Chapter 12: Scarlet

12

SCARLET

T yrone had drifted away, lost in his own mind as he'd stared at me, his eyes burning and flickering with so many raw emotions, and yet his face had remained steeled, like he couldn't let others see the turmoil he went through.

Everything was beginning to make sense. The way they all were, the things they did. Sure, it wasn't an excuse, it didn't justify their actions, but I could understand them more now.

Tyrone scoffed, blinking as he stared at me with an odd awe, like he was seeing me for the first time.

"You're an intriguing woman, Scarlet," he said with a shake of his head.

"I'm intriguing?" What does that mean?" I questioned, but he returned his gaze out the window.

"I know you're tired, but I need a drink after all this. A stiff one. Would you care to join me?"

I frowned at him, reeling at everything from the past few days, especially in the past several hours. The switch these men had made which was throwing me for a loop.

"Okay." Sure, I was tired, but him offering me a drink felt like a strange olive branch, and I wasn't about to throw it back in his face or burn it.

He nodded before turning back to me and sighing.

"We should have some wine out there. I'll get some food delivered as well for breakfast."

Because wine with breakfast was a normal thing, although I wasn't going to argue after everything.

I gave Kenny one final pat before sliding out from under the covers and padding after Tyrone.

I followed him downstairs, finding Julian and Cristian were sitting by the window on the couch there playing cards of all things. With their own glasses of booze, of course.

I guess everyone was ruffled after our night and early morning.

"Aren't you guys worried they might attack again?" I asked as I paused on the final step of the stairs.

"This place is as safe as can be, kitten," Cristian stated as he looked up from his hand of cards, sipping his whiskey.

"Can't they bomb it or something? Shoot the building with a missile?" I said as I scanned the skyline, as if I expected to see one headed right for us.

"Too much collateral damage that the family won't want. The city and law won't get involved as long as it stays in the shadows, once civilians and integral infrastructure get involved, everything would change," Tyrone stated as he headed straight for the kitchen and poured himself a glass.

"You've seen too many movies, pyro," Julian stated as he slouched back on the couch, while Cristian sat cross-legged on his end. "By the way, Cris, I heard you wanted to bring a tank in? "

"A tank?" I balked, and Cristian grinned.

"Hey, I needed to get my little bro and kitten back safe. But apparently airlifting my tank over the city will cause too much of a stir," he said with a heavy sigh, like it had been an honest idea.

"You have an actual tank?" I said as Kenny bounded down past me and headed for the couch.

"Of course. I wanted one, so I got one," Cristian stated. "I'll show you it sometime."

Of course he had an actual tank. Why would I have expected anything else?

"Wine?"

I turned to Tyrone as he stood at the kitchen island, a bottle of red wine in hand.

"Sure, fill a glass up," I said with a sigh. I sure as shit could use the drink, and a sleep.

"Imagine that, Cristian to the rescue with a tank. Because the grenade launcher wasn't enough," Julian scoffed, and I shook my head as I strode over to the kitchen.

Julian and Cristian laughed, as if their lives hadn't been in the balance only a few hours earlier.

"Thanks," I accepted the glass Tyrone offered me, downing half of it in one go.

"We've got some pastries from La Lune coming for breakfast too," Tyrone stated as he typed away on his phone with one hand.

I'd never even heard of the place, but it was likely good if they were getting it.

"I wish I'd been there to see you bite that prick's dick off. We should've shoved it down his throat for trying to do that to you," Cristian said as he set down his cards, making Julian curse. Were they playing poker?

I didn't want to be reminded of that whole episode, although I did have some slight pride in what I'd done to that bastard. And Julian's quick thinking on choking him to death.

I stared around at the three men, sipping my wine and following after Tyrone as he headed for the living area as well.

The dynamics between us all felt like they'd suddenly shifted. Like the air had cleared or something, and it was unnerving me. Was I just thinking about it too much? Seeing something that wasn't actually there?

"Scarlet, mind stepping outside with me?" Tyrone asked as he opened the glass door to the balcony.

I frowned but did as requested, stepping out into the morning sun and soaking up the warmth. Tyrone moved to sit on the lounge chair, and I sunk into the one beside him, stretching out and staring across the city.

"I'm surprised you don't have a pool up here," I mused. They hadn't skimped out on anything else.

"Our old apartment had one, but no one really used it," Tyrone stated as he undid his dress shirt to reveal the top of a tattoo on his chest. He then leaned back on the chair, sighing before sipping his glass of whiskey.

