So I whispered my plea, “Don’t let him, please.”
“Zano, a little help,” Lee said about two seconds before Lee released me and immediately two arms clamped around me. One at the chest. One at my belly.
Ren’s lips at my ear, he said in his sweet voice, “All right, baby, that’s out. Now come sit with me.”
I drew in a breath.
It failed to calm me.
But I’d laid it out. That was all I could do. I had nothing left in me.
“Don’t let him,” I repeated to Malia.
Before I could turn back to my seat, Malia moved forward and caught my hands.
Even them being bloody.
“I talked with Liam this morning and he wants to meet his dad,” she whispered.
Oh.
Well.
Shit.
Apparently my dramatic speech was unnecessary.
Whatever.
“Well, uh… that’s good,” I muttered.
Her head tipped to the side and a ghost of a genuine smile played at her mouth even as her hands squeezed mine. “I see you haven’t changed.”
“Nope,” I agreed, and my gaze went to Liam. “Though I’m not usually this crazy.”
Liam looked like he didn’t believe me.
“Yes, she is,” Eddie said.
I glared at Eddie.
Ren pulled me away, but I got a squeeze back to Malia before I let her go.
He took my hand and I walked stiffly back to our seats with my man.
Once I sat, I gave Duke a look.
He gave me a chin lift.
Jeez.
Even Duke did the chin lift.
Well, again, whatever.
I gave him one back and watched his face get soft.
Shirleen caught my hand.
I looked at her profile.
She didn’t look at me.
But I saw the tear slide down her cheek.
And I saw her lips trembling.
So I held my man’s hand and I held my friend’s hand.
But it was Shirleen’s shoulder I laid my head on.
And she rested hers on mine.
* * * * *
Half an hour later…
For the fiftieth time (maybe an exaggeration), I caught Vito looking at Ren. And for the fiftieth time (okay, so maybe the twenty-seventh), I saw Ren avoiding his uncle’s eyes.
