Page 51 of Chasing Danger

D’Angelo placed a gentle hand over mine, which still rested on the door handle. “Just because it doesn’t look dangerous doesn’t mean it’s actually safe.”

I gripped the handle harder. “I know, but I still need to talk with them. Not only do I want answers, but if they are in danger then I need to convince them to come with us for safety.”

We hadn’t actually discussed what to do with my family, but since Ashes had been allowed to come with us, I saw no reason why the same couldn’t be true for the rest of the people I cared about.

D’Angelo nodded slowly then oddly started adjusting the collar of my shirt. “I figured you’d say that. All right. You can go in alone, but you’re wearing this camera so we can see and hear everything that happens. If you’re threatened, then we’ll come get you. Meanwhile, we’ll guard the house.”

He added something to one of the buttons on my shirt. Like a little glass cap, it simply looked like a different style of button, but D’Angelo showed me the screen of his phone to reveal a live recording from my perspective.

“It’ll be fine,” I assured him, flashing him a smile I didn’t truly feel. “I’m just going to talk with them. What could go wrong?”

Famous last words, but I refused to let my nerves show.

Sucking in a deep breath, I exited the car and headed toward the house. Stepping through the front door with the night sky hanging over my head made it feel like just another day of coming home after a late closing shift at the coffee shop.

Rowan was the first to notice my presence, sitting up in his chair and immediately forgetting the movie he was watching. “Oliver. You’re back already.”

Back already?

I was confused for a moment, until I remembered the cover story D’Angelo had made up about taking me away on a vacation.

My mother stood from the couch, wringing her hands as she looked between me and the kitchen. “We weren’t expecting you back so soon. Have you eaten? I can make you something.”

Rolling close enough to almost run over my foot, Rowan grinned mischievously up at me. “I’m sure his boyfriend didn’t let him go hungry.”

I ruffled his hair in the way I knew he hated. “Shut up, brat. You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Scowling, he frantically tried to fix his hair. “Hey. I’m fifteen. Not five. I know about... that kind of stuff.”

“You can’t even say the word ‘sex’. You definitely don’t know what you’re talking about,” I teased, letting a grin touch my lips.

It was so easy to fall back into familiar banter with my brother and cast aside threats of Mafia and assassins.

But I couldn’t ignore it. That wouldn’t do anything except get us all killed.

“Actually, Mom. I do want to talk to you. Can we speak in the kitchen?”

The nervous movements of her hands increased. “Of course. What do you... I mean, yes. Let’s speak in the kitchen.”

It was no surprise when my grandmother joined us as well. She always insisted on being part of any gossip, and based on my tone they probably realized the weight of what I wanted to talk about.

Once all three of us were sitting around the kitchen table, with Rowan distracted by his latest monster movie in the living room, it was surprisingly my mother who spoke up first.

“I know what you’re going to say.”

“You... do?”

“Yes. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I don’t know why I didn’t notice sooner.”

Now I was really confused.

Had she truly not known that my Father was a member of the Italian Mafia when they were married?

Or was she talking about the fire?

Her hands practically twisted themselves into nervous knots as they rested on the kitchen table. “I know about the money.”

Huh?

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