Page 71 of Secret Betrayals
Why the fuck didn’t we know?
“Why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’tyouknow?” I demand, my voice sharp, and I’m not the only one. My brothers grumble inagreement, thinking the same thing––this could’ve blown up in our faces long ago. Hell,it already has—I got fucking shot.
My Pop fixes me with a stare. “Barone didn’t want to risk it. They made your ma swear an oath—omertà.A blood vow with deadly consequences if broken. She wasn’t allowed to tell a soul. Not me. Not you. Not even her sister.”
He pauses, jaw clenched, voice thick.
“They’re still separated to this day because of it. And it’s killing her, Talon. I never saw that look in your mother’s eyes until she told me the truth. Not in all our years.”
His shoulders drop as he runs a hand over his face.
“This shit—” he shakes his head. “She carried all of it to protect us. Every damn one of us.”
He looks down, runs a hand over his face.
“Elijah Barone passed that knowledge to his kids before he died. They took on the responsibility. But somewhere along the way, your mother slipped. Contacted a relative through a family friend. I don’t know why, and I didn’t ask. That mistake got that family killed—and gave the Salvatore’s a breadcrumb.”
The finality in his voice is clear—he’s all in.
But I’m not him.
“What the fuck do you mean? Those motherfuckers didn’t do their goddamn jobs, and now some Mafia Don is after my mother. And I gotshot.If she swore an oath, they should’ve kept her alive—allof us alive. Made damn sure their bullshit didn’t touch us. What the fuck, Pop?”
The words are out before I can stop them—and I regret it instantly.
Pop’s expression goes lethal.
In a blink, he’s out of his chair and in my face. Both hands slam down on the table, his voice thunderous.
“Damn it, Talon, were you evenlistening?Theyhavebeen keeping her safe. They’ve doneeverythingto protect your mother,allof us.Your mother made a mistake. And unless that bullet rattled your brain more than we thought, I need you to get your head on straight. For fuck’s sake, kid.”
His chest heaves with fury, and I sit there and take it for a beat because he’s right. His jaw works, and my body tightens. The world feels like it’s spinning too fast and falling apart at the same time.
“I know. I know, Pop. I’m sorry. My head’s… fucked. You’re right.”
I draw in a breath, try to slow the chaos, and shift gears, because there’s one thing pressing harder than all the rest.
“I’ve got my shit to work through with the Barones, but what about my kids? Have you seen them? Are they here?”
It’s a pivot—yeah. But Gabriella and the kids have been in the back of my mind since I stepped into the clubhouse. I didn’t see them, and I need to know they’re still close. Still safe. I look at him, hoping for a yes. Needing it. The anger drains from his face. The hard lines around his mouth soften.
And then he smiles.
I needed the shift. Gabriella and the twins have been on my mind since I walked into the clubhouse—and they weren’t here. I don’t like that. Pop’s expression softens. The anger slips away like a tide.
“They’re amazing kids,” he says, pride thick in his voice. “We’ll talk more when we’re done here. But first...”
He pulls out his phone.
I blink.
Phones aren’t allowed in chapel.Ever.I watch as he types something, then places the phone on the table, ignoring my glare. He gives me that look. The one that says.Get over it, son.Before I can call him out, a knock hits the door. I frown. No one interrupts Church unless someone’s dying.
Pop practically skips to the door like a kid on Christmas morning. Waving Dallas, who is closest to the door off, throws the door open, and it’s—Her.I didn’t know what to expect. But the last person I thought I’d see today was Gabriella Barone, standing on the other side of that door. I let out a dry, bitter chuckle.
Hell, I figured I’d have to walk through fire to find her after the way we left things. I owe her an apology. Hell,weall do. She walks in cool as ice, that same mask on her face she wore the night we clashed. Cold, unreadable. Untouchable. I hate how good it looks on her.
Damn, she looksgood.
