Gio

“Hey,” Gio whispered, pressing a hand to my back as he leaned in close. “You okay?”

I was sad. Not because of him, but because of what I was missing.

I smiled, the most genuine one I could muster. “I’m good.” I met his eyes. “I love your family.”

“They love you.” He returns. “You’re pretty perfect, ya know that?” He presses his lips to my ears.

“I’m missing Johnny,” I admit.

He closes his eyes at this statement and pulls me firmly into his grasp. “Haven’t heard from him, hmm?”

“No.” I answer, curling further into him.

“He’ll come around.”

“Time to dance!” Gemma’s laughter breaks through our moment.

The dance floor is filled with people laughing and dancing. There has to be hundreds of people at this wedding.

Gio captivated the dance floor, he wraps his arms around me and sways.

He’s sweet with his family.

He’s being considerate with me.

I even watch him dance with his younger cousins.

He was taking over all of my senses without even trying.

I’m falling in love with Gio DelGado.

The fucking mobster.

Johnny Byrne should be dead.

This is a fact I know, all of my men know, hell, even Johnny probably knows this. Instead of being dead, he’s sitting across from me on the cushy chairs in my office.

Is she worth it?

That question is nagging at me. I think the answer should be no. I don’t deserve her, I can’t protect her, and if I let her go I could wash my hands of her brother and be done.

Deep down though, I know the answer is yes. There is no way I can hurt Annie by hurting her brother. Instead, I’m going to treat the piece of shit how you treat all addicts: rehab.

Frank stands in front of the door with stony eyes as I tell Johnny about his new fate. “It’s a nice place,” I say, though I don’t really know or care. I just know it’s costing me a shit ton of money and is shady enough that they’re letting me commit him instead of a family member.

Johnny was high on something when my guys picked him up. The ride over and the hour I made him sweat it out had only begun to sober him up. The sobering was making him antsier. He was in a full panic mode, pacing, and rambling about the money we were costing him.

Yeah, we’re costing him money. He has the audacity to say that when my pocket is a hundred g’s lighter because of him.

“Fuck you.” He tries to stand but is quickly met with Frank pushing him back into the seat. “I’m not going.”

“It’s not a choice.”

The kid’s face is livid, and he looks like he might burst a blood vessel. “You don’t understand, this bet, this is the one! I’m going to make us millionaires, you’re not listening.”

“I’m already a millionaire.” I dismiss it. “Frank here is going to take you to the clinic. You’re not leaving until you’re fucking clean, hear me?” I take a breath, thankful to be met with silence for a minute. “Your sister deserves better.”

A scowl crosses his face. “And you think you know what she deserves? You’ve known her for-” he mimes checking his watch. “Ten seconds?”