She turns in my arms to face her father. “Hey, Daddy,” she says, sounding so small and fragile. Two things I’ve learned she isn’t.

  “You okay?” he asks her again as his gaze roams her face and her body for visible injuries.

  “He didn’t touch me. This is all his blood.”

  Joe’s eyebrows rise, thinking the same thing I did. Impressive. “All of it is his?”

  She nods. “I did everything you taught me.”

  “Never knew you really listened, baby girl.”

  “She’s like her father,” Mrs. Gallo says, shaking her head.

  Luna smiles again. “I did.”

  “How did he get you?” he asks her.

  I brace myself. I know if I was pissed at her stupid move, he is about to lose his goddamn mind.

  “I came out here to get—”

  He tips his head, furrowing his brows. “Want to say that again? I think I heard you wrong.”

  “Nope,” I bite out. “You didn’t.”

  She winces. “I needed something from my truck.”

  He runs his hand across his jaw, smashing his teeth together. “Fuck me. You could’ve been killed. For what? Some damn lip gloss?”

  She rolls her eyes, sitting up a little straighter in my lap. “No. I don’t wear lip gloss. I wanted to change my shoes. My feet were killing me in these damn heels that men designed as torture devices.”

  He kicks at the cinders, holding back his anger. “And you didn’t think to have anyone escort you out here in the dark?”

  “I shouldn’t need an escort, but Chad had to be the tool he is, or at least was, and what did he get? His ass whooped by a girl,” she says, her voice getting louder with each subsequent word. “I refuse to be held captive because a man who’s clearly delusional can’t take no for an answer.”

  Joe grunts, cursing under his breath. “I’m sorry, Luna. I’m not mad at you, baby. I’m pissed you even had to deal with this shit and then you had to take matters into your own hands.”

  He says those last words while looking at me.

  “I found her out here.”

  “You were a few minutes too late,” he snaps.

  I want to be pissed at his attitude, but I get it. I really do. He’s upset and lashing out at the only person who can take it.

  “Dad, you know it’s my fault. Don’t be mad at Nevin,” Luna says, coming to my defense.

  He blows out a breath before his face softens. “I’m not mad at anyone, Luna. I’m scared. It’s different. It’s going to take me more than a few minutes to calm my ass down. I drove over here thinking you were hurt or worse.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

  “Don’t be sorry.” He reaches out, taking her chin between his fingers. “I’m proud of you.”

  Her chin stops trembling. I don’t know if it’s from his touch or his words. “Thanks, Daddy.”

  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was jealous of their relationship. Really, any of her family relationships. I realize how empty my life has been since the day I was born.

  “And you,” he says, turning his gaze on me. “You did good, son. You did the best you could with a wild one like her. She never makes anything easy.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” I tell him again.

  He gives me a chin lift. “Don’t be. I know you did your best, and that’s all I can ask.”

  It sounds nice, but I know if something had happened to her tonight, I’d be the one paying for it. If not through the courts, then at the hands of her father and uncles.

  A dark Challenger pulls into the parking lot, sending cinders everywhere, just like Joe’s bike did. It’s as if they all took a course in how to make a grand and dramatic entrance.

  “Oh boy,” Mrs. Gallo mutters, turning to see Luna’s uncle unfold his big body from such a low car.

  James is out of his car, moving toward Chad’s body. “He alive?”

  Carmello greets his father before he makes it all the way to Chad. “He’s alive. Stable, but fucked up.”

  “Fucked up is perfect.” James’s eyes turn toward us. “She okay?”

  “She’s fine,” Joe answers for her.

  James has his phone out and is tapping on the screen. “My buddy from the Marshals is on the way.”

  “Marshals?” Carmello asks, looking back at Chad.

  “The perp is wanted on drug charges and a rape in another state five years ago.”

  “Shit,” I groan, suddenly imagining how very badly this could’ve gone.

  “Pretty sure he won’t be using his dick for a long time,” Luna says, sounding more confident than she did a few minutes ago. “I made sure of that.”

  “Good girl,” James says, smiling at his niece. “Those shoes have their upside.”

  She wiggles her feet. “They’re weapons, for sure.”

  “We’re going to retire those,” I whisper in her ear.

  She peers up at me. “No way in hell. I hate how they feel, but they have their purpose and served me well tonight.”

  “Maybe we should put them in a shadow box on a shelf in your apartment like a memento of the first ass you kicked.”

  She laughs. “Baby,” she calls out to me, melting my insides. “He wasn’t the first, and neither was Oliver.”

  Fuck. I forgot about Oliver. “He wasn’t your first either?”

  She shakes her head. “But I’m hoping Chad will be my last.”

  “Me fucking too.”

  “Keep an eye on her,” Joe says as he stalks toward James, all parties standing over Chad, but no one helping him.

  Ro and Gigi head toward us, coming to check on their sister.

  “You need anything? Water?” Ro asks Luna.

  Luna looks down at her hands. “A towel would be nice.”

  Ro’s heading toward the shop without a second thought or asking more questions.

  Gigi winces when her eyes finally take in the sight of her sister. “Where did all the blood come from?”

