The rat’s been exterminated.”

“Fuck. Who?”

“Ben.”

“Fucking hell,” he said.

“Niall did it.”

“Fucking hell shit. Is he okay?”

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