Page 93 of Never Say Never

Shit. I hadn't thought it was deep enough to warrant stitches. My judgment might have been slightly off.

"Who's the prettiest girl in the world?" Benito cooed as he walked out, bouncing his daughter in his arms. In all my life, I would have never thought I'd hear my brother talk to anyone like that, even a baby. He stopped on his way to the kitchen when he saw me watching him. "Your arm still bleeding?" He rocked his baby in his arms. She was bigger than the last picture I'd seen of her.

"Yeah, I might need it glued."

Benito nodded. "I'll have Melony come over."

Movement on my phone caught my attention. The girls were up early again. This time they were in the kitchen whispering too low for me to pick up on the cameras.

"Have her come down to my place. I’m gonna head out,” I said, my eyes not leaving the phone until I looked up to make sure Benito had heard me.

Benito tossed a dry dish towel at me and I graciously wrapped it around my arm. I left and headed back down to my floor. The guys in the hall nodded at me. For a second, I froze. What was I supposed to do? As Paul, it would be weird, but as Paolo, I knew I was owed respect. My family name demanded it.

I punched the code into the keypad and let myself in. Both girls jumped as I stepped through the door. Their eyes widened and fear was etched on every inch of their faces. Nyra dropped the bowl of beaten eggs and it spilled over. Navy was the first to move. She grabbed the kitchen scissors and held them up in her trembling hands.

Right, my hair was changed and I wasn't wearing contacts anymore. I was stupid. I should have stayed at Benito’s for a bit longer. I cleared my throat.

"Girls—"

"Daddy! Paul!" Navy shouted.

Even now, she looked for me to come save her. The ache that was steadily chipping away at me eased back a little.

York's door flew open and he was down the hall in seconds. The butcher knife in his hand glinted in the overhead lights. He probably slept with it now. York's bare chest caught my attention instantly. All deep brown skin and cut muscles. Even while on leave for three weeks, he hadn't stopped working out.

"Paolo!" Navy shouted again for me. Nyra was shaking. She hid behind her sister, her gaze never wavering from me.

Shelly was next to come scrambling down the hall. She let out an ear piercing scream that bounced off the walls.

York was the only one who hadn't said anything. He stared at me as if he was seeing me for the first time. His lips dipped further into a frown. The weapon in his hands stayed pointed my way.

"Girls, go with Shelly to your room."

"Should we get help?" Shelly asked. Her voice was wavering. She moved closer to York instead of grabbing for the girls.

She was pissing me off and it was too early in the morning for that. I was already in a shit mood. Nyra's head tilted the side, she squinted at me.

"Paul? I mean, Paolo?"

I smiled at her. "Sorry to scare you, honey, I forgot."

York took the scissors away from Navy but never stopped staring at me. "Girls, go with Shelly while I talk to Gianpaolo."

Both girls looked between us. It reminded me of how worried Gin and I used to be when our mother would tell us to go to our room when her and our dad would get into arguments. I tried smiling to reassure them but it fell short when I wasn't certain about what was going to happen either. Shelly turned them away from us; her glare was nothing more than another annoyance.

Once the sound of the door closing hit my ears, I stepped into the room further. "York."

He put the knife down. "You even look like them now. How fucking stupid was I?"

I stepped toward him and he took another step back. Why is everyone treating me like I’m the bad guy?

"What happened to your arm?"

I nearly forgot it was bleeding again. "Noth—" I blew out a breath. "My brothers didn't take it well. Me being back."

"Huh, didn't think bastards like your family gave a damn about being lied to."

I groaned, what was I supposed to say to that?