  “I may have sat on his chest and punched him a couple of times in the face, and his nose took a shot or two. It leaked like a sieve.”

  Gigi clutches her stomach, turning green. “You’re too much.”

  “You know what it’s like when someone attacks you. You go into a totally different mode,” Luna says to her elder sister.

  Gigi nods. “I wasn’t all Rambo like you, though.”

  There’s so much to these sisters. More than I ever imagined. They aren’t shy little things, and they know how to protect themselves, which is something we were never taught but had to figure out on our own.

  “I think you all need to hang up your boxing gloves,” I say to them.

  They both turn their gazes on me. Luna’s the first to speak. “If men didn’t start shit with us, we wouldn’t have to bring out the big guns,” she says, having a sense of humor even though she was just attacked.

  Thankfully, he only grabbed her arm, and her instinct was to fight back. He didn’t have time to hurt her before she put his ass on the ground. If she hadn’t reacted so fast, we would be dealing with something far different, and no one would be joking about anything.

  A police car pulls into the parking lot, moving at a normal speed and not sending gravel everywhere like the older Gallo men.

  “Here we go,” Luna whispers. “You think this will take long?”

  I shake my head. “Probably just a statement.”

  “I want you to take me home,” Luna says to me, relaxing in my lap. “I’m tired.”

  “The adrenaline is wearing off,” I say to her, holding her tighter so I can become her support. “We’ll get you tucked in.”

  Ro’s back with a towel in her hand and a spray bottle. “I grabbed some alcohol too so you can sanitize your hands,” she says as she hands the white towel to her sister.

  Luna holds her hands out for Ro to spray. “Thanks, sissy.”

  “You’re welcome, Lu. You scared me for a hot minute,” Ro says.

  “I’m not going out that easy,” Luna replies.

  I let them have their moment, concentrating on the police as they speak with Luna’s father and uncle. They keep their gaze pinned on Chad, who not only hasn’t found his footing yet, but is also being held down by Carmello to make sure he stays where he is.

  It’s funny. When I walked out of prison, I thought life would be calm. I thought I’d struggle to fit in somewhere and have nothing to my name, but it wouldn’t matter because at least I’d have peace and solitude.

  None of that’s been true, and I’m more than okay with it. I have more people in my life than I ever imagined possible. People who seem to like and care for me, although I’ve done nothing to earn it.

  Do I think any of them would take a bullet for me? I haven’t gotten to that point yet, but I know if I got into a jam, I could probably call on anyone in Luna’s family and they’d have my back in a heartbeat.

  When I was young and hated the Gallos, specifically Joe, because he was an asshole, I never thought there would be a time when I’d look at them in a different light.

  Luna’s father nods at the cop before coming our way. He runs his hand through his hair, scrubbing forward and back. “Chad’ll be arrested for his outstanding warrants, and it’s doubtful he’ll be granted bail with his history of running.”

  Luna sits up, no longer shaking like a leaf. “Do I have to make a formal statement or press charges?”

  Joe gives her a sorrowful smile. “You don’t have to, but I wish you would at least get something on record in case he’s ever an issue again.”

  Luna kicks her foot out. “If he does, these have his name on them.”

  He blows out a breath, glancing at the nighttime sky.

  Luna snorts. “I’m kidding, Dad. I’ll go down there tomorrow and talk to the police about what happened.”

  Joe looks instantly relieved. “They’re taking him to the hospital to get checked out before he heads down to the county jail for processing. You,” Joe says, looking directly at me, “take her home and make sure she gets some rest.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Take care of her,” he tells me.

  “I will. I promise,” I reply.

  He’s trusting me with his child. Although she’s fully grown and took down a whole-ass man, he’s asking me to take care of her.

  “Can we go now?” Luna asks me.

  I place my arms under her legs and lift her. She doesn’t let go of me as I jump down from the tailgate, holding on tight. “We’ll get you home and tucked into bed.”

  “Stay with me tonight,” she whispers against my neck.

  “I’ll stay with you as long as you need,” I reply, knowing I’d stay forever if she asked me to.

  24

  LUNA

  I open my eyes, squinting from the sunlight. My body hurts as I stretch, and all the memories from last night come flooding back to me.

  I lied when I pretended like I wasn’t terrified. I was. When you’re attacked, if you’re not scared, you’re a complete moron. But another part of me took over, going into overdrive, and acting instead of thinking. If I'd had a moment to think, I probably would’ve frozen, and the situation would’ve ended very differently.

  Nevin rolls over, exposing his torso with the sheet lying across his bottom half. He looks so peaceful. It’s hard to believe all the things he’s been through in his life. He seems to have let go of some of his anger, easily fitting in with my family and realizing his past doesn’t need to follow him into his future.

  “Hey,” he whispers and stretches, flexing all of his muscles. And there are a lot of them too.

  He’s still thin, but he’s been gaining more weight since he got out. And if my grandmother has anything to do with it, he’ll be bulked out in no time.

  “Hey,” I whisper back.

  He reaches over, hauling me the few feet until I’m tucked against his side and my head is on his chest. “You okay?” he asks.

