Page 100 of By Blade, I Love
“Going to the Skull King and playing nice might give you the opposite outcome you want, Wolfe.”
I couldn’t deny that logic.
“If we hear anything about his movements, we’ll tell you. But I think going to him and trying to extend a truce shows your hand. It means you don’t want a fight, so he might give you a fight for that reason. But ignoring him after you defeated him gives the illusion of indifference and, therefore, strength.”
“Maybe you are an old man, because you’re awfully wise.”
He pointed his finger into his chest then at me across the table. “I can call myself an old man, but you can’t.”
“You aren’t my boss, so I can call you whatever I want, old man.”
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he reached for his scotch on the table. “I wish things could stay the same forever,” he said with a sigh. “Be young forever. Do this forever. Have you here with us.”
I’d enjoyed being in Cosa Nostra during the last decade and all the perks that it came with, but my whole world changed when I looked at Francesca for the first time. I would have deep affection for the past, but I was a lot more excited for the new season of life I’d just entered. “You can’t appreciate something that lasts forever.”
27
FRANCESCA
I sat in the waiting room, which was mostly empty because it was getting late into the evening. Elio and Andre stayed with me, and I knew they were there so I wouldn’t be alone since they didn’t have any affection for my brother after he’d betrayed us. Because the procedure was happening at that very moment, I had no medical personnel to question. I just had to sit there and wait to be notified.
When someone appeared from the hallway, my eyes automatically shifted to see who it was.
Wolfe walked inside in a clean shirt, his eyes immediately finding mine before he headed over.
I swallowed because the sight of him made me emotional. I’d just seen him a couple hours ago, but sitting there in the waiting room made my reality starker. I didn’t rise to greet him, having no strength to do anything.
He regarded Elio and Andre first and spoke to them quietly. “Thanks for staying with her. I can take it from here.” Theyexchanged handshakes before the men came over to give me quick hugs before they left.
Wolfe took the chair beside me, the two of us sitting in the center of the room. There was a guy in the corner who had fallen asleep lying across a couple chairs. He used his sweater as a blanket. TVs on the wall showed cooking shows and the news, all on mute.
As if we were in the car, Wolfe moved his hand to my thigh and cupped the inside of it.
I immediately hooked my arm around his and rested my other hand on his forearm.
We sat in silence for a long time. Wolfe looked at the TV most of the time but would occasionally glance at me.
I felt alive and dead at the same time.
“Have you heard anything?” he asked quietly.
“No.”
He looked at the TV again.
“Right before everything happened…”
Wolfe turned to look at me.
“Leo said that Dad’s death had changed the way he viewed family, that he appreciated me a lot more than ever before.” I took a breath so I wouldn’t get too emotional, keeping my voice controlled as best I could. “I thought it was a stupid thing to say at the time, but now I understand what he means.”
He continued to look at me.
“Because if he dies…it’s just me.”
“It’s not just you,” he said gently. “Not when you have me.”
“I know, but…” I sniffed. “Just a month ago, I had a dad and brother…and now that piece of me will be gone. Those relationships will be memories. My children won’t have grandparents, but now, they won’t have an uncle either.”
