Page 33 of The Fall of a Promise

“What I think he means to say is that it doesn’t matter if Grayson was first. He was born out of wedlock. The Italians may not care, but we do,” Bo insinuates, earning an eye roll from Nico and Dom.

“How can you all be so callous about this?” I ask, ignoring their banter, before dropping into my seat next to Nico.

Papa sighs. “We thought he was dead. You were so young and had already lost so much. What good would it have done?”

I scoff, crossing my arms.

“You didn’t have to erase his existence.”

Nico places his arm on the back of my chair in an attempt to provide comfort, clearly aware of my current state.

I can’t explain why I’m feeling so defensive over someone I never knew.

Dom speaks for the first time since receiving the news.

“We can discuss this more later, but right now, I think the more pertinent topic at hand is if this man is a threat and back to Cesare’s statement. You believe it’s him? Are you getting a DNA test done?”

“Grayson and a DNA analyst should be here shortly,” I respond.

“It’s him,” Bo says as he looks at the screen with Grayson’s image pulled up. “He looks the same, only a few feet taller.” He shakes his head before looking at me. “Just like your father.”

And he’s right. He does look a lot like Peter.

“So, the DNA test comes back as a match. What then? How sure are we that he can’t just take her place?” Nico asks.

Bo lets out a long sigh. “It only means that he’s your brother. It’s not uncommon for Triad men to have children with other women. He is a bastard, for lack of a better word. You are still the only successor.”

“Even in this case? He’s the onlymaleson.Firstborn,” Nico emphasizes.

“I’m not saying it won’t be an issue or raise questions. This might have to be something we deal with when the time comes,” Bo replies, looking between the monitor and me.

“How could my father do this? I know what it’s like for men in this world.” I shoot Nico a glare that saysexcept you.“But this feels irresponsible and reckless. And what about my mother?”

“You know your father wasn’t a saint, Anya,” Bo tries to defend. “There are a lot of things you could judge him for, but having a child with another woman—as bad as it sounds—isn’t one of them. Grayson was born before your parents were even promised to one another.

“Do not forget, Nina was a huge supporter of your father despite her love for Cesare. Your parents’ marriage wasn’t completely loveless. They did care for and respect each other deeply. Don’t forget the three of us grew up as thick as thieves.”

“And Grayson’s mother? Did Peter just abandon her?”

“No. He took care of her. Both of them.” The “financially” part was silent but implied. “But after he was killed, she took him and left. I kept tabs on both of you but”—Bo pauses, shaking his head—“youhadto be my top priority.” He pleads, at least having the decency to look uncomfortable.

“Were either of youevergoing to tell me?” I ask Bo and Papa.

“Eventually. But thinking he wasgone, it didn’t seem like a—”

“Priority.” Grinding my teeth, I try to reel in my feelings on the matter.

“And how do we know he’s not the one that ordered the hit?” Dom asks.

“This guy is broke. The likelihood of it being him is zero. Not to say he can be trusted. Need I remind you all that he sent in an application for theFBI?” Nico presses.

“Thought he was rejected?” Dom asks.

“Yeah, but getting an in with our families is one way to get him on the short list,” Nico counters.

“One step at a time, babe. We’ll run the DNA test and figure it out from there,” I tell the room.

“Hai—or Grayson—was only ten years old when his mother took him and left. We don’t know how much Peter shared with him. Chances are he knows as much as Anya did,” Bo chimes in, hopeful.

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