Page 16 of Nicco

“That’s true but—” Should I tell her everything? Could I trust her with this secret? Why was it even a secret?

“Tell it all.” She said like she was reading my mind.

I blow air from my lips. “These people, the Bregoli’s, they aren’t like us.”

“What the hell does that mean?” She raised both of her perfectly coiffed eyebrows.

“La cosa nostra Americano.”

I watched her mouth hang open. I couldn’t tell if she understood Italian. She just looked at me. I couldn’t read her expression.

“I know what that means.”

“You speak Italian?”

“Conosco abbastanza italiano.”

Oh shit! The guards were probably speaking in Italian. My girlfriend is smart. Probably should’ve figured that out when I ran into her at a bookstore.

“Lord. Are you a part of this mafia—”

“No, I’m not in that family.”

“But biologically you are.”

“No, I’m not. Yeah, but I have never taken a dime from the Bregoli’s. I’m a Donavan. I’m Irish, not Italian.”

“What’s the BMF stand for?”

“What?”

“It’s everywhere. It’s on the leather seats of the private jet. It’s stitched on the seats in the Bentley. It’s carved in gold in the entryway of the foyer with this weird crest.”

I willed myself to tell the truth. “BMF, uh, it’s um, Bregoli Mafioso Famiglia, that’s what they call their organization.”

“Bregoli Mafia Family.” She nodded.

“Ah—”

“Oh my god, Lord. This is a lot. Why are you really here? What does this mean?”

“It means nothing.”

“No, what does this mean for you?”

I shook my head no and rushed to hold her in my arms. “No, I’m here for the reading of the will. We go to the burial and we fly back to Chicago.”

“Who is your brother in this organization? Nicco, who is he? I know how the mafia works. What is his position in this BMF?”

“His father died and now he is the boss.”

“Like of everything?” She blurted, as if surprised.

“Yes, he’s heir to the throne.”

“What does that make you?” She asked as she pushed away from me and placed her hands on her hips.

“Absolutely nothing. I swear. I’m a half brother. I’m only half Italian really, and Nicco has other brothers. I told you I’m not and have never been a part of this criminal bullshit. I swear to you. My businesses are all legit. I have never taken a dime from these people.”

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