Page 27 of Wicked Truths

Who could they have added? Someone that worked for Uncle Tony? Or someone new that I’ve never met?

“I thought we weren’t adding anyone new unless all three of us and Uncle Tony were present.”

Joey scoffs. “No offense, Fran, but you haven’t exactly been around the past two years.”

I cross my arms in front of my chest and roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, even when I was home, you never wanted me to be involved with the family business. If I recall, you actually locked me in my bedroom so I wouldn’t follow you.”

Joey slams his hands on the table. The smack echoes through the quiet office. “Hell no, I didn’t want you getting involved. I still don’t, and there’s no changing my mind.”

“Why?” I yell back.

“Because it’s dangerous. Every little thing we do is dangerous and could be the last job you go on. There isn’t time to train you when we go on these jobs and patrols. I won’t have your blood on my hands.”

“So that’s it? I’ll never be involved because you think I’m some sort of fucking liability? Well, guess what? I’m a lot smarter and stronger than you think I am. I’m capable of doing what you do.”

Joey pushes his chair back to stand and face me. “Do you really think you can do what I do?”

I nod, not knowing what he is getting at, but feeling confident in my answer. “Yes, I do.”

“Do you think you could teach a guy a lessonabout screwing our family over? Rough him up a bit, and then go home at night and not have nightmares?”

“Of course. I’d do anything for the family.”

Hell, I already have, but they don’t know that.

Joey places his hands on the table, leaning closer to me. “Do you think you could kill someone in cold blood and not be affected by it? Do you think you could take another’s life without feeling an ounce of remorse?”

My heart pounds in my chest.

I should tell them everything. I should let all my secrets out in the open. Sure, they might be mad at me, Uncle Tony, and AJ, but maybe they will stop looking at me like I’m a fucking damsel in distress.

“Yes, actually-”

The office door bangs open, causing the three of us to jump to our feet to see who is barging in.

Alexandra steps through the doorway looking flushed. “I’m so sorry for interrupting your family meeting. I wouldn’t have barged in if it wasn’t important.”

Her eyes are wide, and her cheeks are red. She’s struggling to breathe as if she just ran a marathon.

I take a few steps toward her and ask, “What’s going on? Do you need help? An ambulance?”

She shakes her head and glances from me to Joey to Dad. “There’s a huge fight happening downstairs on the ice, and the press is all over it.”

“Fuck.” I mumble as I turn around and look at Dad.

This is not the publicity the team or our familyneeds right now. What the hell are they thinking? Whomever is responsible better have a good reason.

“Damn it. Those fuckers better have a good explanation for the fighting. It’s one thing when it’s another team, but to fight your own teammates?”

I shake my head. “Yeah, that’s what I was just thinking.”

Dad looks at me. “You’re up.”

My entire body freezes as I try to process what he just said. “I know I said I want to be more involved with business matters, but what am I supposed to do? I can’t stop a fight on the ice.”

Dad waves his hand. “Diffuse and deflect, just like you were doing in the meeting.”

That was different. That was to protect the family name. This is something completely irrelevant to the family name.

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