Page 100 of DeLucas After Dark

Outside, I looked at the birth certificate that authenticated Tammaro’s story. He was Tommaso’s son, alright. Born a few months before Martina. He’d cheated on my mother and given this bastard a key to our dynasty. He was the fucker making cash drops every month.

“What exactly do you do for him?” I asked.

“I make the deposit from his properties.” Tammaro folded his arms as if this whole thing annoyed him.

“What properties?” I squinted. My father had never shown me any properties in Italy.

“You knew about us this whole time?” Massimo asked.

“The ones he owns. He uses them for short and long-term stays.”

“You mean a legit income?” I guess it was a night filled with shocking information.

“Yeah. How do you think you’re paying for shit over here? Those vacation stays make big money. Charging renters three to five times its value. It brings in big bank monthly. One property brings in thirty thousand a month.”

“How many properties are there?” I asked.

“Currently? Twenty. Not all of them are big. Some only average around six to seven a month. Regardless, it’s a passive income that makes it easy to hide cash. Rotating it over to the bank account, it keeps the accounts low over there.”

Massimo stepped up in Tammaro’s face. “How long have you known?”

“All my life.” His answer made something snap inside Massimo. I saw the rage contort his face.

“Take a walk, Simo.”

He did, and two guards followed behind him.

“How long have you been working for Pop?” I asked him.

“Since I was a teenager. I went to school for business and learned how to work real estate. Been valuable to him ever since then. Even the elders approved of what we’re doing.”

“You know them, too?” I asked.

Not everybody got a chance to meet the elders. I knew Massimo hadn’t. I understood why he was upset. Pop had skipped him in succession and passed on part of the business to his illegitimate son–a man who shouldn’t have even known the dynasty existed. Instead, he did, and we were working side by side together and I didn’t know.

Tammaro nodded. “He told me that he wasn’t going to tell you guys about me. That it was better that you didn’t know. When he died, I decided that it was time. I needed to work up to it, and when Martina called asking questions about who I am, I knew it was time to show you.”

Bad fucking timing.

“What is it that you want?” I asked him. “Now that you’re here, what exactly did you hope to gain from it?”

“Not much. Thought we should all meet. Sometimes it’s shitty being over there alone, not having family. I thought I’d come and meet mine to see what it's like to have all this.”

“I don’t trust you.” I admitted.

“Nobody in their right mind should. I’m a DeLuca.”

He was. From the way he spoke, walked, and even held his own regard, it was obvious that he was Tommaso’s kid. My brother. His uncanny resemblance made it unquestionable.

My cell rang, and the tone indicated that it was a call from Italy. I rarely heard from them, and now it seemed as if they had my number on speed dial.

“Paulie.” I said.

“The elders want to see you here. Plan to be here for a few weeks.” He hung up the phone, and I growled before smashing my phone. If the caller didn’t wait for a response, it meant the line could be compromised.

“I guess we’re going to Italy.” I said to Tammaro.

“Guess so.”

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