Filed to story: Secret Shifters Next Door Series PDF Free
Gio gave an affirmative bob of his head. “He did. Still, I tried to get him to stop. I told him I’d pay him
more if he quit doing the dangerous stuff. He refused. Looking back, after hearing what you’ve all told me? I think the hunters who killed your folks were an early iteration of what Antonio was starting to build. I have no proof of that, but the timing suggests it’s around the time he started going into legitimate businesses. What I’m
saying is, I’m not doing this to protect you and your buddies, Blayne. I’m doing this also as one last gift to Liam.”
My mind was reeling. I had no words. Even if I had, my throat was constricted with emotion. I could see in Gio’s eyes he was telling the truth. He believed what he was saying.
I jerked out of my stupor when a hand slipped into mine. Ava had come to sit beside me. I hadn’t even seen her move, I’d been too caught up in my own thoughts. She squeezed my hand, and when I looked at her, there were tears in her eyes. I squeezed back to comfort her as her body began to tremble with silent sobs. I had to look away before her tears brought out my own.
Miles looked a little uncomfortable, but he went on with the meeting. I only heard every third word, too focused on what Gio had said. My brother hadn’t died for money—he’d died trying to learn how to avenge our parents. To become some sort of warrior. From Ava’s reaction, she hadn’t been privy to that information, either.
My whole world was upside down. I’d hated these people for so long, it had almost become part of my DNA. Hearing Gio talk about my brother like a son turned my emotions into one massive swirling storm.
I couldn’t let go of Ava’s hand. She seemed to be the only thing anchoring me in reality, holding me steady as everything else went flying around. I couldn’t process the information. I simply didn’t have the energy or capacity. It would take days to come to terms with it and sort through my emotions.
The meeting ended, and I managed to snap out of my internal struggle. Gio walked over to Tate and shook his hand.
“Thank you, Gio. You have no idea how much we’ve needed someone on our side,” Tate said.
Gio cocked an eyebrow. “I’m glad I found out when I did. Antonio has always been an asshole. I’ll look forward to knocking him off that little throne he’s built for himself.”
Miles shook Gio’s hand next. “I hope you get well soon, Mr. Francis.”
Gio chuckled. “Oh, it’s a bitch, that’s for sure, but cancer won’t be the end of me. It’ll take more than that to put this old dog in the ground.”
He turned to me, and his eyes slid down to see Ava’s hand still clutched inside mine. Instinctively, I jerked my fingers away from hers. For a moment, I was filled with shame, like someone had walked in on me doing something terrible. As soon as I pulled away, a different kind of shame washed over me—a mournful tug from my panther.
Gio’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Ready to go, Ava?”
She stood and glanced back at me. “See you later.”
I didn’t move as I watched them walk out and close the door behind them. I blinked several times, head still spinning. How could things change so suddenly?
Tate sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Well, that was unexpected.”
“I know, right?” Steff was smiling. “We might really have a chance.”
“Antonio talked about Gio Francis once,” Jared said. “Only once. I only remember it because it was the one time I ever heard him sound even remotely afraid of anyone. This is big.”
“I guess we have Ava to thank for this,” Miles said.
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you figure?”
The rest of them stared at me with open-mouthed wonder. Steff raised his brow and laughed. “Bro, seriously?”
Tate waved a hand at me. “Guys, let him figure it out on his own. Nothing we say will get through that thick skull of his.”
FOURTEEN
AVA
Dad nodded to the receptionist as we left. The big, broad smile he sported showed his confidence and strength. The second we got in the car, though, he sagged and rested his head against the back of the seat.
“Good lord, I’m tired,” he said, wiping at sweat that had started beading on his forehead.
“Are you okay?” Worry speared into me. He looked clammy and more tired than I’d seen him since the last chemo session.
Reaching over to pat my hand, he nodded. “Yeah, that took a lot out of me. Trying to act like my old self. I didn’t want those boys to see me as a weakling. I need a nap. I can tell you that right now.”
“Okay. That’s not a problem.” I started the car and pointed us toward home.
Less than twenty minutes later—I’d speeded a little—I was helping Dad into bed. He’d kicked off his shoes but remained clothed. I fluffed the pillows behind him and sat on the chair beside the bed while he tried to get comfortable.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you sure you want to get involved in all this?”