at Preacher.
“Packing a bag. You said he could go with me and Gaia.”
“Change of plans. He isn’t going anywhere. I need you to go get him and Gaia and come back in here.”
“This bad news?” He asks.
“I’m not entirely sure,” I admit.
“What about Tessa? You want her too?” I think about that question for a second. Should I involve her in this? She is attached to him and I suppose it would be good for her to know what’s about to happen.
“Yes. Her too.” Preacher nods and leaves the room as Hugo walks in.
“Everything okay?”
“No,” I say looking up at him. He looks confused when I motion for him to sit. He walks over and sits in the chair in front of my desk watching me for more information.
“What’s happening?”
“Things are going to get bad, Hugo. Very bad.”
“Is this about Rozano?” shaking my head, I wish it was. This…this is far worse as far as this family is concerned.
“Valentino is a Ricci. He’s my brother.”
“What?” Tessa’s words ring loudly through the room. I nod my head at Hugo letting him know that he needs to go now. He stands quickly and heads for the door as Tessa heads for me. “What the hell do you mean he’s your brother?”
“Do you want to calm down and let me explain?” I ask when she clearly isn’t backing down.
“I’ve slept with brothers! Oh my God. This is…this is an episode of Jerry Springer. I’m sick. I can’t believe I did this. What am I going to say to him?” She paces the room rambling things that I don’t understand. It’s almost amusing to watch.
“You didn’t know,” I remind her but her dark eyes swing my way and I can feel the heat as it pierces me.
“I should have been able to figure that out! I can hack into the goddamn pentagon if I wanted to but I couldn’t figure out you two were brothers?” She screams as I shove myself out of my chair and move toward her. When I’m close enough, I reach for her, pulling her into my arms.
“What’s done is done. You can’t change that now but I can assure you my brother will never lay a hand on you again,” I hiss into her ear. Tessa shudders but when she looks up at me she looks confused, torn. “Make no mistakes about what I’ve told you.”
“What’s going on?” Gaia asks as she and Preacher followed by Valentino walk into the room.
“We need to talk. Things have changed. Gaia, you won’t be leaving so soon.”
“Like hell I will stay here longer!” Tessa giggles.
“I like her,” she adds.
“Not now, Tessa. The blood tests have come back. It turns out, Valentino is indeed one of us.” The gasps could be heard for miles. Tino looks confused, eyeing me and Tessa. Gaia’s eyes fill with tears as she looks to her new brother.
“That’s not possible,” Tino adds.
“The test doesn’t lie. We do indeed share a father but not a mother,” I inform him.
“You’re my brother,” Gaia whispers as she steps toward him. Tino still looks torn but he doesn’t stop her when she throws her arms around him and hugs him tightly.
“I had no idea,” she cries into his shirt. His hand comes to rest on her back as he tries to soothe her.
“You couldn’t have known,” he tells her. “None of us could.”
“Which leaves the lingering question, why? Why were you left for dead? Why were you not part of this family from the beginning?” I ask the questions that everyone else is thinking.
“His mom. She wasn’t one of you,” Tessa adds.
“That shouldn’t matter,” I respond.
“But it does. You remember father saying things before. Things like I would never be able to marry who I wanted if he didn’t approve,” Gaia says.
“He never wanted my mother. I knew that much,” Tino adds.
“We confront him,” Tessa says with a shrug as if it’s that easy.
“And then what?” She turns to look at me, her head cocked to the side.
“Haven’t you had long enough to do whatever it is your little plan is? Kill his ass. If you don’t, I will.” The look in Tessa’s eyes is feral and I like it. She isn’t joking. She will kill him if given the chance.
“Now?” Gaia asks.
“Why not now? Isn’t it enough he tried to have you killed?” Tessa roars turning her anger to Gaia. They lock eyes and before any of us can stop them, they move toward each other. I move faster, grabbing Tessa