Page 11 of The Twins

“He’s good. He’s coming to get me for lunch after he showers.”

“Oh, did he just get up?” I glance at my watch, smirking when I see its nearly noon. “Keep him up late, did you?”

“No. I mean, yes. I did. But that’s not why, he had to dispose of—” She cuts herself off and my mood plummets. Her words serve as a stark and necessary reminder that Ernie and Tev are part of a deadly organization. Yes, my research into the Kosher Nostra exposed an extensive history of philanthropy, community outreach, and being some of the top employers in the state in several fields. But the quiet whisperings speak to a seedier side that scares me.

I can’t imagine what my mom would say…

“He just got some schmutz on his clothes.” Her heavy pause has me sitting up straighter in the seat I’ve taken across from her desk. “Are you close with your family?” Her question takes me by surprise.

“Uh…yeah. I’d say so.”

“Hmm. My parents and brothers aren’t bad people, but they aren’t warm and fuzzy either. I still see them for holidays and such. We just aren’t close. Big things happen in my life; they aren’t at the top of my list to tell.” I nod in understanding. “I knew we were different, but I didn’t realize how much until Seril started dating Moshe. The core family is a hodgepodge of personalities. They butt heads. They irritate and overstep and grate on each other’s nerves. And yet, I’ve never met a family, an extended family at that, that voluntarily spends so much time together. Dinners, breakfasts, outings, heck, they all have other homes or condos or apartments, except for Esther and David, and Moshe and Seril, and they hardly ever use them, preferring to stay at the family compound. At first, I thought it was for safety, but honestly, the love they share is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And if I hadn’t felt its warm embrace, I wouldn’t believe it was real.” She blinks rapidly to stem the threat of tears that shine in her eyes.

“You don’t regret…you don’t fear being involved in a criminal organization?”

“Not once.” She smirks, leaning forward like she’s sharing a secret. “And the sex…I can only speak for Ernie, but the sounds I’ve heard and the sights I’ve seen, it is a shared family trait. Even Zeppo and Ezra, though they aren’t related by blood. Now, Tovah and Tevye—” I hold up my hand to stop her. I don’t want to think about him. He’s occupied enough of my brain space already. Her laughter is unwelcome. After a few tense seconds, I sigh, close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Alright, what’s Tevye like?”

“The twins are scary, intimidating, violent when necessary. Tevye isn’t unfriendly but reserved around everyone. He and Tovah both keep their emotional distance.” That wasn’t so bad. Most of it I already gleaned based on our interactions. “Physically though, super friendly.” I raise an eyebrow in question, and Bailey laughs again. “Sexually speaking.” My brain takes too long to put the pieces together. “A whore. He enjoys female company outside of the family compound, he isn’t shy about it, but it’s obvious it doesn’t mean anything. That’s why he doesn’t bring them home to meet the family.” Her amusement disappears, her little brow furrowing as she meets my gaze head-on. “As I said, they are both scary and intimidating and possess more love for those around them than anyone could ever guess. They are loyal to those they deem worthy. Might not be poetic and you probably won’t ever see a sweet gesture from either of them, but you will know when you are in their inner circle, blanketed by their love, despite the scowls they sport.”

“Thank you. For your honesty.” I mean that. She could have sugarcoated it or withheld her insights. I wanted to think that maybe our kiss the other day meant something. We were in the family compound, but I wasn’t there in a romantic capacity, at least before he shoved his tongue down my throat. Maybe it was convenient. An itch he wanted to scratch and didn’t want to leave the compound.

“Seril said that Tevye is obviously interested in—”

“Seril should stick to what she’s good at…hoodwinking people into doing her bidding.” We share a laugh and I’m glad she didn’t take offense at my interruption or statement.

Bailey shrugs, “She’s the Sarai Ima for a reason.”

I’ve heard the term before, but I’m still not sure what it means. “What’s that?”

“Ooh, this is exciting! I get to teach someone else something Jewish!” She claps her hands excitedly and I can’t help but smile at her. “Mother of the Kosher Nostra.” That clicks.

“Oh, she called herself the gefilte-mother.”

“Her mom calls Moshe the gefilte-father.” Bailey giggles, “I love that one. In essence, they are the head of the Kosher Nostra, and the Mishpocheh Consortium. Moshe’s parents were the previous Avraham Avinu and Sarai Ima, before they stepped down several years ago for Moshe to take over.”

This is a lot to take in and process. My mouth is shut, but I’ve been told my face often has subtitles. My anxiety is noticeable.

“Vandy, if I can give you one piece of advice.” She pauses so I nod to encourage her to continue. “Let them show you who they truly are; you’ll be surprised.”

Tevye 9.

“Right now, it’s a waiting game. Tricky to make a move when we don’t know who this guy might be in league with. The wrong people catch wind of what we’re doing, and we become the target of more than just Joseph Baird and his hired goons.”

I hate it, but Moshe’s right. Yak and I have put in a lot of time tracking this fucker down. Imagine our surprise when we figured out the man obsessed with owning Dottie, is a top tier exec from a popular railroad company out of Georgia. Yak’s got our programs working day and night to find his acquaintances, business partners, tracking his communication threads, and how many pots he’s got his filthy fucking fingers in.

Ezra’s reaction was more upsetting than when we first found out about the threat. Somehow, knowing the man’s name, sent him into a tailspin, and his dad and brother had to forcibly calm him down. The fact that I was even bothered by his reaction is something I’m not used to. I want to protect Dottie and the others because it’s the right thing to do, but also because I…carefor them all.

Yes, that was physically painful to admit, even in my own head. And it’s irritating as hell, but they are my family. And I will rip this world apart, raze it to the ground for any one of them. I’m just going to bitch about the inconvenience while I do it.

I’m restless as I leave the war room. And I know I’m not the only one. Every partnered male is like a heat-seeking missile, intent on finding their female target. Zilv speed-walks toward the main entrance, probably going out to find some companionship of his own. An orgasm, at the least.

Arlo is with my mom, aunts, Shon, Uriel, and Irving. The Goldman boys are taking to the Kosher Nostra like ducks to water. Ezra and Zeppo’s parents took them in months ago, giving the Goldman girls a chance to be big sisters to Uri and Irv, without having to be their stand-in parents too.

Since I’m alone for the night, my intent is to get back to my suite and shower. As I reach the fork in the hallway, my body moves away from my room and toward the garage, waving off my security detail. I’m in my car, speeding down the driveway before I realize where I’m heading.

Vandy.

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