Page 24 (1/2)

"I figured we could order a pizza and a salad or so and play some cards" I looked at them both casually "Do you think that’s okay?"

"Sounds fine" Jared shrugged "Get ha to do about Dad?" Vincent looked worried "He’s going to want to knoho she is What if he co room?" He chewed on his lower lip and I could tell he was nervous

"I figured we could play upstairs in " I took a breath "I don’t want to involve Dad right now"

"Yeah, no point getting hi" Jared er"

"What does that lared at him

"You knohat itto date you forever and Daddy is going to accept you?" He rolled his eyes "But whatever, I’s come to those ait"

"What the fk does thatWhether you do so about it or not"

"You better leave her alone, Jared" I"I swear to God, if you do anything to her, you will no longer be my brother" The kitchen went silent and Vincent and Jared looked at me with shock in their eyes I felt sad that I had said the words, but I wasn’t going to take the to let anyone say or do anything to her that could cause her hurt or pain I didn’t care why they were doing it It wasn’t going to happen on my watch I hated her father with a passion, but I loved her o blurry as the realization hit me I loved Maddie This was aboutor crush This was aboutto know each other I already loved her I kneithout a doubt in my heart that she was the one I would drearay And I wasn’t scared or worried I was just happy and excited And all I wanted to do was to see her and kiss her and hold her tight I wanted to stare into her beautiful violet eyes and kiss her sweet luscious lips as her soft fingers played and tugged in my hair I could lie next to her and stare at her for a million years and never feel bored or tired I hadrotten that week, and I knew that I didn’t want to spend one," Jared finally spoke "I sure hope it doesn’t blow up in your face"

"Let hed "I just need you to be here for ive her a chance"

"Okay" Jared looked away "But only because I love you, brother"

"Thanks, dude" I choked up and looked at Vincent, as laughing "What’s so funny?"

"You guys have both gone so soft" He shook his head "What has happened to the Martelli brothers?"

"Whatever" I rolled o sort out htheartedness was filled orry What Vincent had said was a joke but in fact, the opposite was true of as happening to us We weren’t becoatti theft was going to be the biggest,any of us had ever attempted to do Just today, Tolstoy had asked us ould do if soun were to appear I froze as I re if we had bulletproof vests This was serious business And there were soBut I kneere in too deep; this was our big chance to change our destinies If we pulled this off, we could stay out of the cririnned at reat?" Vincent grabbed another slice "This is absolutely the best pizza in River Valley" He snore my jealousy as she beamed at him I knew she was just happy that Vincent see so happy at soan tells hed, slightly eo if I want to see that happen"

"You can do it," she grinned at him "And kudos to you, I’m not sure I would be able to make it as a lawyer"

"That’s not a surprise" Jared ave him a death look

"Sorry, what, Jared?" Maddie looked up at hily and we all paused "I hope you don’t think I’m out of line here, but I’m not sure what your problem with me is? When ere both at Joey’s, you seean, but now you seem to have an attitude, and I’m not sure why" She spoke slowly, directly, and without hesitation, and once again I was re red and I could see that he was surprised at such a direct question as well

"I don’t knohat …" He glanced atto uys don’t like aveback to Jared "But I don’t want you to et to know an and I, well, we…" she stuuys to hate et to know me"

"I like you already, Maddison" Vincent rubbed her shoulder "You have put both of my brothers in their place, what’s not to love?"

"Thanks, Vincent I really like you a lot as well" She gave hirateful that she hadn’t ave hed

"Okay, okay Maybe I’ve been a bit rash in ave her a weak smile "If my brother likes you, you can’t be all that bad"

I reached over and held Maddie’s hand and squeezed it, letting her know that she had my support I kneas important to Maddie that they liked her, but I wanted her to know that it didn’tto be here for her, no matter what

"Good, can I kick your asses at poker now?" She winked and we all burst out laughing We hadn’t knoe were going to do with Maddie; none of us really had friends ere girls and we had all felt a bit ahen she had arrived But she had been effortless, cracking jokes and really trying to get to know them She really cared abouta real part of the fa to beat me" Jared pulled soe blinds, I feel like ht"

"You wish, Martelli" She s the cards with a content and happy feeling in my heart

Chapter 10

Maddie