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What if they could create a better organization than our father? Is it wrong to condemn my brothers for my father’s sins?
“You didn’t hear any of this,” Gio says as my brothers switch from the family business to sports. “Now that you’re old enough to be trusted, you should also be old enough to know when to keep your mouth shut as well.”
“I do know how to keep my mouth shut,” I say, crossing my arms and glaring at Gio. “I never told anyone about that blow up doll you brought home when you were seventeen.”
Gio narrows his eyes. “How do you even know about that? You would have been like five at the time.”
I shrug and jerk my chin at Salvatore. “He might have reminded me every year until I was old enough to remember on my own.”
“I hate both of you,” Gio says with a smile as he punches Salvatore in the arm.
I grin and settle in for a night of spending time with my brothers. I can’t remember the last time the five of us spent any time together. Even Salvatore, who’s the youngest of the four, is ten years older than me. Growing up, there was never much time when they wanted to be around me.
Now, I’m watching a movie with them while guilt eats me alive for what I’m about to do to my family.
8
TYSON
It’s nearing midnight when a black car pulls up outside my apartment building. I’m watching through a window with a gun tucked into my waistband. The new tattoos on my hands and neck are itchy and it’s nearly enough to drag me away from my position.
At least, I consider heading to the bathroom for the lotion until I see Antonio Russo step out of the car. Two other men are with him but neither of them are his sons.
It’s been just shy of a week since I pretended to kill a man in a club. I thought that I would have heard from Antonio’s assistant before now, but I also knew it was more than likely that he would keep me waiting for his own personal game.
The men glance up at my apartment and Antonio smiles. I raise a hand in greeting, knowing that he saw me. If there’s one thing I’m worried about, it’s how secure Tyson Crowe’s identity is.
Jameson thinks that keeping my real first name is best. He doesn’t think that they’ll think anything about Tyson Wilson. Especially with the new appearance. I don’t look anything like my old self and I like that. This assignment is giving me a chance to be the person I thought I would be.
I don’t know how I feel about that person yet.
Antonio nods toward his car and I get the message loud and clear. I keep my gun tucked into my waistband and grab my wallet before heading downstairs. When I get outside, the two men flanking Antonio move forward and start patting me down. I keep my limbs spread as they work their way over my body, looking for a wire.
One of them takes my gun and tucks it into his jacket. I glance at him but don’t say anything. Even though I brought the gun, I knew it would be taken. There is no way that Antonio would leave me armed while we are meeting for the first time. However, if I didn’t bring the gun, I would be considered suspicious from the start.
Trying to think three steps ahead of him at all times is exhausting and I wasn’t looking forward to working near him in close quarters. Even though a few agents are undercover, it’s been years since they’ve been able to make any real progress. Jameson is sure that Antonio suspects them as agents but isn’t willing to risk getting rid of them.
“I think it’s time that you and I have a little talk,” Antonio says as his men stop their search. “You understand the formalities, though. I’m a man with many enemies and I can’t have someone trying to double-cross me.”
“I understand,” I say as he gets into his car.
“Get in,” Antonio says, glancing at me from the dark interior of his car.
When I get in the car, Damien is sitting across from me. He barely moves and I suspect that the stab wound is still bothering him. These aren’t the kind of men who are going to show any weakness. Even though I watched Damien get stabbed, they are going to pretend that he is fine. He will be expected to work through the pain and show no weakness to those around him.
For a moment, Damien and I lock eyes. His mouth is set in a firm line as he looks me over. He shifts his jacket to the side, revealing the gun on his hip. I smirk slightly, crossing my arms over my chest as the other two men get into the front of the car.
“You know,” Antonio says as he turns slightly in his seat to look at me. “I don’t know why a stranger would kill another man for me. That’s why this background check has taken longer than anticipated.”
“And did you find anything interesting?” I ask, the smirk dropping as I turn to face him.
“A criminal record but nothing of much concern there.”
I nod, knowing that Jameson set up the Tyson Crowe identity as a felon who has only been out of jail for a few years. The record says that I was arrested and incarcerated for weapons dealing and drugs. Supposedly, it will make it easier to blend into the world of criminals if they think that I’m one of them. Jameson and I thought of every angle when we took over the case.
“Have you given any thought to the job offer?” Antonio asks, pulling a cigar out of his pocket and lighting it. Smoke fills the car as he exhales, studying me.
“What kind of job is being a bodyguard to your daughter?”
