“Axe, no—”
“By midnight tonight, Gio won’t be a problem no more. The Kings will take the Heighter turf, and the crew will have to reorganize with someone new running the show. By then, you’ll be in the NFL and outta here.”
“Fuck, Axe,” I said in a graveled voice. My big bro had finally come through for us. Betrayed his crew brother, his best friend. The fucker did put us first, after all. “Won’t this come back on you?”
Axel shrugged. “I can handle myself inside.”
Fighting back my sadness, I said, “Yeah, and what the hell will you do afterward?”
Axel huffed a laugh. “I’ll serve my time. Then I’m coming to live with you, superstar. You’ll have some rich-ass mansion by then, yeah? Capisci?”
I laughed and replied, “Capisco.”
“Carillo, let’s go.” A cop came behind me, and Axel lowered his mouth to my ear.
“I know I ain’t been the best brother for you, kid. I know I fucked up more than I got right, especially with Lev. But famiglia was always everything to me. And I want you to know how fuckin’ proud I am of you. I have pride that you’re my blood. You and Lev. Promise me you’ll both do well.”
Slapping my hand on Axel’s cheek, I pulled him toward me and laid a kiss on his head. “You keep your head down and don’t get in no trouble, and whenever you get out, I’ll be here to bring you home.”
Axel smiled wide. “That a deal? ’Cause I’ll hold you to it.”
“It’s a deal,” I replied, cracking a smile.
With a curt nod, the cop began leading Axel away, when he looked back with tears in his eyes. “Did she go peacefully?”
My heart cracked when I realized he was talking about Mamma, and I had to cross my arms over my chest to stop my hands from shaking. I couldn’t speak so I just nodded my head.
“That’s good, kid. That’s real fuckin’ good. At least she’s finally free again, huh?”
The cop took Axel away, and I turned to face my friends.
Jimmy-Don threw an arm around my neck. “You ready to get back to your Pix and little bro, and start living the straight life, boy?”
Releasing a long sigh, I nodded my head. Start living. That’s what I’m gonna do. Cut all the Heighter shit and really start living.
Later that night, Giovanni “Gio” Marino was shot dead in a drive-by in Westside Heights. There were no witnesses to the murder, and the Kings immediately took over Heighter turf.
Chapter Thirty
Lexi
NFL Draft, Second Round
Radio City Music Hall, New York
Two months later…
“And for the San Francisco 49ers… Austin Carillo, from the Alabama Crimson Tide!”
Austin’s eyes slammed to mine as we all sat backstage in Radio City Hall and, holding my hand, Austin brought it to his lips. His was shaking.
“Pix… fuck,” he hushed out, and I leaned into his shoulder as his eyes closed in prayer.
“Austin! The 49ers!” Levi shouted and jumped up from his seat. Austin released my hand and stood to embrace his brother, both clinging onto each other, just savoring the magnitude of this moment.
Austin pulled back and, in a daze, walked after the official to the stage to receive his jersey.
I sat watching him on the TV screen and couldn’t keep the smile from my face.
“How you feeling, darlin’?” Ally asked in concern.
“I’m okay, a little tired, but I’m good.”
It had been two months since my relapse, and I had already gained twenty pounds. It was a slow process, but I was getting better every day… with Austin’s help. And he was better too. He’d managed to get a place for him and Levi away from Westside Heights, and they never heard from the crew again.
The sofa suddenly dipped beside me, and Levi’s smiling face looked my way. “Can you believe it, Lexi? We’re going to San Francisco!”
Tapping his excited hand on his lap, I smiled back. “You sure are, sweetie. You’ll get to start again, make something real good of yourself in California.”
Levi’s smile faded and his head tilted to the side. “You’ll be coming too, right? You’ll be there with us too?”
I lowered my eyes before casting a glance around my friends. They had all decided to come along to the draft here in NYC. Rome was awarded first-draft pick yesterday and was heading to the Seattle Seahawks. We had celebrated with them last night. But today was all about Austin.
My friends were all watching me struggle with Levi’s question in sympathy. Truth was, I wasn’t sure I was in a good enough place to go anywhere outside of Tuscaloosa right now. Hell, it had taken some real begging for Dr. Lund to allow me to come here for a few days. And besides, Austin had never mentioned me going with him. After getting a normal life for the last eight weeks, following years of upheaval, I wasn’t sure he wanted to take his anorexic girlfriend along for the ride. It was just too much pressure on him.