Renzo + Lucia: The Complete Trilogy - Bethany-Kris Page 0,14

up today, Renzo. It was supposed to be your mother.”

Lucia came into the main reception area of the shelter in just enough time to see Renzo’s gaze flash with fire as he shoved his fisted hands into the pockets of his jeans. His jaw was stiff—like something strong and sharp carved from marble. If not for the scowl etched on his lips that kept twitching like he was trying to hold back words, she thought he might have been a statue.

Cold, and beautiful.

Despite knowing whatever was happening near the entrance doors between Renzo and Laurie was none of Lucia’s business, she couldn’t help but peek over her shoulder as she approached the desk. The woman there seemed to be doing an even better job at minding her own business as she took the papers from Lucia without ever acting like there was a whole very loud argument happening just a few feet away.

Lucia was not that good.

She dared another peek over her shoulder. Standing directly behind Renzo with a blue backpack on was Diego. He stared up at the scene in front of him with his tiny brow knotted in confusion. It was plain to see the tiredness in the child’s eyes. How old was he? Maybe four, but he couldn’t be any older than that.

Lucia briefly wondered if the little boy was Renzo’s son, but then she remembered what Laurie had just said. Their mother was supposed to come and pick up Diego. So, a brother, then.

“She can’t be counted on, clearly,” Renzo said dryly. “I will make sure—”

“This is the fifth time this month that someone has been late picking him up. I even held the spot last week in the daycare for him because I knew you were dropping him off as you’d called ahead to let me know.”

“Listen—”

“No, you listen, Ren,” Laurie countered just as fast. “I know he needs a safe place to go in the day time, so you can … do whatever it is you do. It is only because you were able to provide a statement from your mother showing you take care of the majority of the child’s needs that I even allowed him a spot here without confirming other things that everyone else who gets a spot has to prove, Renzo. But I can’t keep stretching rules for you when you can’t even follow the basic policies of the daycare.”

Everything about Renzo’s posture screamed defensiveness. Lucia wouldn’t even have needed to hear him speak to know that just by looking at him.

“He’ll be picked up on time,” Renzo muttered through a still stiff jaw.

Laurie sighed. “You have one more chance. And no more calling in for me to save the spot, either. He either gets here on time, or you don’t get it.”

Renzo sucked air through his teeth, and his gaze swung down to his little brother who had come to stand by his side. It seemed that just by seeing the look of worry on little Diego’s face, Renzo quickly fixed his scowl and offered a smile to the boy. He tousled his hand through Diego’s hair, and winked.

“Is that understood?” Laurie asked, breaking the two brothers’ moment.

Renzo let out a grunt, but didn’t take his attention away from his brother. “Yeah, I fucking got it.”

Laurie only sighed again. Renzo gave the woman one last burning look before he bent down to scoop Diego up to carry him out of the entrance. He’d never even seen Lucia, or so she thought, but she had seen him. That was more than enough for her. She couldn’t begin to explain the strange desire in her chest that made her want to follow him just so she could speak with him, but it was there.

It grew with every passing second.

Every breath.

Lucia wasn’t even sure why. She didn’t know anything about Renzo except the fact he worked for her brother, and that didn’t mean good things. She’d literally watched her brother give the man money, and Lucia wasn’t so young or stupid that she didn’t know what her brother did for a living. Like every other man in her family.

And John basically said it, too.

Renzo was bad news.

The streets made him.

Yet, all Lucia could think was that the only difference between what Renzo did to get by and what her family did to make their money was the fact they dressed better than he did. So, she really didn’t see the difference.

And besides, right then, all Renzo had looked like was a young