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Aleks wiped at his face “Don’t be sorry,” he said I laughed when he repeated the words back to me that I’d said to him so many times

I looked at Ronan “You talk a good ga to help any of those kids out there,” I said as I motioned to the door “When you’ve spent askids suffer like Aleks did, then you can fucking preach to me about family and loyalty”

Ronan studied me for a moment, but he seemed unimpressed byyou want to tell your brother?”

Aleks looked both surprised and relieved at the same time “Yes,” he said with a nod

Ronan nus released his hold on Aleks and the second he did, Aleks hurried to stand in front of his brother Dante lowered his weapon

Aleks opened hiscame out He looked atHisthat happened when he was co that had happened, it was no wonder he was having a hard tihts into words

Not to e audience he had…

“Just breathe, baby,” I said “Remember that story you told me… about the do… do…”

Aleks pulled in a breath “Dobradinha,” he said softly The reround hihts in line He looked relieved I could feel Dante’s and just about everyone else’s gazes on me, but I didn’t care I couldn’t takeproud of him If there’d ever been a time for him to escape into his head or lose himself to a blackout, this was one of those moments

But his voice was fir

Firm, but quiet

Soft

So very much him

“Dante, I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered “So very much”