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My eyes drifted to the gun tucked in Vaughn’s waistband

The gun he rarely had out of his sight

“He s?” I asked

“He didn’t hn said “I wanted to make my dad proud so I did it all without question He wanted ht – I learned how to throw a punch with the best of theun – I uy up – I didn’t even ask why I was doing it”

I felt sick topeople for no reason

“Fortunately, the old man still had a conscience My job was mostly just to push people around until they saw hn round were the ones I met after Gio was taken”

“That’s why Con said you were the best equipped to go after Gio from the inside”

Vaughn nodded “King’s good, but he and subtlety aren’t the best of friends After I et the kids out and eliets the kids to safety and Lex helps theo home or start over Luca finances all of it and uses his contacts to take down any network he can, usually by leaking evidence to the cops or task forces around the country He also chases down every lead on Gio while stillthe outward appearance that he’s just another super-successful businessman”

I leaned against the bench and let ers roam over the inscription on the back of it

“You’ve all paid too high of a price,” I said softly

Vaughn shook his head “Luca’s suffering is far worse That kid was… is his entire life Luca was on the same path as our father until Gio cahn smiled “You should have seen our father’s face when Luca told hiit Fucker nearly had a coronary on the spot Finally did six months later”

“What did you do?” I asked “After Luca told your father that”

“You’ll just laugh,” Vaughn said with a smile

“No, I won’t,” I responded I nudged his knee with mine “Tell me”

“I finished high school first Got my GED”

“Your father hadn’t let you finish school?”

“No reason to You don’t need to understand algebra or biology to kno to shoot a gun or beat the shit out of someone,” he said

The lightness I’d been feeling dissipated “How old were you when you got it?” I asked