Smoke (The Carelli Family Saga #1) - Eden Butler Page 0,45

he used to clean his hand.

“Boss,” he said, out of breath with his face bruised and bloody. “They got Vin and…” He went quiet when Maggie moved to my side, rocking her boy when the kid started to cry.

“Go clean up,” I told Ricky, nodding him toward the back of my apartment as Maggie’s gaze landed on his shirt and the blood from whatever injury the man had underneath it dripping on my wood floors. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

He moved down the hallway, out of sight, and I stuffed my gun in my waistband, grabbing the door when Maggie reached for it. “Bella…”

“It’s…okay…” she said, still rocking the baby. She glanced at the floor, to the small puddle Rick made, her eyebrows up and complexion pale. “I’ll put him to bed.”

“This isn’t…this is part of keeping everyone safe…” When she only nodded, not looking at my face, I stopped her, pulling her against my chest, my mouth against her ear. “This won’t touch you. I promise. I’ll keep you safe.”

“I…hope you’re right,” she said, pulling away from me. There were tears wetting her eyes, making them shine against the overhead light. I hated that I’d put that fear in her beautiful eyes.

“I promise…I’ll keep you safe. Even if it’s for the best…”

“For the best?” She moved away, curling an arm around the kid, like she wanted to keep him as far away from me as possible. “Toni told me about you and your ‘it’s for the best’ scenarios. What you did to her and Luca…God…”

“Toni…”

“Don’t, please,” she said, stopping any excuse I might have for how I’d handled that situation. There was no reasoning. No explaining that would make sense to anyone but myself.

“I was trying to protect my family,” I told her, ignoring her small protest when I reached for her face, holding her head still. “You and Mateo, just like Toni, you’re my family too.”

“That’s not tonight’s discussion.” She glanced to the hall, then down at the blood on the floor. “Go see to your man.” Then Maggie left the room, walking into the back toward the bedroom, and everything got quiet. Everything got still and for once in my life, I hated the silence.

11

Maggie

Only twice in my life had I ever gotten flowers.

Once, the girls in Alejandro’s office had given me flowers the day of our engagement. It was their idea, not his, and something I hadn’t expected.

The other time, Alejandro himself had managed a large bouquet of long stem, blood red roses for our first-year wedding anniversary. It was the last time I remember us ever being happy.

But the bouquet in my arms was unexpected. It was large, likely the largest I’d ever seen and the flowers were ornate and expensive.

“Well,” Vi said, coming into the kitchen, carrying a freshly bathed Mateo in her arms. She watched as I closed the door, nodding a thanks to the delivery guy and moved them to the table, head shaking, then she nodded me over to help her dress my son. “If this is Mrs. Carelli again, why is she sending them here?”

“I’m not sure she knows we’re living together,” I said, my gaze shooting from the naked baby to the flowers on the kitchen table, then to the half-empty boxes that I’d only half-heartedly packed. “If that’s what you would call it.”

“Well, yeah, kid. You do have to pack your things and actually move them the few blocks to your fella’s place if you intend on living with him.” Vi pulled out a diaper, tossing it to me.

“Yeah. I suppose I do.” Mateo squirmed, donning just his diaper and squealed when I grabbed the small tube of lotion from his bag and began rubbing it over his chubby legs. “I’ve got my room almost done and all of my bathroom finished.” I waved my hand, shrugging like those two small feats were something to be proud of.

“Sounds to me like you’re hesitating. Or maybe not real excited about leaving.” Vi helped me tug Mateo’s shirt over his head, fighting with my boy as he struggled against us.

“I’m crazy about him,” I said, glancing again at the flowers, ignoring that small voice in my head that reminded me Smoke didn’t do romantic gestures like flowers thanks to Miss Gimmee. “It’s just…a little strained right now.”

Vi watched me, that small, knowing smile she liked to wear shaking the corner of her mouth. When I tilted my head at her, she shrugged, throwing her arms up like I’d accused