Archer reaches into his pocket for the automobile keys and tosses them at Dante. “For you,” he says. “The person who ordered his hit.”

Dante catches them and strikes to the trunk.

I stand nonetheless and stare at Archer as I acknowledge the muffled voice inside. My coronary heart races with revenge and grief and love — all on the identical time. Archer risked his life to convey Elijah again right here… and he risked a hell of much more capturing a rattling Zappia, too.

He meets my eyes. “I’m sorry to your loss, Lilah.”

My decrease lip trembles.

Dante pops the trunk and the shouting stops. For the primary time in days, my massive brother smiles.

“Hey, Enzo,” he says.

“Aw, shit.”

I stroll over and stand beside him. Enzo’s beady eyes flinch in my path. I have the benefit of his sweat-covered, panicked face.

“Heat sufficient in there for you?” I ask.

The tough summer time solar beams down at him as he squints in anger.

“Cling in there, Enzo.” I look over my shoulder on the lake behind us and attain as much as lay my hand on the trunk door. “We’ll get you cooled off quickly.”

“Wait, wait—”

I slam it closed on him and he begins screaming once more.

Dante turns to Archer and walks again over to him by the automobile. They stare at one another for a number of moments earlier than Dante lastly nods.

“Thanks,” he says.

“You’re welc—”

Dante punches Archer within the nostril.

I gasp as Archer falls again in opposition to the automobile. His arms fly to his face, cradling his already busted nostril. My instincts tear in two, leaving me frozen between my brother and my lover. I count on Dante to maintain pounding on him, however he steps again as a substitute and walks away to hitch Lucy on the porch.

Archer stands upright and nods as blood trickles down his lip. “I suppose I deserved that.”

“Why?” I ask.

He shrugs and wipes it away. “I sort of banged his little sister…”

I sigh. “Thanks.”

Archer shifts backward and blocks his face. “You’re not going to hit me, too, are you?”

“No.”

He relaxes. “Then, you’re welcome.”

I look him up and down. “Are you okay?” I ask. “Do you want a tampon or one thing?”

“No.” He smiles. “I feel I’ll handle.”

“How’s the top?”

“Hardly felt it, love. And it labored, clearly… till I tossed a gangster in a boot. That stood out a bit.”

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