Luciano | Book I ✓

Chapter Thirty

Posting this and stalking my notifications for the next 3 hours because I want to read these comments. You all make me laugh so much, I swear; I love you all and comment your asses off! (:

- - - -

"Friends are not as important as family. Do not confuse the loyalty of friendship with the bond of blood." – Unknown.

- - - -

I could already tell this was going to a very long night. After the firetrucks arrived, a police and ambulance shortly followed. We watched silently, without much conversation, as the firefighters did their job. A police officer walked over just a few minutes after they arrived and called Liam away, telling him that they needed his assistance. He walked away briskly after the police officer, not even wasting a second to glance over his shoulder at me.

I stood alone for what felt like forever, watching the lights of the police car, listening to the dim sirens of the emergency vehicles. People still stood around us in crowds, their phones out, recording everything that was going down firsthand. Their chatter was loud, but not loud enough that I could distinctly hear what they were saying. But it felt like the group of people were growing; not only did all of the customers in the restaurant come out, but people were filing out of buildings across the street, eyeing the drama that was unfolding.

I felt sick watching people I didn't even know and for a moment, I felt awfully alone. It was hard to express what I was feeling; worry, fear, sadness. It hadn't slipped my mind that Bobby had started the car and unless he was Clark Kent, there was no way in the world he could've saved himself from a blast like that. Liam and I had yet to say it to each other, simply because we both knew.

A chill creeped down my spine as I realized just how close Liam had come to turning the key tonight, starting the engine, and blowing us both up.

My eyes fell on Liam. Two officers stood before him, nodding and listening as he ran his mouth. Luciano pointed towards the car, then the building, and briefly at me, while explaining the story to the two men. They continued to nod, before briefly calling Liam to follow them; they disappeared from sight, behind one of the police cars, leaving me to sigh.

The loneliness I was feeling only lasted a second. I leaned back on my heels and turned my head to the right, scanning the crowd of unfamiliar faces. Far past the crowd of curious bystanders, past the lights of the restaurant, a figure stood beneath a lone, shimmering street lamp. I could see the outline of their masculine figure as they leaned up against a thin, sports motorcycle that sat parked behind him. His face couldn't be seen clearly due to the hoodie that was thrown over his head, but in my heart, I knew who it was.

I excused my way through the crowd, finally breaking through and marching straight towards the man. His large arms were folded across his chest and a pair of dark sunglasses rested on the bridge of his nose, despite the fact that it was already night. He didn't flinch as I approached and although I couldn't see his eyes, I could tell his attention was strained on the car that was still smoldering behind me.

I joined him in his stance, letting my back rest against the parked motorcycle. I keep my attention on him, however, on the facial features that I could see. His jaw was locked and the demeanor he was giving off was chilling; cold, angry, slightly pissed.

I tried to break the ice as I look away from him, letting my attention fall back on the crowds of people. "You always work in the shadows?"

I was ready for an answer, but an answer for my question never came. Rico just adjusts his stance, letting his weight shift to another foot. Out the corner of my eye, I see him run a hand over his chin.