Page 69 of Weaponized

“Where?” he growls at me. I can imagine this particular expression has caused grown men to piss themselves.

“My father’s basement. Our main house, just north of the city.” I say this with no emotion.

“Why?” Victor is still gripping my phone. I fear he’ll crack it.

“Why am I telling you this? Or why did he do it?” Victor begins to open his mouth and I wave him off. Again, I’ve shocked him with that dismissive gesture. “I’ll just tell you both. Ibelievehe did it because you took one of his properties in a poker game. He thinks you cheated. You should have known my father would eventually retaliate.”

Victor inhales sharply at the accusation. “Your father,” he grits out, “has taken numerous assets himself in the same manner. He was upset because I released the woman he was holding at the property after I won it. I believe you met Gina at Titus.”

I decide it’s best not to react to his comment before I respond. “Yes, well, you took something of his. He’s not a stable man.” I pause. Victor bares his teeth. Glares. “ThereasonI’m telling you is because Luca deserves to know.” Now, Victor flinches. For the first time, I wonder if Victor will tell him.

“He broke up with me this week,” I continue almost conversationally, as now I’m not entirely sure that Victor is aware. I might as well completely set the record straight. “He called me names, accused me of lying to him about a number of things.” I take a breath. “For what it’s worth, he was fed the wrong information. I didn’t do what he accused me of,but that doesn’t matter. He’s right about me regardless—about who I really am. Iama liar because when he told me about how he got his scars, I remained silent. I didn’t tell anyone I knew exactly where that room was.” I nod at my phone, which Victor has finally set on the small table between us. He is glaring at it as if the phone somehow harmed his children.

“Why now? If you protected your father then, why not now?” Victor spits at me. He looks lethal.

I scoff. “I wasn’t protectingmy father. I know that room because I’ve also experienced it. Painfully. Better than anyone, I know what evil my father is capable of. I would never protect him,” I say through clenched teeth. “But Luca. I didn’t want him to—if he went crazy and went after my father… I couldn’t risk—”

“You didn’t want him to go after your father and get hurt,” he interrupts. His wheels are turning.

I nod, looking at my hands. “I went to tell him today, but couldn’t reach him.” This is technically true.

“You went to see him? You want him back? Is that what this is about? My son dumps you sonowyou want him to know?”

Ouch. Victor thinks this is an attempt to win Luca somehow. Some sort of redemption play. I sigh.

“No. I should have told him much sooner. I know that. Luca’s information may be wrong, but he is right about me. I wish him only good things.” I feel my throat get tight. “That’s not me.” I stand up. “I’m done now. Do what you will, to me, to my father. I know you don’t owe me anything, but I beg you to leave my mom and my siblings alone.” My voice cracks on that last sentence.

Victor stops my exit by grabbing my wrist. “You think I want tohurtyou?” He looks at me like I’m crazy.

“I know whatmyfather did toyoursons. I also know how this world works.” I look pointedly at my wrist and he releases me.

“Why would you come to me knowing that possibility?” he asks.

“Because I owe Luca the honesty he always deserved. This is the only way I know how to give it to him, so he can find peace. That makes it worth the risk.”

I grab my phone off the table and walk away without looking back.

* * *

My brother is sitting in my apartment when I return. “Da called me. Said you visited the house?” Worry lines etch his face, making him look older.

I nod. “I forgot the shopping bags in my car. Pajamas.”

“What else, Gráinne?” He isn’t accepting my bullshit. He knows me too well.

“It’s a long story.” I sigh. “And I hate every piece of it.” I sit on my couch next to him.

“I happen to have no plans today.”

“Really? On a Saturday?”

“Well, I heard the Larozzis’ typical Saturday night party was canceled, so I won’t be doing that,” he deadpans, then grimaces. “Damn. Too soon?”

I feel a pang in my chest. “Too soon,” I agree quietly. Damn it.Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“I assume you told Luca about your assignment? Is that why you broke up?” My brother moves to put his arm around me. “I knew it wouldn’t be long before you shared it with him. I figured he’d be surprised, but I can’t believe he’d end the relationship over it.Who cares how it started?”

I sigh. “That’s not what happened.”

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