I think I handled that well. Tex’s father was still alive, and I managed to return the favor.

I deleted the call history from Tex’s phone and placed his phone back in the cup holder. The cigarettes were crumbled, and there wasn’t one I could salvage. The door opened, and Tex stepped out, drawing my attention.

He smiled the moment our eyes met, and he raced down to meet me. “I didn’t like the suit, so I went with a plain button-up and slacks. Fancy enough?”

He looked good enough to eat. I snatched up his wrist and yanked him close. I smoothed my thumb over the scar left on Tex’s cheek.

“What?”

“I’d kill for you.”

Tex stared at me. Silence blanketed us for a few heartbeats. “I know, but I don’t want you to.”

I brought our lips together, and our tongues tangled in what I could only describe as perfection. Tex tasted divine. I wanted to take him back home and taste every inch of him. To own every inch of him.

“From now on, I’m the only one allowed to hurt you or make you cry. Every inch of you belongs to me.” I bit his lip. “Even your life.”

Tex groaned. “Yeah. Where do I sign, Satan?”

Twenty-nine and a half days later

Giancarlo grunted, rising to his feet with one of my boxes. I looked at what was written on top. Enzo had insisted on labeling everything while we packed, unlike my system of tossing crap into a box and having a headache when I had to put it all away.

“Upstairs in the bedroom. You can actually put it in the closet.”

“Alright,” he groaned. “What the fuck is in here?”

I shrugged. “No idea. I had to move fast because your brother is a nutcase.”

“Hey,” Enzo called.

“It’s the truth,” I muttered, walking over to Benito. “Those can go to the bookshelf. I don’t have a ton of books, but I’m sure someone will want them there.”

Benito nodded. We still weren’t BFFs forever or anything, but we were at least on speaking terms. The conversation we’d had a few weeks ago got rid of most of our irritation, and we’d both come to the same conclusion; Enzo was more important than any hurt feelings between us.

“Ooh, let me have these!” Chelsea called, pulling out some old firecrackers I forgot I even had. “We can light them up.”

“No,” Enzo answered.

“After we finish moving,” I said, winking at Chelsea. Enzo moved away from the truck, and I glared at him. “You get back there and stay back there.”

“Keep it up,” Enzo warned.

I raised a brow and grinned at him. Enzo had to know by now that I wasn’t afraid of him. He’d take it out on my ass later, but at least I could ride him and make him relax. Moving heavy boxes was strictly forbidden until Melony cleared him. He was a lot better than before, but I wanted him to stay that way, not backslide.