Page 151 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“Dad?”

He pauses for a moment. I’ve never called him this out loud. I curse as it hits me how easily the word came out.

“Yes, son.”

“Before I take the promotion. My brothers need to know who we are, who you are.”

“I would love nothing more. We’ll set things up and then make a plan. You have a good night, Gio. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I love you, son.”

“Yeah.” I nod as if he can see me. “I love you too.”

Chapter 65

Blood Family

Gio

Five months later…

Dario, Lucas, and I sit at a table in the center ofAnima Mias.Dario closed the place down for this meeting. I wish my mind were here. Instead, it’s with Ny. This is it, she’s ovulating and multiple eggs have dropped.

The sonogram confirmed it this morning. The first time in five months. I thought it would never happen.

I should’ve pushed this off. I want to have some presence of mind when we dump all this shit on Dante. However, currently, my mind is with Ny and Jace waiting for me at home.

“You all right? I’ve never seen you sweat like this,” Dario says.

“I’m fine. I have a lot on my mind.”

“Want to talk about it?”

I inhale deeply. “Not now.”

“Well, I’m here when you need me.”

I nod. I turn to look at our father. Our father. It’s so clear to see in this moment. We all have on the same black suit and white shirt. We thought it would make things clear to Dante when he arrives.

“Here he is,” Dario says.

Dante strolls in, looking down at his phone. When he looks up, he does a double take and his forehead wrinkles. He shakes his head and comes to hug me first, then moves to Dario.

When he gets to Dad, he hugs him, and Dad holds on tightly as he whispers into Dante’s ear. My heart hurts when Dante’s knees buckle. Dario is there to hold him up.

“I always wished you were my real dad,” Dante sobs. “Why would you lie? I struggled so much. You had the power to fix that.”

“He couldn’t,” I say as I pull my little brother into my arms. “He wanted to, but he couldn’t.”

“You knew?”

“I found out, out of necessity. The same necessity that has kept you and Dario safe for your entire lives,” I reply.

“I… I can’t stay. I need to go.”

“Dante, please. I’ve waited all your life for you to know. Sit, listen, have a meal with me and your brothers.”

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