Page 25 of Death Of A Sinner

“What?” he answers.

“You will be here Sunday,” I tell him.

“Why? What’s it matter if I’m there or not?” he grunts into the phone. Moody as fucking ever.

“Because we have a sister, Vincenzo. And the only way to see her is to have Mary around with her.”

“Why the fuck do we care about a sister we didn’t know shit about?”

“Because she’s still our sister and we are going to get to know her. We don’t leave anyone behind, Vin. We’ve always stuck together,” I remind him.

He’s silent for a while before he groans. “Fine, I’ll be there. But don’t expect it to be allhappy familiesand shit.”

“Thank you,” I tell him before cutting the call. I send another text to the group.

Me:

Esther is our sister. That means something. We are going to welcome her into the family.

Santo:

Okay, but what the fuck do we do with a sister?

Marcel:

Can she at least be gay?

Gabe:

Protect her. Get to know her. That’s what we do.

Vin:

She’s a smart-mouthed, moody teenager.

Me:

It wasn’t all that long ago that you were one too.

Putting my phone away, I go in search of my wife. Sunday is going to be interesting.

* * *

“It’ll be fine,” Ellie says before pressing her lips to my cheek.

“I’m not worried,” I lie.

“Sure. I’m going to get Aurelio dressed. I’ll meet you downstairs.” She takes my son from my arms. I know I’m supposed to share him with her. She’s his mother. But fuck, I hate it when anyone takes him from me.

“Remind me again why we’re doing this?” Santo groans the moment my foot hits the foyer.

“Because we have a sister,” I tell him for the millionth time. Seems I’m the only one who remembers that fact.

“Half-sister,” Marcel adds.

“Sisternonetheless. And we are not putting the sins of our parents on her. It’s not her fault we share a mother who lied to all of us,” I say. “Also, how are we supposed to protect her if we don’t know her?”

“Assign some guys to her tail?” Marcel suggests, knowing full well I did that before we even left that meetup.

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