Page 39 of Starting Over

Defeated.

“We don’t keep secrets.” He looked up at me. “Not from each other.”

“You keep plenty of secrets,” I reminded him.

“That’s club shit. Not family shit. Not like this.” He ran his hands through his hair, and I caught a glimpse of the boy I raised.

The day I told him our parents were gone.

The day he told me he was joining the Silver Shadows, afraid I might be disappointed. I was, but I never let him know.

Nothing from the past compared to the anguish I saw on his face right now.

He looked betrayed.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m your brother, and don’t you fucking forget that! Where I was born means nothing.”

“You were born into the fucking Irish Mob!” he shouted. “You have been ranting at Maureen and Blade for their involvement for almost two fucking weeks and you kept this shit to yourself.”

“I was not born into the Mob; I had nothing to do with it.”

“What about Mom and Dad?”

“They were not in the Mob,” I told him.

“Is the Mob the reason they are dead?”

That was a question I didn’t have an answer to.

“Not as far as I know,” I answered honestly. “As far as I know, they had no idea where we were.”

“Why did they leave Boston?”

“Dad was offered a job in Arkansas. So we moved.” I shrugged, hoping he bought the half-truth.

It wasn’t a complete lie, I told myself. Even if it were, I would lie my ass off if it meant keeping him safe.

“Get the fuck out.”

“King—”

“Get the fuck out of my house.” He stood from his seat and stomped over to where I stood. “I know you’re lying to me, I don’t want to see your ass in here again, until you’re ready to tell me the truth.”

“Brother,” I warned.

“Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

I looked my brother in the eye and uttered the words I never thought I would ever say to him.

“You’ll understand why I did what I did when you have a kid someday.”

I turned and walked back out to the main room. Maureen was gone. I didn’t know where. Right then, I didn’t care, I would deal with her later. I grabbed my jacket and stalked across the room.

“Dad?”

“Hey, baby girl. We’ll talk later, ok?” I kissed her on the head and then looked at Blade. “Don’t leave her alone.”

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