He set his glass on the table between us and then closed his eyes, clasping his hands on his chest like he was deep in thought.

"This city is ours to uphold, a gift from our father. Sometimes, it's one hell of a burden, managing things from the shadows, keeping the underbelly of this fine city running smoothly, keeping the people in the dark of what truly goes on," he said, and I watched him quietly, wondering just why he was sharing this with me.

"It would be a heavy burden. Managing all of this while also being your brothers' keeper." His position was certainly not one I envied. I couldn't handle all that weight on my shoulders. No wonder he was always so closed off and away in his own mind.

"Julian is easy, he understands the weight of this world, it's Cristian we both have to look out for and keep an eye on."

"Why are you telling me all this? Sharing so much? Don't get me wrong, I like this whole new thing we've got going, but…why?" I dared to ask, and his lip pulled up, although he didn't open his eyes.

"Sometimes it's nice to speak about these things, open up to someone who may understand to some degree."

"For a mafia boss, you're being a bit too open, don't you think? Or do you think I'll be dead before I finish my time here? The dead can tell no secrets, right?" I gritted my teeth as the thought dawned on me, and I sipped my wine as he gave a soft snort. Perhaps he believed the Russos would kill me, or even Cristian. He was clearly deranged, but even I wondered if he could actually do such a thing. Hurt me, yes, but kill me? After he'd gone to the effort of saving me?

"You're not wrong there. The dead tell no secrets," he said softly, a smirk teasing his lips. "But no, that isn't why."

"Then why?"

He didn't answer as he opened his eyes and turned his head. The odd wistful look in those dark eyes had my heart fluttering.

"Do you wish death upon your parents? For the cruelty they delivered you? For the childhood you were never given?" he asked, taking me by surprise. Why was he asking such a thing? Then again, I would never understand how their brains worked, not entirely.

"Yes. Maybe it's wrong of me, no one should wish death upon anyone, but fuck me, the hell I went through because of them, I hate them. More than anything. Could I kill them myself? No. They're still my family, but if they died, I wouldn't bat an eye," I said truthfully, a glimmer of guilt rising in my gut, but I dismissed it. It was foul and dark and oh so wrong, but it was the truth, and nothing would change my stance on that.

"It's a shame, parents are supposed to protect their children, offer them the world," Tyrone said as his brow creased ever so slightly. "They robbed you of the life you should have had."

"Yours brought you into a world of blood and murder. We're not all that different," I said harshly as I focused on my wine. I was going to need a refill in a moment.

"You're not wrong," he said with a nod before sipping his glass, the ice clinking against it. "At least they loved us, never brought us harm, taught us how to live in the shadows of the world, how to own them. We were blessed in our own way, even with the darkness we were born into."

"Lucky you," I muttered before downing my glass. Even the damn mafia had a better upbringing than I did. "Mine taught me that blood means nothing sometimes. My only family is Naomi, and I guess Ray. You know, the guy you stabbed?" I said, the harsh reminder making me harden.

"Right. We took good care of him, he's been paid well too." He didn't seem even remotely remorseful for the attack at all, and I rolled my eyes. Of course I'd expected too much there.

"Right, because that makes it all better," I grumbled.

He didn't comment, instead, he sighed and finished his glass before gazing over the city.

"Naomi came from a messed up background, foster homes, drug issues, sex work, and even sex trafficking at one point. She's had a hard run as well."

I narrowed my eyes at him. Why was he bringing that up? What relevance did it have? Was he saying I surrounded myself with bad people? He was one to talk.

"Yeah, she had her problems, but she's doing good for herself now. Has a great apartment, likes her job despite the work, and I'm proud of her. She's come so far, she's clean of the drugs now, which is a miracle considering her job too. She tells me how some of the other girls are slipping," I said defensively, and that strange smile touched his face once more, confusing me.

He returned his gaze to me, studying me as he rested a finger on his chin.

"You're loyal to those you choose. It's a good trait."

"Of course I am, Noms would never hurt me, we're family. And we'd kill for one another if it came to it," I muttered as I glared down at my glass, not wanting to look at him anymore.

Why were we having this conversation anyway? What was he getting at?

"Do you really think you'd kill for one another?"

I swallowed, staring hard at my glass like it would magically refill or make this conversation end.

I knew I'd kill for Noms if I had to.

"I already have."