Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Vincenzo

Fred stared at me through his black-rimmed glasses, sizing me up, and the beautiful blush that graced his cheeks was enough to tell me that even with the nightmare he was going through, he appreciated what he saw.

I pulled my hand away when it appeared he wasn't going to shake it. "You've been through a lot, Frederick. Axel here has been caring for you, so maybe don't give him such a hard time."

That snapped him out of it. "Excuse me?"

"You've been through a trauma. Please stay calm."

He huffed, and it took everything in me not to chuckle as he made a show of getting out of bed. He wobbled but seemed to find his bearings.

"For two years, I tried to get you to meet with me and now, after my life is obviously going tits up, you grace me with your presence, and then have the nerve to order me around?"

"I meant no disrespect."

He snorted. "What would you call this"—he gestured to my person—"whatever you're doing?"

"Zion was planning to make arrangements, as you know. I'll admit these recent events altered those, and here I am."

Fred opened and closed his mouth a few times. I waited. He'd just lost his uncle and cousin, the two people closest to him, but he was upset with me, and that was a burden I'd take on if it meant he wouldn't fall apart.

He looked down at himself before meeting my gaze once again. "Do I have clothes other than pajamas?"

I turned to Axel, who nodded. "In the dresser. You've been out for two days. With Aiden's help, we were able to get clothes that would fit you." Axel motioned to the armoire.

"Two…" He sighed. "The hospital, my job…the family." His eyes widened. "What's going on with Sean and Aine? They need a funeral, they…" He collapsed onto the bed, head in hands, and the shake of his shoulders showed the weight of everything finally burrowing its way inside.

"Axel, will you please excuse us?"

"Yes, Praeses."

Once Axel left, I inched closer to Fred. There was a chair in the corner, and I pulled it over to where he sat.

"You can't take it all on at once," I whispered. He didn't move; only a sniffle and soft sob could be heard. "The hospital was called, and Aiden explained that you were in an accident, and they are allowing you medical leave."

It had been by far the easiest fix to make for Fred. Everything else presented a challenge. Obviously, his family would know he was alive, and Aiden had made sure no funeral would go forward until Fred was ready.

"Aiden has been in contact with your family. Everyone is waiting on your instruction for funeral arrangements."

I spoke gently, with an even cadence, and answered each of his concerns as best as I could.

"As for who did this, we are working on that. While you've rested, I've had Zion doing a deep dive."

"Why should I trust you?" he asked without looking up. "For all I know you did this, angry with me for forcing your hand and demanding you show your face."

I sat back and regarded the redheaded man. It was a valid question and smart of him to assume everyone was an enemy.

"Fair assumption, but I had no hand in this. If I did, why would I be sitting here before you…showing you my face?"

When he lifted his head, his glasses were askew, his cheeks crimson, and tears stained his face. He was still stunning.

"Misdirection."

I nodded. "Another fair assumption but, if you truly knew me and Lex Talionis, you'd know games aren't our style."

"Then I guess I don't really know you." His mournful expression morphed into rage. "The convenience of your arrival can't be ignored!"

Leaning closer toward Fred's unflinching glare, I spoke calmly. "Right now, you're at my residence in Westford. I bought this house at the same time I agreed to an alliance with you and your friends in Haven Hart. Your driver is in my kitchen, eating my food. Don't you think if he was worried, he wouldn't allow any of us near you?"

Fred's jaw clenched. "The last thing my uncle said to me was to trust no one. He wouldn't say that unless there was literally nobody to trust."

Was he referring to more than just me? "Aiden?"

He shook his head and sighed. "I just don't know if there's anyone left…I'm alone."

With what Fred had been through, it was a wonder he wasn't questioning the loyalty he had in himself. It wasn't the time to push any further.

"Take a shower, change. We can all talk when you're done." I pointed to a door in the corner. "Through there is a private bathroom you can use. I'll wait in here, in case you fall."

"I don't need a babysitter." He stood and stormed over to the armoire.

"The bump on your head is the only reason I'll sit here. You shouldn't be by yourself."

He scoffed and pulled out some clothes. "Did you miss the part where I said I was alone?"

"No, you're being crystal clear."

Again, with that glare. I was fairly certain I was a fan of his brattier side.

"I'm locking the door." I didn't have the heart to tell him I had a key to every door. I acquiesced and watched as he charged into the en suite.

As soon as Fred and I entered the kitchen, Aiden shot out of his chair.

"Fred." He rushed over but stopped short of scooping the smaller man into his arms. The relief in his driver's expression was telling…or was he merely a good actor?

"Hi, Aiden." Fred didn't look the part of a mob boss, but he never had. He'd been thrust into a life he hated, and I had a feeling that someone agreed he didn't belong and thought taking him out was the only way.

"Are you hungry?" Aiden motioned to the table, where there was a small spread.

"Not really. I'm thirsty, though."

"You should eat something." Aiden moved to a chair and pulled it out. "You haven't eaten in days."

"And yet I'm not hungry…shocking." Fred walked past the table and began opening cabinets. "Glasses?"

"Above the dishwasher," Axel said from his position by the back door.

Fred pulled out a glass and filled it from the pitcher of ice water that was on the counter. The room was silent, every eye on him.

He chugged it and filled the glass again. I glanced at Axel—I wasn't sure if drinking so fast was dangerous, but when he remained silent, I refrained from saying anything.

"I do have to agree with Aiden." I stepped closer to Fred. "You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry." He put the glass into the sink rather forcefully.

Zion chose that moment to enter the kitchen, laptop in hand.

"I might have found something."

Fred's eyes widened, and he rushed over to Zion. "What?"

He placed the laptop down, and on the screen was a picture of what appeared to be an abandoned SUV.

"Thomas and Eden—they're Lex Talionis, Fred—found this SUV on their search. Shell casings were found in the back seat and the passenger seat. They match three separate guns, a nine millimeter, forty and forty-five calibers. The SUV was found a mile from the restaurant and is registered to an Arnold Blessett."

"That name isn't familiar to me. Do you recognize it, Aiden?" Fred was hopeful.

"No."

"Well," Zion continued, "Arnold's grandson, Richie, has ties to a local gang known as the Bleeding Angels."

"I'm aware of the gang, but not the name Richie. We've sold guns to them. We have a decent relationship with the leader, and they've never caused us grief." Fred's frustration was palpable.

"But for a price, I'm sure whoever wanted you dead could have hired them," I pointed to the SUV. "Sloppy work. No self-respecting hit man would leave so much evidence all over."

"Unless they wanted people to believe it was the Bleeding Angels that did it to get attention away from themselves," Axel added.

"Exactly."

Fred huffed. "Can we find out if Arnold called in a missing vehicle?"

Zion nodded. "Yeah, let me see what I can find out." He left the room, laptop in hand, and I faced Fred.

"If you want to be up for a fight, you need energy."

"I'm fine."

I took a deep breath and moved around him, grabbed a plate, and filled it with fruit and some pieces of cut-up cheese and salami. When I returned to Fred, I thrust the plate at him.

"Being a brat is only cute sometimes. Now eat."

When he took the plate, I spun on my heel and left the kitchen. I had to call Aurora and see how things were going at home.