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Molly had been discharged froreet her Rome had obviously told her about Axel, and in typical Molly fashion, she’d told me she was happy I was happy Roe people I loved her for that

Just then, the crowd jumped to their feet as the tea me with him I lifted my hand to hold his that draped overas he waited for his brother run out When Levi appeared on the field, I heard him exhale loudly

As Levi ran to the sideline, tears filled Axel’s brown eyes As they tracked down his cheeks, I reached up and wiped thehter, just as Austin’s arlanced up at Austin, tears were running down his cheeks too Putting his hand on the side of Axel’s head he pulled Axel to lean against him

I watched the two older Carillo brothers, broken inside by tragedy and circumstance Both were alike in their Italian looks and personality andbuilt, shattered hearts were being glued back together… blood ties were being strengthened

The crowd roared as the players took their positions Levi was in sight Just before he put on his hel on his lips… until they wandered to Axel in Austin’s aruarded, suddenly blazed with contempt

I wasn’t sure Axel and Austin had seen it, but I had When I glanced to Lexi, the sadness and stress on her face told oing to go as well as I’d hoped

The game came to close with the Huskies up by ten Levi had played aly well He scored two touchdowns and was nained a better day for Axel to watch his little brother play But although Levi had played so well, he’d also been aggressive Overly aggressive He fought with other players, stormed up and down the touchline The entire time, Austin cussed at his brother to calaretting our coan to disperse, the four of us sat and watched Levi stand central in the field, crouched down on one knee with his head cast down His teammates and coach all passed by him, but they all left him alone Levi and the four of us seee stadium

We all knew Levi was livid that Axel and I were here without his permission I couldn’t help but think that whatever was between theo down and see hih with hesitation in his voice

"We’d better get going," Axel said, and I sighed He and Levi had barely interacted the whole ti Axel in prison after only a few visits, so they’d pretty much not spoken a word in over five years, unless it was Levi tearing Axel apart

The tension between them was palpable It was horrible to be around

Silence followed Austin, as leaning his elbows on his knees, looked to his left and said, "He knows you’re here, Axe You both have gotta face this someday… why not now?"

"Fuck, Aust," Axel rasped Austin dropped his head in his hands, breathing hard

Eventually, Austin looked up at Axel, his dark eyes filled with eain I want all this fucking hatred between y’all to stop…" Austin rolled his lips together, his nostrils flared and tears filled his eyes On a ragged breath, he added, "It would tear Ma like this All she ever wanted was for us to have each other… think of her proud face as she watched us all together, Axe, and tell me that ain’t the truth"

I blinked rapidly so I wouldn’t breakdown I could only iine how a statement like that would affect Axel Histalls to fall frouarded heart Axel’s arazesback at ave him a smile and nodded my head, "It’s time, querido"

"Okay," Axel said in a broken voice, as his attention went back to Levi who still hadn’t moved from his position in the h Together, alked toward Levi