A single tear dropped from Mamma’s eye, and my chest felt so tight I thought my lungs had shut down. Mamma was referring to my daddy. Luca Carillo had destroyed her over the years, but she still loved him fiercely. She didn’t want me to become my daddy with Lexi. She wanted me to be the one to heal my Pix, not destroy her.

Eventually doing as I asked, Mamma let the pills dissolve under her tongue, and the entire time her dark eyes watched my face.

“Axe! You know what this means. We gotta bring him in. Bring everyone we got. It’s f**kin’ war, fratello. We gotta protect our turf. We lose that, we lose all our green, and I know what that means for you Carillo boys.”

“Caspico, Gio.”

“Hey, Axe, you been liftin’ cars again? Where’d this piece of shit Prius come from?”

Voices sounded loudly outside the trailer. I quickly began tucking Mamma in, when her hand gripped my arm. “You go… Do not let… Levi deal with… them…”

Nodding, I stood to exit the room, when Mamma said, “Send… her in… I wish… to talk to your… folletto.”

That stilled me, and I looked out into the living room, Levi talking shyly to Lexi and her beaming so big back at him. The kid was already in love with her; I could tell by his returning dopey grin.

“Perchè?” I asked Mamma, still watching the beautiful girl who was stealing my heart, making my baby brother feel wanted… cherished.

“Austin, mio caro… send… her in… It is between me… and your tesoro…”

Slightly nervous at what could be said in my absence, I walked into the living room to see Lexi helping Levi with what looked like math homework. Just as I reached the small coffee table they were crouched around, I flicked my head to get her to come to me.

“So complete questions three and four, and I’ll check if they’re correct in just a minute. I’ll be back.”

Lexi stood and began walking to me. Levi turned bright red at my knowing expression and occupied himself with working out his algebra.

Taking Lexi’s hand, I pulled her into the kitchen, way out of sight. Before she had time to ask questions, I cupped her cheeks with my hands and pulled her face closer and pressed my lips against hers.

A breathy whimper escaped her mouth and her tiny hands gripped tight onto my shirt. As soon as that tongue of hers peeked through her lips and into my mouth, I lost it. Turning Lexi around, I pushed her up against the counter and groaned as her arms skirted along my back, causing my crotch to push against hers. My c**k was hard, and I could feel Lexi’s body heat pouring off her in waves.

As the seconds passed, Lexi’s inexperienced body began to relax, getting more into my touch. When her hands slipped up and threaded into my hair, I was no longer thinking straight and wrapped my arms around her back, slamming her tight body up against my chest until it was flush with mine.

As a huge crack of thunder shook the foundations of the trailer, Lexi stilled as though she’d been shot. Her lips suddenly froze on mine and her hands slipped from my hair. Her whimpers came harder now, and through the sex-crazed fog that was clouding up all rational thought, I thought they were a sign of pleasure, until I felt the wetness on her cheeks.

As I pulled back, I realized silent tears were tumbling down Lexi’s cheeks. Her pale-green eyes had turned vacant, and my blood ran cold.

She was in her dark place, zoning the f**k out on me again.

As I went to withdraw from our embrace, it took me a moment to realize where my hands were: flat to her back, my thumb unconsciously rubbing at her spine.

Shit!

Ripping my arms away and holding them in the air, I hissed, “Pix? Pix! Come back to me. I’m off you. Just come back to me.”

I knew the minute my voice had broken through when she began panting and her lashes fluttered, pulling her from his trance. That f**ked-up voice that she said constantly tempted and tormented her.

“Pix—” I went to speak, but she pulled the black sleeves of her sweater over her palms and slammed them over her mouth.

“You touched my back,” she whispered. “I can’t be touched on my back. Why did you touch my back? There should be ten, but there’s only seven. It’s not enough. He’s right. It’s just not enough…” Her voice was frantic as she spoke shit to herself, and it rose into a high-pitched tone.

Lexi stumbled back until she hit the countertop, but her incessant muttering never stopped.

Darting my eyes to the door, I heard the voices outside getting closer, and like hell I wanted Axel to know about Pix being here… especially acting like this. He wasn’t gonna understand any of it. Wasn’t gonna approve of me being with her.

Cautiously inching forward, I caged Lexi in my arms and pressed my forehead to hers. “Pix, breathe. One… two… three… four…” I carried on and saw the moment Lexi was back, her chest trying like hell to follow the rhythm of my count. “Five… six… seven… eight…”

“Axe, get the kid. We need to make our move.”

Gio’s voice cut through my counting, and I watched the door, waiting patiently for it to open, trying to think how I could hide Pix.

“I’m calm. I’m calm…” Lexi’s quiet voice brought my attention back to her.

“Fuck, I’m sorry, Pix,” I whispered and tucked my head into the crook between her shoulder and neck, just breathing in the scent that was all her.