Page 178 of Hexed
He moves then and steps in front of me, gripping my shoulder with his hand and squeezing. “You know I’ve got your back in anything. You tell me we’re gonna put a bullet in her head for what she did? I’m behind you a hundred percent, but I gotta tell you…I think it’s a mistake. And I think you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
The thought of Venesa with a bullet anywhere near her makes bile collect at the back of my throat and my mouth go sour. I have to keep myself from lashing out at Gio for even suggesting it.
And maybe that makes me a pussy.
But I can’t kill her, even if I wish I could. It sure as hell would be easier.
“Man.” Gio whistles, looking at Peppino’s grave. “A lot of blood’s been spilled because of him and your father, you know?”
I nod. “Part of the life.”
He rocks back on his heels. “It is…and it is for her too.”
My jaw clenches. “So, what, I’m supposed to just forget about it?”
Gio shrugs. “That’s up to you, E. But we both know if the shoe were on the other foot, if it had been your father who ordered you to killherbrother, you would have done the same damn thing. And back then? She didn’t owe you her loyalty.”
“She didn’t tell me once she did.”
He quirks a brow. “That’s true. But what would you have done?”
I blow out a heavy breath, because fuck if I know. But Idoknow it would be the hardest thing to tell her, even if it was right.
“So are you hurt because she killed him or because she didn’t tell you?” he continues.
I’m not sure.“Does it matter?”
Gio shrugs. “Only you can say if it matters. If you can forgive her.”
Bricks settle in my chest like heavy weights. “Would you?”
“Those are two very different transgressions, so I don’t know. But I know life’s too short to hold grudges and hate in our hearts for the people we love. There’s no?—”
He stops talking suddenly, a choking sound coming from him instead.
I turn to look at him in confusion.
His eyes widen, his mouth opens, and his hand clutches at his chest, red seeping from between his fingers.
“Fuck, Gio.” I rush forward, catching him as he falls. Ice fills my veins when a thick and sticky wetness covers my palms. I lay him down on the ground, wishing I could give him the attention he needs, but if he just got shot, that means I need to think quickly.
I stand, pulling out my gun from my holster and spinning around.
The grim reality of my situation settles in quickly when I see my father holding a weapon with a silencer attached.
His eyes look calm and collected, which means he’s anything but.
Gio’s trying to move, but I can’t afford to lose focus, so I keep my stare on Pops, even though everything in me wants to turn around and make sure the only friend I’ve ever had doesn’t bleed out in front of my piece-of-shit brother’s grave.
“You followed me,” I state. It’s not a question; it’s the only way he would know that I’m here.
My heartbeat pumps erratically, but on the outside, I maintain a calm composure, matching my father’s stance. Even if Gio dies, I can’t break.
My gun has never felt so heavy in my hand, but my soul feels light knowing that however this turns out, this is going to end once and for all.
Either I die, or my father does.
This wasn’t what I had planned, but I’m nothing if I’m not adaptable.