  I place my palm against his pec, listening to the slow and steady beat of his heart. “I’m good.”

  “How are you, really?”

  I peer up, meeting his green eyes. “I’m really okay. I promise. He’s behind bars now, so I can stop looking over my shoulder, and you don’t have to watch over me either.”

  His face tightens, and a darkness fills his eyes for the briefest of moments. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

  “Me too.”

  His fingers trace a path up and down my spine, moving slowly and lightly. “Guess we can get back to normal.”

  “Yeah.”

  I hate the idea of what normal used to be like, though.

  I never thought I’d like having someone else in my place. Someone other than my sister, that is. But having Nevin around has been better than nice. He’s a calming force to me, and the fact that he’s learning how to cook is a bonus.

  “Nevin,” I whisper.

  “Yeah?”

  I push myself up on my elbow and look down at his face. “I know you’ve said no before, but…” I stop and swallow, nervous for him to reject me again. “Do you think you’d want to move in with me? I mean, if you don’t want to do it as a couple, maybe just as friends, at least.”

  He slides his hand down to the dip right above my ass. “You still want me to?”

  I chew on my lip, wondering how I’m going to pretend not to be hurt when he shoots me down again. “Of course, but I don’t want to pressure you.”

  He reaches up with his other hand, cupping my cheek. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Lu.”

  I release my breath, relieved. “Good.” I smile, feeling like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

  He brushes his thumb against my cheek as his green eyes soften. “But I don’t want to be friends.”

  My heart sinks, and all the warm and fuzzies I had a moment ago vanish. “What?”

  “If I’m moving in, I want everything. All of it. You. Me. Us. Everything I thought I could never and would never have.”

  My belly flips at his declaration. “You want it all?”

  He nods. “Everything.”

  My heart hammers in my chest. “Guess there’s no more going slow, huh?”

  He smiles, and the way he does it makes my body warmer than the sun on any summer day. “Not with you, babe.”

  “I’m okay with it that,” I say, and I’m not lying. I don’t want to take things slow. He’s lost enough time, and I’ve wasted more than my share.

  When you know, you know.

  “I didn’t think it was possible for anything to happen so quickly, but I love you, Lu.”

  My heart skips a beat. “You love me?” I whisper.

  “I love you,” he repeats, curling his fingers into my hair. “I realized it last night when I thought something happened to you. I don’t know what I’d do if—”

  I place my finger against his lips. “Shh. Don’t say it. I’m fine,” I assure him.

  He smiles behind my fingertip.

  I swallow, bracing myself for words I’ve never spoken to anyone except my closest friends and family. “I love you too, Nevin.”

  “You do?” He looks genuinely surprised. “Really?”

  “What’s not to love? You’re sweet but still grumpy. You’re protective but not overbearing. You don’t care about my crazy past.”

  “Babe, I got the top spot for crazy pasts.”

  I laugh, unable to stop smiling at him. “You sure do, but none of that matters anymore.”

  He pulls me down on top of him until we’re face-to-face. “For the first time in my life, I’m excited about the future, Luna. I don’t think you understand what that means.”

  “The future is always supposed to be a good thing.”

  He shakes his head. “It never has been for me, but you gave that to me.”

  My vision blurs, and my nose tickles. A feeling I don’t get often. “I didn’t do anything.”

  Nevin cups my face in the palms of his hands, staring at me with those beautiful green eyes. “You gave me hope when I thought there was none. You did everything to make finding my way again in life easy. You showed me kindness when you didn’t have to, and even when I made it hard. You showed me compassion and understanding when no one else would have had the patience. You didn’t give up on me or judge me for who I was or what I’ve done, babe. You did everything, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful that you were in my life.”

  “Were?” I tease, rolling my eyes.

  “Babe, are. You are. I’m talking about someday when I’m lying on my deathbed, thinking about the life I lived. Even if you aren’t in my life anymore, I’ll think back on this time with only great memories and thankfulness.”

  “Shoot,” I say, trying to shake my head, but his grip is too solid. “You already have us ending before we even begin.”

  “You can’t cage a wild thing forever,” he says before tipping his head forward, eyes trained on mine, and pressing his lips against my mouth.

  “Are we breaking up?” I ask, not sure what the hell he’s talking about.

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Then what the hell with the can’t cage a wild thing forever?”

  “Fuck if I know, but it sounded good, didn’t it? I’m only quoting you.”

  “Yeah, but stop being cute. It hurts my head.” I close my eyes, letting myself get lost in the warmth of his body, the safety of his embrace, and the hardness of his kiss.

  This is what I’ve always wanted.

  Someone who understands me and doesn’t try to change me. Someone who won’t box me in or try to domesticate me in ways I never can be trained.

  I don’t want a traditional life, and I know with Nevin, nothing will ever be normal.

  It couldn’t be.

  EPILOGUE

  LUNA

  Nevin stares up at the lights on the Strip, his mouth hanging open and at a complete loss for words.

  I squeeze his arm tighter, moving closer to his side. “You like it?”

  He lifts his arm, throwing it over my shoulder. “It’s so…so…”

  “I know,” I say, watching his face as he takes it all in.