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Vitale Brothers: Never Say Never – Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow

I’d do anything for my family. Even go undercover and devote my life to the FBI so they can continue to thrive. Everything I do is for the Vitale name. I just have to focus, complete my job, divert attention and stay out of trouble.

But trouble finds me.

Not just me, but York Washington. He’s my boss, but more than that he’s my friend. When he and his daughters are thrown into danger I have no choice but to step into the light. Finally, I get to go back home.

But home is a strange hellscape I no longer understand.

While a war wages on, I’m caught between who I am and who I was with a man I’ve betrayed. There’s no happily ever after for me.

The fourth book in the Vitale brother series. Each book can be read as a standalone but best enjoyed read in order. HEA guaranteed.

The Vitale Brothers is an all-time favorite series, and each brother is memorable in his own way. I thought this would be a trilogy, so learning Gin has a twin in the previous book, Say I Do, made my jaw drop.

Never Say Never finally unveiled Gianpaolo Vitale. Going undercover in the FBI for his family as Paul Gallow, he keeps tabs on cases and passes information to Benito, the only brother who knows about his mission. Paul is known as a man whore in his department, dating coworkers left and right and getting in trouble with HR.

But the man Paul is really crushing hard on is his boss, York Washington, an Idriss Elba of a hunk who’s good at his job and keeps his personal life private. And so he was pleasantly surprised to discover York in a gay bar and that he has twin daughters.

The plot highlights Paolo’s dual identity. In the first part, as Paul, I wouldn’t say there’s none of the darkness but mostly hints of a deeper obsession. You got to hand it to Paolo. The man buried his Vitale so deep it didn’t feel like a Vitale book at all. I was even borderline bored.

It took me a while to warm up to York. A 46-year-old widower and first-time gay, he’s still figuring out most things. Paolo is eager to lend a hand and I get that York doesn’t want to complicate things with a subordinate. At the same time, the older man wants to explore his sexuality.

The thing with York is that he’s hot and cold for almost the entire book and I wasn’t convinced he’s actually in love with Paolo. Also, his characterization lacks depth. It was only at the end that he stood out as a character.

My favorite in the first part is Paolo and York’s twin daughters. Paolo adored the girls from the get-go and would die to protect them. And being a twin himself, he knows all about the mischief the clever girls cook up, even taught them a trick or two.

And we all agree, we could do without the nanny. This character was terrible and unnecessary.

When York and the twins were in danger, he didn’t hesitate. When Gianpaolo shed the Paul Gallow persona, revealing his Italian heritage, his tattoos, and became a full-on Vitale, it was glorious!!! And this is where the real crazy starts! I wish we got to this part sooner because this is what I came for.

“Sanity was only a facade with me. I was born into chaos and I wielded mayhem freely.”

You can tell he and Gin are twins because Paolo is one fucked up motherfucker with fucked up thoughts and zero qualms dub-conning his boss into staying in the Vitale building for their safety. He has already declared the twins his daughters, whether York agrees or not. I loved how fiercely protective he is of those he loves.

My favorite in the second part is when the Vitales unleashed hell on their enemies. It was a spectacular free-for-all violence, gore, and mayhem with a dash of humor, usually involving a brother’s weapon of choice. All the known brothers were there, plus Benito’s beloved monstrizio, Harlow, because as the queen, he has to have the head of the enemy.

I have yet to meet a Vitale I didn’t love, and Gianpaolo stands rightfully beside Gin, finally completing the Murder Twins. Paolo was thrown in a unique position and showed his true colors much later, but he proved a Vitale through and through.

Overall, Never Say Never is a mixed-bag yet ultimately thrilling story of loyalty, trust, and family, where the mind says no, the heart says yes, and the blood screams vengeance.

Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

Soundtrack: Say It First
Artist: Sam Smith
Album: The Thrill Of It All

P.S.

Vitale Brothers is best read in order. Each brother is fascinating so go ahead and meet them all.

Take Me Apart by Brea – Vitales like to live dangerously and Enzo did it by kidnapping a cop

Paid In Full by Brea – Gin found himself a twink he can’t let go

Say I Do by Brea – Benito don’t do things by halves so he married a complete psycho

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I never feel like this
I’m used to emptiness in my heart
And in my arms
You’re not what I’m used to
You keep me guessing with things that you do
I hope that they’re true

‘Cause I’m never gonna heal my past
If I run every time it starts
So I need to know if I’m in this alone

Come on baby, say it first
I need to hear you say those words
If I’m all that you desire, I promise there’ll be fire
I need to hear you say it first
Come on baby, do your worst
I know you’ll take me higher

So come on darling
If you love me, say it first
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?

I know you’re right for me
But I’m waiting for everything in your world
To align with my world

I think of you while I sleep
I dream of what we could be if we grow
Together unfold

‘Cause I’m never gonna heal my past
If I run every time it starts
So I need to know if I’m in this alone

Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?
Say it, say it, say it
(Won’t you say it to me?) Say it first
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?

Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?
Say it, say it, say it
Won’t you say it to me?