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Damon lifted his chin high. “I hope your husband doesn’t mind if we talk freely with you,” he said in a thick Texas accent.
“As long as you don’t get in her face or disrespect her,” Franco stated in an even tone.
“Not ever that. She was our family,” Orson said.
Was? I nodded, bringing the glass of red wine to my lips.
“Well, come on then and get it off your chest,” I said. My Texas accent I worked hard to push down rose to the surface.
I met Franco’s gaze. “If this conversation will piss you off, maybe you should step away. They’d been tortured and had taken bullets for me during my reign. They have every right to speak freely.”
“I’m not going any fucking where,” he gritted out through bared teeth.
I turned to my team. To me, they were still my team. My family. “Go ahead.” I gestured for them to bring it.
“Kennedy, we didn’t want to stay here without you,” Kitura said.
“It didn’t make sense to bring it up when we helped you on that last job. We knew it was just temporary. But we want to discuss why you left the first time,” she said.
We stood in the center of the yard but at a distance from the guests. No one could overhear our conversation.
“You knew I had to go. I deserved to attend college. To have a chance at a normal life.”
Damon’s dark brows lowered. “And we didn’t?”
I stepped to him. “If y’all would’ve joined me in Portland, my father would’ve come for all of us. We as a team kicked ass for him. Listen, he never gave me a choice to live my life. If you think I left here and lived like this.” I stretched my arms out.
“No. I lived in a tiny apartment, drove a Honda Civic. Luckily, it was a reliable car. I ate ramen noodles, salad, yogurt, and drank water. I didn’t have servants. Eating my favorite shrimp tempura was a thing of the past. Yes, I missed my clothes, my Range Rover, and the endless money. But to have freedom.” I squeezed my eyes shut briefly. “I’d give it up again and again.”
I stabbed a finger into my chest. “For the first time, I was my own person. You guys love this life.”
“Yes, we do. But it was different when you were here,” Damon stated, shoving a hand in his gray slacks pocket.
“We felt seen and valued under your reign, Kennedy,” Orson said.
Laughter erupted from within. “You enjoyed being treated like gods.”
Orson dropped his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Is that so wrong?”
“No,” I said bluntly.
“We were given shit jobs after you left. It was punishment for your abrupt departure. Your precious father couldn’t bark orders from behind his desk anymore. He had to hit the streets like Anson did after Quinn left.” Kitura grinned.
“I’m sorry that last job we did together almost got us killed.” Anger coursed through my veins.
“Uncle Anson didn’t think I’d make it out alive.” My fist curled at my side.
Franco brought the glass of Patron to his lips as he stepped away. I could feel the anger rolling off his skin in waves. He wanted my father and uncle dead yesterday. Clip, Bonnie, and Piero stood at a distance, giving us space, monitoring our surroundings. Vigo and Remo patrolled the outer premises. Ettore and Saro remained at the front of the house. The extra men Franco brought as backup surveyed the property at a distance.
“He underestimated how good we are together.” Orson bared his teeth like a wolf ready to kill.
Damon’s eyes darkened. “Stop fucking playing.”
“I’m not playing. He wanted me dead because I walked away from this life to find myself,” I sighed, then gulped the red wine.
“The man I love is a Capo for the DeLuca Crime Family. He controls Portland, Oregon.”
“We,” he said before bringing the glass to his lips. His words were loud enough to hear from his place about eight feet away.
