Page 53 of Hush 3: Hidden Family

Bitter and Fed Up

Micheal

Three years later …

“You were looking for me?” I say as I walk into Uri’s office.

I saunter to his desk with a scowl on my face. These days, all I do is scowl. I rarely have anything to smile about. My days and nights have been darker than ever.

I don’t talk to Symphony anywhere near as much as I used to. That means I remain in the darkness. It is rare that I come across any light.

That night three years ago still haunts me. I took things too far and the two months that followed were awkward until the day I left. I ruined everything.

I wish I could turn back time. However, I can’t, so I’ve become a brooding shell of a man. I run things for Don Trovati, I carry out hits for the Donati family, and I brood.

I’m still in love with my wife, but I clearly don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to her. She’s brilliant, gorgeous, and so damn sexy, but I’m an idiot when it comes to her. I don’t know what I did wrong that night—whether I moved too fast or if she hated how I made her feel.

I can’t say I’m the most experienced. The whole thing kind of made me question myself. Maybe I’m just terrible at eating pussy.

I haven’t been able to bring myself to test that theory with anyone else. All I see is Sim when I even think about trying. The whole thing has me at a loss.

“I’m heading to America. I have someone I need to visit. I need you to get me a location,” Uri says, bringing me from my brooding thoughts.

“You have a name?”

“Howard Russ. He is a child molester and woman beater. This time, he put his hands on the wrong woman. Uncle Nicholas has made this request personally. The victim was Crivello’s niece.”

I release a low whistle. Crivello is a capo for the Donati family. It’s no wonder Uncle Nicholas made the request.

Russ is a dead man walking. I drop into the seat in front of Uri’s desk and pull my laptop from my bag. It takes me all of two seconds to have an address for him.

“Looks like you’re going to Connecticut.” I pause to think. I may not have much contact with Sim, but I know all about her life. She has been performing right outside of Connecticut.

“I can handle this one for you,” I offer.

“That won’t be necessary. I’m due for a visit with Uncle Nicholas and I should check in on Symphony while I’m there,” he replies absently.

Once the words are out, he stops what he’s doing with the papers on his desk and looks up at me. He studies me for a moment as if looking through me.

“If you want to go see her, do not use family business as an excuse. She would be happy to see you,” he says as if reading my mind.

“I’m not looking for an excuse,” I mumble.

“You lie. Is this how you repay my love by lying to my face?”

I give a genuine smile. A rare smile for a rare occasion. Uri doesn’t express his affection often. I know he loves me but it’s not often I hear him admit it.

“I have things here to look after. She’s better off without me.”

“You have things to do here, yet you offer to do this job. Piss off. I’m not going to play this game with you. I don’t know what happened when you went there last, but it has changed you.

“You can lie to yourself, but don’t try this with me. Don Trovati has noticed the change as well. I don’t want you losing yourself in all of this.

“You are my little brother. If this has become too much, say so. I will take over the responsibility.

“We can file for a divorce or have the marriage annulled or whatever. You don’t have to continue to carry this weight. You were a child when you agreed to this.

“I shouldn’t have allowed it. You just speak too quickly and … I should have put you first,” he sighs.

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