Me too.

There's a gentle breeze as the sun beats on my skin, I welcome the vitamin D. After the shitty morning, and the long afternoon, this peaceful moment is appreciated. Until my phone rings again, I cringe when I see who it is. I'm not quite sure why I called Vic over my Uncle. He's been my father figure for as long as I can remember. He didn't answer when I first called him but I left him a message letting him know what was going on. I didn't want him to hear from the locals before I had a chance to tell him myself.

"Hey Drew."

"Are you okay?" he asks, the emotion oozing through the phone.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

His sigh is so loud, "Where are you now?"

"I'm at Vic's."

"Russo?"

"Yeah." I confirm.

"Do you need me to come get you? Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm okay. Vic's been great, he's been a huge help."

"Okay." he pauses then repeats, "Okay. Good. I think it's wise you stay somewhere else for a while and you're off the rest of the week."

"That's what the officer said but I don't need to take off work."

"That wasn't a question. You're off."

I reluctantly agree, "Alright."

"You can come stay with me. I always have a room for you."

"I know." And this I do. I am so incredibly lucky to have an uncle like Drew.

"You call me if you need anything. I mean it."

"I will."

"Okay. I gotta get going, I love you little one."

The use of my nickname he gave me when I was a young girl makes me smile. "Love you too uncle."

The opening of the sliding glass door sounds behind me as I end our call, pulling my attention towards Vic who's approaching me with two beer bottles. He hands one out to me.

"You good?"

"Yeah." I smile, "Thanks."

He takes a seat next to me on the patio steps, arms resting upon his knees, the bottle dangles from his right hand. "Vin and Chase are going to tow your car to the shop. V will get an estimate for your insurance. What did your insurance say?"

"I have rental coverage, so thankfully I'll have a rental. They have to come out and do their estimates or whatever. I'll have to pay a deductible but it should fall under my comprehensive." I pause and take a sip.

"Whatever you need, I'm here. Let me know what you need."

"Thanks Vic, I really appreciate that but please don't go out of your way for anything. This isn't your fault."

He scoffs, "It sure as shit is my fault, you wouldn't be involved in this if it wasn't for me."

"Ehh.." my face contorts, "I kinda did involve myself. I'm pretty sure I put myself smack dab in the middle."

He chuckles, "Yeah, I guess you did but this is extreme."

I bump my shoulder into his arm since he's so much taller than me. "It's fine."

He faces me with an arched brow.

"Okay, it's not fine but the damage is done...literally. But this isn't gonna get me down."

"I would feel better if it was my car."

"I mean...I can even the score, you got a bat?"

"You're crazy." he shakes his head with laughter and glances away.

"You like em' crazy." I retort.

His gaze returns to me, his eyes raking over my face and seeming to land on my lips. "Yeah, I guess I do." the words come out low and rough, hitting me straight in the heart. There's this intensity in his eyes, electrifying my skin and it's not from the sun. The want to lean forward and kiss him is so great, it's a need. Would he kiss me back? Is this all in my head?

The kiss at the pub was a show for Melissa, this would be all on us, because we want to. My body sways forward on autopilot, knowing what it needs. It needs Victor's lips on mine.

The sudden noise of the sliding door pulls both our attention away from each other. Vance strolls towards us with a pizza box in one hand and a bag in the other. Vaughn is hot on his heels. Victor gets up from his place beside me and faces his brothers. "What are you guys doing here?"

I take the small moment to gather myself and also stand to face the two new Russo men. "Heard the drama llama came crashing through. Vin said you guys were here." Vance places the bag on the patio table then shoves the pizza at Vic, he turns and swiftly envelopes me into a big hug.

"How's my future wife?" his voice is low in my ear, "You okay?"

I pat his back, "Yeah, I'm good."

He pulls away, keeping his hands on my shoulders, his face is serious. Vance is incredibly handsome with his dark hair, vibrant green eyes, and adonis features. These damn Russo's are too handsome for their own good. His signature smirk appears, "You can come stay with me, I have room in my bed." His eyes move over my shoulder and right back, "Whaddya say?"

I pat his cheek a few times, making the last one sting a little, "Oh Vance, baby, you can't handle me." I add a teasing wink and move out of his hold.

"Oh, baby? Let me find o-OW!" Vance's yelp cuts off his sentence pulling my attention back to him. Vance is rubbing the back of his head, throwing a glare at Vic. "Chill. I was joking." He huffs at Vic and grabs the pizza box from him. "You don't get any now." He stalks away from us and back into the house.

I turn to face Vaughn who's been quiet, "Hey Vaughn." I don't see Vaughn often since he's not quite the legal age yet, but I know his twenty-first birthday is approaching soon. His hair is not clean cut like the rest of his brothers, more of a shaggy look. It fits him well but it also makes him look young. "Hey Jade."

I wrap my arm around his arm and tug him towards the open sliding door. I lower my voice, "If I can give you any piece of advice, don't be like Vance."

"I heard that! No pizza for you either!" Vance's voice calls from inside causing us to laugh, hard. We cross the threshold and I freeze at the sight of the rest of the Russo crew, plus Chase, standing in the dining area. Each of them has a bag or box of something in their hand.

"Hey guys." Vic's timber voice sounds from close behind me, "What's going on?"

"We knew what a shitty day it's been for Jade, so we all grabbed something and came over to hopefully make it less of a shitty day." V's explains and I feel a zing in my heart. My heart's swelled and my throat is constricting from the emotions I'm holding back. They came over, with food, to cheer me up. They're here because I had a shitty day. V's smile is vibrant and contagious, the whole room is smiling. All the Russo's and their beautiful smiles are on display, so when my lips spread into a smile of its own. I allow it, I let them know how happy this makes me. It speaks to me on a whole 'nother level.

I have to clear my throat before I can speak, "You guys...thank you!"

"Okay, you can have one slice." Vance speaks from the kitchen, "But Victor gets none."

"It's okay. We got plenty." V chimes in merrily.

Everyone moves and starts pulling out different varieties of foods and desserts. If it's any way to my heart, it's through my stomach. "I think my family just adopted you." Vic's voice is close to my ear.

I watch the siblings do their thing, "I think I'm okay with that." I reply.

Vic responds under his breath, I'm not sure if I caught it correctly but I swear he said, "Me too."

Well hot damn. Some things are playing out and not quite as I expected...it's throwing me for quite the loop. But it's their story..

I'm sorry for the long wait, but I feel like this is my MO anymore. Sometimes the words want to come and sometimes they don't. I really wish I could update on a weekly basis for ya'll. My brain doesn't work like that, not to mention, other characters like to but in and bother me.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know in the comments, and please vote! That is greatly sooooo appreciated. Please be kind when leaving comments, be kind to me, and to others reading.

ALSO! Signed copies of Labeled are available, https://jennilinn.bigcartel.com/