Page 78 of Hot Momosa

Still struggling with the fish, I said, “We lied and have regretted it, but it was necessary. Dahlia and I found out she was pregnant a month before Joe and Rebecca were murdered.”

Someone sucked in a breath.

Dante rested his hand on my shoulder. “That sucks, bro. But what are you going to do about the article?”

“What article?” Marco asked.

I jerked the rod back and accidentally landed an elbow in Dante’s gut. “Sorry about that, you might want to move over.”

And keep your mouth shut.

Dante didn’t take the hint. If anything, he decided to hit me back where it hurt. “I’ll show you.”

Five minutes later, they’d all read the story of Harrison and Dahlia’s fictitious relationship. How the couple had been together years before and had broken up. How the two had reconciled and planned to be a family.

My brothers lined the railing, splitting their attention between me and the water.

Gabe spoke first, “This is some serious bullshit.”

“What are you going to do about this?” Marco asked.

“Not for nothing, but you’d better tell Ma about the kid before she gets wind of it from someone else,” Enzo said.

Times like these I wished I was an only child. “I don’t know, and I’ll tell Ma when I’m damned well ready.”

The line went slack and the guys shouted. They’d evidently caught sight of the monster.

“It’s huge.” Dante gasped. “I swear it’s a marlin.”

“Can’t be. They run in the summer.” Gabe leaned over the railing.

The catch ran deep, turned, and burst from the surface in all its glory.

A sailfish. A freaking sailfish. If that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.

I couldn’t believe it. We’d used the wrong rigging, the wrong bait, it was the wrong time of the year, and were in the wrong spot—still we’d managed to hook the Holy Grail of sport fishing.

Once again, the situation reminded me of Dahlia. The circumstances were all wrong, but we were so freaking right.

My muscles screamed in protest, but the adrenaline flooding my bloodstream urged me on. A flash of color beneath the water caught my attention. I almost had it. “Get the gaff ready.”

“Easy on the run or you’ll end up making a bird’s nest of the line.” Enzo eased along side of me.

“I got this.” Imagining the fish beneath the surface strategizing its escape made my pulse race.

And then the line went slack. He was a worthy opponent to be sure.

“You lost him.” Enzo gave me a half-smirk, half-frown.

“Tighten the line fast. He’s heading for the boat,” Dante shouted.

I shook my head and moved to set the rod down. “Bullshit. They don’t—”

The fish sailed into the air a few yards from us. Its beauty stole my breath. The long silver body glistened beneath the onyx-colored fan of its dorsal fin. I damned near dropped the rod.

“Reel!” Gabe leaned over the railing.

“I need that gaff.” I turned the crank with every ounce of strength I could muster.

---