Page 15 of Nicco

“No excused. Do you not see how fucked up that is?”

“I wasn’t thinking.”

“So Nicco’s father is your father, and he is dead for real, now?” She bucked her eyes at me.

“Yes. He had a heart attack.” Shit! Why did I give her a cause of death when that wasn’t etched in stone?

Bria sighed heavily. “Is your mother alive?”

“Probably, I don’t know for sure. I haven’t seen her in about three years.”

“Lord, this is too much.”

“I know. I just. I don’t know.”

“Why did you lie to me?”

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“So lies just fall the fuck out of your mouth…intentionally?”

“I didn’t know you well when we first met and I didn’t want to explain my fucked up childhood. It’s boring and depressing.”

“You must think I’m dumb.”

What? “No, I course not.” What was she getting at? Of course, I didn’t think she was dumb. Passing the Bar was no easy achievement.

“Nawl! You think I’m boo-boo the fool.”

I had no idea who or what that was, so I just said, “No, I don’t.”

Bria sucked her teeth. “I know there’s more. I can feel it. I can see it in your face.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Every fucking thing. I want the truth.” She demanded.

I rubbed my face with the bottom of my hand. I knew this day would come, but I thought I had time to gradually tell her about my past, about the Bregoli’s. I thought I could give despise things a little at a time. That bastard Dom died and fucked up my plans.

“Lord! I’m waiting. Speak!” She rolled her eyes and bit her bottom lip.

She was mad. I’d never seen this side of her. It was scary.

“I have half brothers and a sister. Nicco is the only one that knows I exist. The others were never told about me. I don’t know why. I just know Nicco was told about me. I have to stress to you that I’m not one of them. They’re Bregoli’s and I’m a Donovan.”

She rolled her eyes again. “Oh, my God. This just gets better.”

“I’m here in Vegas because I’m in Dom’s will, my father’s will.” I sure hated calling that motherfucker my father.

“The father that you never met put you in his will.”

“Yeah, doesn’t make sense. I’m not sure why he thought to include me, but Nicco said I’m in it. So I’m in it.”

“Maybe it’s not such a bad thing having half brothers and sisters. You’re close to Nicco. Maybe you can have a relationship with them. It’s better than lying and pretending they don’t exist.”

Why when it had been working for me? I couldn’t say that. “That’s a good point.”

“It’s not your fault. You were a kid. You can’t pick your parents or the circumstances of your birth.”

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