Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Vincenzo

I had my back to the wall, surveying the room…mostly any and every area where Fred was. Snow had just walked away from him and judging by their postures, it had been a serious conversation.

I felt him before I saw him; the man was imposing. "One thing I can't figure out," he said. "Are you the head of Lex Talionis, or just one of the…what do you all call it, exercitus?"

I turned and took in the man beside me. Slightly taller than me, his long sandy-blond hair with many steaks of gray was tied in a low ponytail. His eyes were practically gold, and it was as if I were standing in a field being hunted by a lion.

"You must be…" I tilted my head. "What do they call you, Black?"

He smirked. "So you're Vincenzo."

I wasn't sure if I should have been thrown off-kilter by how easily he'd figured out who I was. He wasn't a threat, per se, but he also wasn't an enemy I wanted.

"I'd implore you to keep that tidbit of information quiet."

He hummed. "I'm not stupid."

"Oh, I'm well aware."

I faced the room, again zeroing in on Fred, who was now speaking with who I believed was Lorcan, one of his shot-callers. I'd spent many waking moments going over the faces and names of his operation.

"How bad is it?" Black asked.

"Well, two people who shouldn't be are in the ground, so I'd say bad."

Black snorted. "You're sarcastic, and it's charming. But for real."

I sighed. To anyone else I'd have said it was under control, but Black was my equal. He ran an elite assassin organization, I was familiar with his practice, and I had an inkling he was aware of mine. He'd understand better than most.

"There are too many people in the shadows right now."

From my periphery, I saw him nod. "Gotta shine some light, then."

"Keeping Fred safe is most important, and I think finding out the ringleader in all of this is the only way to do it."

"You've taken a liking to the redheaded menace."

I chuckled. "I've thought of him as more of a brat, but yes, he's a good man undeserving of his fate."

"He's certainly been through a lot."

"I'll keep him safe."

Black bumped his shoulder into mine. "I'm sure you will," he rumbled before walking over to his husband, who was talking with Snow now.

I watched as Aiden moved toward Fred with a full plate of food and encouraged him to eat. The two sat at a table, where it appeared they were making small talk in between people coming over to pay even more respects. If Fred ate a quarter of the food in front of him, I'd have been surprised.

I gestured for Zion to come over, and once he did I said, "Make sure there's food prepared upon our return." He nodded and returned to his post.

The rest of the repast was uneventful, as I'd hoped. Christopher and the others from Haven Hart kept their distance from me, with Black the exception. There was no doubt that if they all approached me, who was there as extra security, it would garner much unwanted attention.

I ushered Fred into the SUV, and Aiden requested to drive. With no reason to refuse, Fred allowed it. That left Fred and me in the back together.

The second Aiden hit the gas, Fred sagged against the seat. "That was exhausting."

"Funerals usually are." I offered him a small smile.

"I was speaking with Snow. I'd like to set up a meeting with the head of the Bleeding Angels. If they're innocent in all of this, I'd think they'd want to know who was trying to frame them. They'd be good eyes to have on the street as well."

"I think that's smart. We can arrange a neutral meeting place."

"Are you sure that's wise? What if they're working for whoever did this and give them a heads up?" Aiden offered as he turned onto the highway.

"I'm getting nowhere as is. This is a risk, sure, but my gut is telling me it's right."

Aiden snorted. "Your gut? Come on, Fred."

"It's all I really have right now, Aiden. Uncle Sean told me to trust it, and I'm going to."

"And see how good trusting his gut got him," Aiden snapped, and it was so out of character that Fred gasped at the same time I snapped my head in his direction.

"Uncalled for!" I growled.

Fred's color turned even paler than he already was.

"Maybe it is, but check out where he is." Aiden narrowed his eyes at me through the mirror.

"I think we've heard enough out of you." I hit the button on the door, raising the privacy separator. Just before it closed Aiden shouted, "Don't you dare."

But I did dare. I locked it so he couldn't push it down, and faced Fred.

"Fred." I spoke softly, but he either didn't hear me or was ignoring me. He stared at the partition as if he could still see Aiden's face.

"Don't listen to anything that comes out of Aiden's mouth. Perhaps he's grieving, and anger is at the forefront of his emotions. That doesn't excuse what he said, however."

"Is he right, though?" Fred stared at his hands that were folded on his lap. "I mean Uncle Sean is dead, and maybe he wouldn't be if he listened to his gut."

"Look at me, Fred." He didn't, so I gently tilted his head up so he met my gaze. There was no brattiness there, and I didn't like it. "It's your uncle's gut and reflexes that kept you alive and sitting here. Don't diminish his sacrifice because someone shouted lies to you."

"Lies," he whispered. "So many lies."

I nodded. "There are too many. We'll expose them all."

Fred tilted his head a little higher, disconnecting our touch. I found I liked feeling the man.

"We? Are you so sure that's wise?"

I sat back, giving Fred some space. "I think it's not only wise but necessary."

"Is that right?" A spark of that brattiness shone through, and I smiled.

"You'd be lost without me."

Fred rolled his eyes. "Well, look at that—I've exposed a lie."

A laugh barreled out of me. "You have jokes."

"I have a lot of things."

He was happier now, and it felt as if I'd just won the most prestigious award in the world.

"I will have to agree with you on that for sure." I peered out the window and saw we were pulling into the driveway of my house. "I had food prepared. I know you didn't get a chance to eat much."

"Thank you."

I faced Fred again just before the door opened. I went to speak but was suddenly hauled out of the SUV and slammed against the side of it.

"You don't ever do that to me!" Aiden roared in my face.

"Oh, you silly boy, you've just made a huge mistake."

In the blink of an eye he gasped, went limp, and collapsed on the driveway.