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I grin, fighting back a laugh. Pestering is my love language, and I love to do it. “Of course not. But I’m a genius. I’ll have it done in ten days. Probably eight, but I like to play it safe.”

He narrows his gaze, and Killian chuckles next to me. Lifting the cigarette to his lips, Lex tuts after him, snapping his fingers. “Bastardo! Not where my boys are.”

The Reaper rolls his eyes. “Whatever you say, Capo.”

The cigarette hangs from his mouth, unlit, as Lex takes the chair. Sitting in his office, in his swanky penthouse, it’s a far cry from the old Italian mansion he used to live in.

But I see pieces of my sister, Sloane, here. The various expensive pieces of art on the walls, the Waterford crystal on the bookshelf behind him. A small spot in the room is encased in baseball memorabilia, with signed cards and a glass dome over a precious ball.

There are a ton of framed pictures of them together on the walls, with more of the twins.

Standing, I cross behind him, picking one up from the bookshelf. They’re only a few months old, these little wiggly things of wrinkled peachy skin. They have thick dark tufts of hair on their heads, and a smattering of freckles.

“Do you want to see them?”

Yes, but I don’t know how to verbalize it.

I haven’t really been there for Sloane. I watched over her from the hall, through the cameras at the hospital. I saw Lex never leave her side, Nico waiting by the door and giving directions to the nursing staff. I was there when Maeve rushed in to hold Sloane’s other hand, and when Killian had to pull her back when she needed a cesarean delivery.

And I smiled with pride as they let Collins into the room to assist, coaching both her and Lex through it. Hayes came in when it was over, and Collins dropped into his arms, her safe spot in the storm.

Everyone was there, but I stuck to the screens.

Why?

I could blame the assassins. The threat they pose—and it a good reason to stay away. But it’s more than that.

I’ve been gone too long. I’m too removed, too far outside their lives to truly feel included. I’m the youngest, and yet, I don’t know how to be a brother. A text for their birthdays hardly seems enough to bond over, and they know it—I know it. I can counteract the passage of time that took so much from us.

The only reason I’m here is that Killian dragged me along. The capo might have information we need, and I have to make sense of it.

“No, I’m good,” I say, swallowing thickly. I replaced the picture and my fingers twitch.

“Nico and Anthony,” Lex adds. At my snort, he shrugs. “After so much loss, it felt good to remember them by their names.” He cuts the Reaper a look. “Nico reminded me he wasn’t dead yet, but it’s still a nice gesture.”

I return to my seat. “Maybe if you have a daughter, you can name her Maria.”

He shrugs. “Maybe. Now. Why are you here?”

Killian throws a USB drive across the polished desk. “We need your help.”

“Mine?” He smirks a bit, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been for the capo. Since getting involved with us, he’s had his only cousin turn on him and watched his best friend, Tony, blown to pieces. Then, when his aunt Maria, who was the only connection to his deceased mother, was killed… well. I’d kick us out and never look back.

If not for that nasty contract Maeve and Nico drew up, he probably would have.

“Easy, Capo,” Killian drawls lazily. “We only need information.”

“Specifically, who you know in New York.” I point at the drive. “That’s a hacked copy of Bruno’s shipping manifest. Cracked it yesterday. Apparently his deliveries have been diverted out of Boston.”

Lex looks at the drive pinched between his forefinger and thumb, and his brow furrows.

“And they’re going to New York?”

Killian nods. “You’re connected in ways the clan isn’t.”

“That we are. I’m sure if I ever have need of a backwater clan in the bayous, I’ll be sure to come to you.”