Page 29 of Psycho Saviors

“Wine?”

I turned to Tyrone as he stood at the kitchen island, a bottle of red wine in hand.

“Sure, fill a glass up,” I said with a sigh. I sure as shit could use the drink, and a sleep.

“Imagine that, Cristian to the rescue with a tank. Because the grenade launcher wasn’t enough,” Julian scoffed, and I shook my head as I strode over to the kitchen.

Julian and Cristian laughed, as if their lives hadn’t been in the balance only a few hours earlier.

“Thanks,” I accepted the glass Tyrone offered me, downing half of it in one go.

“We’ve got some pastries from La Lune coming for breakfast too,” Tyrone stated as he typed away on his phone with one hand.

I’d never even heard of the place, but it was likely good if they were getting it.

“I wish I’d been there to see you bite that prick’s dick off. We should’ve shoved it down his throat for trying to do that to you,” Cristian said as he set down his cards, making Julian curse. Were they playing poker?

I didn’t want to be reminded of that whole episode, although I did have some slight pride in what I’d done to that bastard. And Julian’s quick thinking on choking him to death.

I stared around at the three men, sipping my wine and following after Tyrone as he headed for the living area as well.

The dynamics between us all felt like they’d suddenly shifted. Like the air had cleared or something, and it was unnerving me. Was I just thinking about it too much? Seeing something that wasn’t actually there?

“Scarlet, mind stepping outside with me?” Tyrone asked as he opened the glass door to the balcony.

I frowned but did as requested, stepping out into the morning sun and soaking up the warmth. Tyrone moved to sit on the lounge chair, and I sunk into the one beside him, stretching out and staring across the city.

“I’m surprised you don't have a pool up here,” I mused. They hadn’t skimped out on anything else.

“Our old apartment had one, but no one really used it,” Tyrone stated as he undid his dress shirt to reveal the top of a tattoo on his chest. He then leaned back on the chair, sighing before sipping his glass of whiskey.

He set his glass on the table between us and then closed his eyes, clasping his hands on his chest like he was deep in thought.

“This city is ours to uphold, a gift from our father. Sometimes, it’s one hell of a burden, managing things from the shadows, keeping the underbelly of this fine city running smoothly, keeping the people in the dark of what truly goes on,” he said, and I watched him quietly, wondering just why he was sharing this with me.

“It would be a heavy burden. Managing all of this while also being your brothers’ keeper.” His position was certainly not one I envied. I couldn’t handle all that weight on my shoulders. No wonder he was always so closed off and away in his own mind.

“Julian is easy, he understands the weight of this world, it’s Cristian we both have to look out for and keep an eye on.”

“Why are you telling me all this? Sharing so much? Don’t get me wrong, I like this whole new thing we’ve got going, but…why?” I dared to ask, and his lip pulled up, although he didn’t open his eyes.

“Sometimes it’s nice to speak about these things, open up to someone who may understand to some degree.”

“For a mafia boss, you’re being a bit too open, don’t you think? Or do you think I’ll be dead before I finish my time here? The dead can tell no secrets, right?” I gritted my teeth as the thought dawned on me, and I sipped my wine as he gave a soft snort. Perhaps he believed the Russos would kill me, or even Cristian. He was clearly deranged, but even I wondered if he could actually do such a thing. Hurt me, yes, but kill me? After he’d gone to the effort of saving me?

“You’re not wrong there. The dead tell no secrets,” he said softly, a smirk teasing his lips. “But no, that isn’t why.”

“Then why?”

He didn’t answer as he opened his eyes and turned his head. The odd wistful look in those dark eyes had my heart fluttering.

“Do you wish death upon your parents? For the cruelty they delivered you? For the childhood you were never given?” he asked, taking me by surprise. Why was he asking such a thing? Then again, I would never understand how their brains worked, not entirely.

“Yes. Maybe it’s wrong of me, no one should wish death upon anyone, but fuck me, the hell I went through because of them, I hate them. More than anything. Could I kill them myself? No. They’re still my family, but if they died, I wouldn’t bat an eye,” I said truthfully, a glimmer of guilt rising in my gut, but I dismissed it. It was foul and dark and oh so wrong, but it was the truth, and nothing would change my stance on that.

“It’s a shame, parents are supposed to protect their children, offer them the world,” Tyrone said as his brow creased ever so slightly. “They robbed you of the life you should have had.”

“Yours brought you into a world of blood and murder. We’re not all that different,” I said harshly as I focused on my wine. I was going to need a refill in a moment.