Angelo (The Marchesi Family 2)

“What? Why? My dad’s gone, and I’m not—”

“You’re with me. That puts you in danger.”

Cameron had lost all his color. “I can’t lose the bakery. Not after all I’ve done to keep it.”

I reached for his hand and laced our fingers together. “I’m not going to let anything happen to the bakery. I’ll put as many guards there as we need, and I will personally find the man responsible.”

“I… I don’t like the idea of you killing for me.”

“I’m protecting you from a man who’s at war with my family.” I decided Cameron didn’t need to know he was angry because we’d killed his father and taken most of the empire he thought was rightfully his.

“Until Sergio is neutralized, it’s not safe for you to stay above the bakery.”

“What? That’s my home. Where do you want me to go?”

He wasn’t going to like this. “You’ll be staying with me.” He started to protest, but I cut him off. “We’re not arguing about this. If I really had my way, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.”

“That is so not part of our agreement.”

“Fuck the agreement. You’re mine, and you know it.”

I heard his indrawn breath, and I let go of his hand so I could grip his thigh. “Let me protect you, Cam.”

“O-okay.”

I let out a long breath. “Devil is meeting us at the bakery. I need to find out everything I can about the incident at Santino’s and Ralph’s confrontation with the men who showed up at the bakery. Then I’ll take you home, and I’ll be back later tonight.”

“You know this is insane, right? Me moving in with you.”

“No, Cam, it’s not. It feels exactly right.”

“I… I’ll stay until it’s safe, but no longer.”

I didn’t need to argue that point now. All I had to do was show him he didn’t want to leave. A few moments later, I pulled into one of the narrow parking spaces behind the bakery.

“Where’s Devil?” Cameron asked as we got out of the car.

“Inside.”

“Do Marchesis learn lock-picking as kindergarteners or something?”

“If you don’t already know in preschool, we consider you behind.”

We found Devil in the kitchen, grabbing a cannoli from a large container on the counter. Cameron scowled at him. “You let yourself in, and you’re eating my food?”

Devil just grinned. “Hi, Cam. Long time no see.”

Cameron gave him a look that said he would’ve been happy if he’d never seen Devil again.

“What have you learned?” I asked.

“Not much. I was going to talk to the detective who showed up at Santino’s since we own the building, but you’re going to have to do that.”

“Why?”

“No big deal. Detective Daniels is working the case. He and I… We’ve got some history.”

I studied him for a moment. He was acting oddly cagey. Why hadn’t he told me he’d had a run in with some cop? I’d find out more later. “I need to take Cameron home.”

Devil looked back and forth between us. “He’s moving in with us?”

“Yes.” I gave Devil a look that dared him to ask me questions or contradict me in front of Cameron. I knew he would tease me mercilessly later, but this wasn’t the time.

“I can drive him to the house. In fact, I think it would be nice for us to have a little talk.”

“Devil.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not going to hurt your boy.”

“I’m right here. I can answer for myself, and I told Angelo—”

“That you very much appreciate my offer, and you’re going to go upstairs and pack your bags so I can keep you safe.”

He glared at me before he stomped off toward the door.

Six and Muffin, two friends of Devil’s who’d been working for us as muscle, had taken over guard duty from Ralph. I gestured for them to keep an eye on Cameron.

“He looks ready to murder you,” Devil said.

“I’m sure he is.”

“How did it go with him today?”

“Fine, until I told him he was going to be moving in with me.”

Devil just grinned. “Remember when Lucien moved Peter into our house? He didn’t want to come either, but Lucien changed his mind real fast.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not the same.”

“Watching the two of you, the way you look at each other when you think the other one doesn’t realize, you’re wrong. It’s exactly the same.”

I wasn’t sure I had the energy to argue with him. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

He raised his brows. “You were just going to have your revenge and walk away?”

“I can’t talk about this right now. I’ve got to go take care of another fucking problem.”

“You go fix that one, and I’ll take care of everything with Cameron.”

“You drive him to the house, introduce him to Lola, and then fuck off.”

He chuckled. “You know that’s not how this is going to go.”

“Devil, don’t fuck with him.”