Take Me Apart (Vitale Brothers, #1)

by Brea Alepoú

“We were together for a few months before I realized something was different about him. He always needed money and what I gave him was never enough. Things would go missing at the hotel, and when I asked him about it, he said his sister needed help.”

“She did. She was in the hospital at the time, so I gave him enough money to pay the bills so he wouldn’t be stressed out anymore.”

Tex was wild unlike Brycen, there was intelligence in his blue eyes. There were similarities but so many differences. Maybe that's why…..

“He wasn’t giving her any of the money. But I overlooked it all.” My stomach twisted as shame reared its ugly head.

“After a few months of being together, he started disappearing at random times. I didn’t think much of it. I only visited the hotel once or twice a week.”

“However, I slowed down on how much I was giving him. He was going to overdose if he kept it up. Brycen had sworn to me he was going to get help and slow down. But that never happened. Instead, he started meeting up with the cops.”

“He sold intel on my family, but with me keeping him at the hotel, he didn’t have nearly enough info to keep up with his drug habits. We nearly had New York locked down. All of sudden cops were busting businesses down, storming in on shipments. Things were going bad and fast.”

“We were in constant shootouts with the NYPD and other families.” We’d lost so much and couldn’t find out where it was coming from.

History is trying to repeat itself, but...

“I wasn’t the only Vitale he was seeing.” “The fuck?” Tex shouted.

“So not only was he a rat, he was a cheating piece of shit too?”

Laughter tumbled free, and I hid my face as I tried to gather myself. When was the last time I laughed with someone besides my brothers?

“Yes, but to be fair, we’d never said that we were together. I’d assumed him staying meant he was fine with being mine.” “How did...

“He shot my brother.”

“My brother gave it to me to remind me what happens when I no longer put family first.”

“Did you love him?” I pulled back and looked Tex in the eyes. My brows dipped as I thought about the question. “Never mind.” He shook his head and avoided my gaze.

can’t say that I did. Brycen met many of my needs. He was someone I wanted and even cherished at times.” Tex stiffened under me again. “But I could never tell him I loved him.”

“What are you going to do?” I asked. “Now that you know.” Tex squeezed his eyes shut, and I knew it was too much to ask of him right now. I

knew Tex wasn’t asleep yet. His breathing hadn’t evened out. My stomach clenched. If he leaves this time, will I stop him?

Tex’s soothing voice broke the quiet. “Will I end up like Brycen?” My arms tightened around him. I hope not.

I stared at Enzo as he slept beside me. At first, I’d been wrapped in his arms, trapped, but not hating it. It took a while, but I was finally able to break free. Now, I couldn’t stop gazing at him, thinking about the night before.

He’d cheated on Enzo with his own brother. And he’d used him. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to murder him. My stomach clenched.

I’d been cheated on before, and the most I did was egg a guy’s house and car. In the Vitales’ eyes, that had to be a much more serious offense. And it wasn’t as if he wanted to kill Brycen…

“Are you okay?” he asked again. Does he actually care about me?

“Does that mean you’re okay with what we talked about?” “About you killing someone?” I asked. The tension came back, filling the space between us. Enzo nodded. “Yeah.” I laughed dryly. “I’m a cop, you know? Knowing that you’ve killed someone, I’m supposed to turn you in. Do something about it.” “But you’re conflicted.” “I am.”

Enzo reached out, his palm grazing against my cheek as he caressed me. There was a moment of worry and sadness in his eyes that instinctually made me move closer to him. Everything in me screamed to comfort him.

Enzo’s lips brushed against mine. “I can’t convince you to quit your job?” he asked. I laughed, and his lips pulled into a smile against mine. “No, you can’t. I like my job.”

“Do you?” he pressed. I nodded. “I mean, for the most part. Or I will when I make detective.” “Is that why you were looking for me at Blu?”

“Why don’t you give up your lifestyle?” I asked. “It seems like you don’t care for it.” Enzo frowned. “There is no getting out. My family is everything to me.”

Why did that hit me in the chest? Something close to jealousy gnawed at me, but I shoved it down. When I glanced away, Enzo grabbed my chin and directed my face back to him.

It just feels like there’s always something more important than me out there. To everyone I know.

“Please, tell me what you were just thinking. I don’t understand.” His eyebrows knit together, and he frowned. “I want to understand.”

“I was thinking how people always put others before me. How… I was kind of jealous that your family would be more important than me if we were ever more than we are now. Which is nothing, but⁠—”

“You think we’re nothing?” I blinked at him. “Besides some hot sex? I don’t know.” Enzo dragged me toward him. “Didn’t you hear when I said you were mine?”

“But that’s just something people say when they’re screwing.” “I do...

He laid his hand on my throat and squeezed, pulling me closer until our lips met. “I’m not letting you go, Tex,” he whispered. “What if I wanted to leave right now?” I asked, my lips against his, dying to feel him kiss me more.

The horny brain side of me almost wanted him to hold me down and never let me escape. Then I will know he really cares about me.

“My family is important to me,” Enzo said. “But so are you. Why else would I spend so much time making sure you’re safe?”

“I thought you didn’t have to work today?” Nodding, I stared at the screen. “I don’t, but Rourke and I usually catch up on our days off.

“You like him,” Enzo said tightly. “He’s a good friend.” “Just a friend?” He shot back.

Don’t get that look in your eyes.” “What look?” I rolled my eyes. “That look that says you want to do something illegal to anyone you think is too close to me.”

Not that I hate that it’s his first instinct. Something might be wrong with me, but that’s fucking hot. I would never in a million years tell Enzo that, though. He would take it as a reason to do something insane.

How am I supposed to do my job when I’m all mixed up?

What did it say that I could trust him more than other, more upstanding people I knew?

I want to keep him.

Seeing him every night in my bed. Every morning as he moaned around a mouthful of coffee.

“You have your own movie theater. Damn, money really does buy happiness.”

“This place has everything,” Tex said wistfully. His phone rang, breaking the moment, and I was tempted to snatch it back away from him. Tex checked the screen and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

I doubted it, but I couldn’t help but be pulled into Tex’s excitement. Settling in next to him, I watched as the movie started. My gaze skirted to him, looking at the excitement that lit up his face as he shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

As the movie went on, I stole little glances at the man beside me. I can’t believe I’m doing this.