"Fair." I seriously had to fight the urge to laugh as Chase's bruised cheek flashed under the kitchen lights. Phoenix had said to change the tables, be unpredictable. Punching Chase was the only way I could think to shake things up without actually shooting someone. It raised suspicion, but still kept me in the house until it was time.

"I hate mornings." Trace shuffled into the kitchen, her hair in a ponytail and eyes barely open. "Coffee me."

Chase handed her his own cup and got another one for himself. "Sleep well?"

"I'm sorry, are you actually talking to me right now? Before I even take a sip?" Her eyes widened as she leaned in towards Chase.

Note to self, coffee first, chat later.

Chase grinned patronizingly and patted her head. "Aw, you're so feisty, like a little... mouse."

"Name calling gets you nowhere,"

Trace fired back.

Chase smirked. "That's not what Mil says."

"Mil says her husband needs to stop picking fights with people smaller than him." Mil announced walking into the room.

Chase's entire face lit up.

I looked away. I didn't want to see everyone happy and together, not when my own freaking life was such a mess.

Not when I had to do what I was going to do. d.a.m.n, I couldn't even look into their eyes without feeling guilt slice through me.

I grabbed the newspaper just as the entire room fell silent and tense as h.e.l.l. I knew it was Mo. I could tell from the way the air shifted, from the way my body heated by just having her near.

With slow movements I lifted my head over the paper and stared.

What I saw had me reaching for my gun.

Sergio was whispering something in her ear as he poured her a cup of coffee. Holy s.h.i.t, I was going to break his hand.

He snaked his other arm around her and touched her shoulder. Just kidding I was going to break both his hands and stuff them into his mouth.

Mo smiled at him.

I gripped the table with my left hand, my fingers digging into the wood.

"Easy," Nixon whispered from next to me. "We don't want to have to buy a new one."

"A new Sergio or a new table?" I said through clenched teeth.

"One's irreplaceable."

"What?" I looked down. "This is an antique?"

Nixon smirked. "I mean Sergio, you jacka.s.s."

I shrugged and went back to my paper and read, you know if reading meant I stared at the same sentence while trying to eavesdrop on Mo and Sergio's conversation.

"Family dinner." Chase announced sitting down next to me. I scooted away towards Nixon and crossed my arms.

p.i.s.sed. I had to look p.i.s.sed.

And ready to kill them.

All of them.

"Family dinner." Nixon repeated, leaning back in his chair. "I'll have Luca and Frank let everyone know. Most the Alferos are in town, The Nicolasis just flew in this morning, so we'll plan for something around five."

Chase cracked his knuckles. "I'll have Mil help me cook."

"You sure about that?" Phoenix stumbled into the kitchen took one look at me and glanced away-no recognition. No emotion. d.a.m.n he was good. "Last time I ate something she cooked, I got food poisoning."

"I was five." Mil rolled her eyes.

"And it was cookie dough, I blame the raw egg."

"Note she said raw." Phoenix plopped down on his chair. "I'll be helping Luca and Frank today."

"Great." Nixon sniffed and stole part of my paper. "Just make sure n.o.body shoots anyone on the way here."

"Can't make any promises,"

Phoenix said blandly. "But I'll give them all the talk."

"The talk?" Trace asked in a quiet voice, though she seemed a lot less hostile than earlier.

"Yeah." Phoenix didn't make eye contact. I wasn't sure if he felt guilty over what had happened or what was going to happen, either way his eyes averted to the wood table as he shrugged and answered, "The whole, a bullet for a bullet, a punch for a punch, you kill my Family I obliterate yours, you know...

The Talk."

"Yeah." Trace squinted. "They don't teach that in school."

"Speaking of school." Mo finally spoke up. Her voice made my entire body tense... I wasn't sure if it was from addiction, yearning, or fear. Maybe all three. "I want to enroll for Winter cla.s.ses."

All eyes fell to her.

Trace cleared her throat. "I should probably join you."

"Me too." Mil nodded slowly. "I have a year to finish anyway."

"Wait." Nixon held up his hand.

"You guys want to go back to Eagle Elite?"

"Why not?" Trace shrugged. "It's not as if someone's going to murder us in the iron gates."

Nixon glanced at me, I looked down, my eyes were guilty. It had been my suggestion. I couldn't believe Mo was actually listening to me. Then again, maybe I could.

She was moving on.

And it hurt like h.e.l.l.

Part of me wanted her to fight, a giant part of me wanted her to push every boundary I set in place. Instead, she listened to me. She was fulfilling her promises and for once in my life I really wished she wouldn't.

Sergio reached across the table and touched Mo's hand to gain her attention.

I gripped one of the b.u.t.ter knives in my fingers in antic.i.p.ation of cutting his off.

"Great idea, Mo." He winked at me. "I can always go with you girls when you enroll. The new Dean is a close friend."

"That's true," Nixon said slowly.

"Okay, but not until Winter cla.s.ses start, alright?"

"Great." Mo took a drink of coffee then looked directly at me. The smile that was originally on her face transformed into something I never thought, in all my years I'd see directed at me.

Fear.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE.

Life always presents opportunities for

redemption.

Phoenix "NIXON?" I CLEARED my throat. "A minute?"

With a swift nod, Nixon stood, kissed Trace on the head and led me into his office shutting the door behind him.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing." I braced my hands behind my head and sighed. "I just... I hit a snag."

He pursed his lips together. "What type of snag?"

"The female kind."

"She pregnant?"

"What?" I gasped, horrified. "No, what? Is who pregnant?"

"Easy." Nixon grinned. "I was kidding and I don't even know who you're talking about."

Swear sweat started to pour from my temples. My body demanded I pace back and forth to get rid of all the tension and anxiety building inside of me. "Bee." I cleared my throat. "Tex's sister."

"Tell me she's not dead."

"She's not dead." Right, the woman would be the death of me, not the other way around. "She's just making things difficult on those I left in charge. I think it might be good to bring her to dinner and introduce her to family. Alfonso's been appeased for the moment."

"How?" Nixon licked his lips.

"Luca had me deal with the situation." I tilted my head and narrowed in my gaze, basically challenging him to doubt me.

"So... problem solved? Just like that?" He crossed his arms.

"For now..." I said slowly. "Yes, just like that."

"Do I want to know how?"

"No." I said honestly. "And even if you did, I wouldn't tell you."

"d.a.m.n." Nixon sighed. "Luca really did a number on you, didn't he?"

I shrugged. "So, Bee?"

"Won't that be like waving a flag in front of the Campisi clan?"

"Why yes." I smiled. "Yes it will."

"We have your boss and his sister and mean to do what? Go to war?"

"Not war." I stuffed my hands in my front pockets. "Besides, Alfonso's been appeased, he never wanted her anyway.

In fact, the minute I infiltrated the family he couldn't get rid of her fast enough, she has a... wild streak."

"Wild as in, she's cranky?"

"Wild as in she shot me in the arm."

I coughed. "Wild."

"Ah, so you've met your match."

I felt my entire face pale as my body went rigid as a statue. "No, I don't... I mean... I haven't been with a girl. Look, is it okay or not?"