Paid in Full (Vitale Brothers, #2)

by Brea Alepoú

I sucked my teeth. “Damn, my favorite hammer.” “It’s a hammer. How much can it really be damaged?” Benito asked. “Look, she’s flaking!” I pointed out, spinning the hammer around and showing it to him. “See? Right there! Skull fragments are terrible for hammers.”

When I turned around, Enzo was carrying my hammer off. “Hey! What the fuck are you doing?” “Cleaning it,” he said flatly. “Do you want to do it?” “I want your hands off Silvy. That’s what I want!” I snatched her away. “I can clean her up.” Enzo pulled a face. “The fact that you named a stupid hammer…” “You’re a stupid hammer!” “Enough!” Benito snapped. “What are you, five?” he asked me.

“I know,” Enzo said. “But Tex wants to go to the movies tonight, or he’s threatened to go by himself,” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “And he will.” “So let him go,” I said. Enzo’s dark gaze landed on me. “I’d rather die.” “You’re so fucking possessive.” “And?”

I stiffened. It was the most god-awful thing I’d ever tasted in my life. How was the rice both raw and overcooked? A gag stuck in my throat as I chewed rubbery lobster. What the fuck? This is terrible. I glanced up to find Ash staring at me, his big eyes already looking panicked as he waited. Normally, I had no problem telling someone their food was shit. This time I picked up the fork and shoveled more food into my face. It was my penance for starving Ash when I had argued with Benito that I was responsible enough to care for him. “Do… do you like it?” Ash asked. I nodded. “Really good. I’m surprised you didn’t burn the place down making it.” Ash’s face lit up. “Really? You think so? I’ll get you some more!”

As sleep dragged me down, a hand slipped against my skin. Fingers threaded with mine. I glanced at the two of us holding hands and sank even deeper.

“Let me tell you something, though. If you ever come over to my house and try to poison me again⁠—” “What are you talking about?” He sighed in exasperation. “What am I talking about? Um, I threw up so hard my throat hurts!” I snapped. “What the hell did you two do to that food? I feel like it was done on purpose. If you want to kill me, at least shoot me in the fucking face.” Benito blinked. “We followed the recipe.” I threw my hands up. “That’s what you both keep saying!” “We did,” Ash added. “Every step.” “Stop talking before I throw up on everyone,” I muttered, letting myself into my office. I moved behind the desk and plopped down. “Stay out of my goddamn house,” I told Benito.

Benito was right; Ash was a distraction. One that I wasn’t ready to let go of yet.

She looked at me. “Keep him on his toes, Ash. He looks tough, but he’s the biggest baby.” “The hell I am.” “I will,” I promised. “Now I’m being ignored,” he muttered.

He shook his head hard. “Um, bacon, onion, and pineapple.” I stared at him. “You’re a freak of nature. Even I’m not that sick.” “Enzo likes anchovy.” Tex shuddered. “That shit is disgusting. And then he wants to kiss me with that breath. What the fuck?” Ash let out a burst of laughter before he slapped a hand over his mouth. Tex grinned at him, winked, and pushed off of the counter. Enzo immediately snatched him up, wrapping his arms around him and practically hissing at us like a feral cat.

I grabbed her hand. “Will you be my mommy?”

“Whose that?” I asked. Giancarlo looked sheepish as he avoided my gaze. “My best friend and partner.” Who the fuck? Anger soared through me unchecked. I balled my fingers up in a fist as images of me watching a faceless person get the shit beat out of them assaulted my imagination. I wasn’t normally violent, but the thought of Giancarlo having someone else in his life made me irrationally angry. “Here’s a picture of her brand new the day I bought her.” He passed his phone over. It took everything in me not to smash the thing on the floor and demand he break it off. Until I saw it. I blinked. “Silvy is a hammer?” It wasn’t a person on the screen, but a fucking tool. “Yep, best-looking hammer in the city.” How in the hell did he continue to surprise me? “And you brought her with you?” “Silvy goes everywhere.” Lost for words was an understatement. I had nothing. I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or ask more questions.

I’m going to marry you, Ash. You don’t know that yet, but I sure as fuck do.