The Zano Family took one look at me and the air in the room went electric.
“Get her outta here,” Duke rumbled, feeling the air and pushing me backwards.
Uncle Vito slowly stood and Dom came out of his lounge as Shirleen yanked me back. Unfortunately, Sissy was pushing forward. There was general confusion as we were bumped and shoved but the confusion got sorted out quickly when Ren and Dom entered the equation.
Ren caught my arm and pulled me out of the fray and fully into the living room. Dom caught Sissy and pulled her in.
I was more worried about Dom getting to Sissy. I was even more worried when the electricity ratcheted up to radioactivity when Dom got a look at the fading purple marks under Sissy’s eyes.
“Dominic,” Uncle Vito said in a low, warning tone as Dom prepared to go berserk.
“Look at me,” I heard Ren order.
Oops.
I forgot Ren had hold of me. I looked at him, just had a chance to notice we had nearly identical cut lips (for some reason his looked sexier which I found pretty f**king unfair) when the radioactivity in the room became highly unstable.
“I’m gonna f**kin’ kill him,” Ren whispered.
“Lorenzo.” Now Uncle Vito was saying Ren’s name in a low, warning tone.
“We been at this half an hour and already things are out-of-control,” Duke grumbled.
I ignored Duke and focused on Ren. “It’s okay, Ren. Everything’s fine.”
Ren’s hands came to either side of my neck and his thumb gently pressed into the underside of my chin. His eyes were on the tear on my lip and his face was tight.
“I’m gonna f**kin’ kill him,” he repeated.
“Really, it’s okay,” I said. “Luke’s looking for Noah. We’re looking for Noah –”
Oops again.
Clearly I’d made an incorrect assumption because Ren’s head gave a jerk, his eyes came to mine and they narrowed. I’d surprised him.
“Stark didn’t do that to you?” Ren asked.
It was my turn to have my head jerk.
“Of course not,” I snapped, sounding exasperated.
“Dexter did that to you?” Ren’s voice was trembling with fury.
“What in the f**k?” Dom said from somewhere else but I knew he was talking about me. I didn’t know what was worse than unstable radioactivity, perhaps it was the sun exploding which had to be the power of what it felt like the room was preparing to do.
“You wanna step back?” All of a sudden Tex was at our side and he wasn’t asking a question. Ren’s body didn’t move but his head turned. He didn’t step back and his hands didn’t move from me.
“No,” was all he said but you could tell he meant it.
“Fair warnin’, you step back or I’ll f**kin’ make you step back,” Tex boomed.
“Please, don’t –” I started.
“Lorenzo, son, step back,” Uncle Vito said from behind Ren.
Ren and Tex continued their staring contest.
“Lorenzo, I want to hear what Ava has to say. I’m askin’ you, step back,” Uncle Vito pressed.