hell is happening right now?
I stare at my “brother” as I walk past, and when his eyes meet mine, I see something that I never saw in any other family members eyes—kindness. He smiles at me, but it’s not cold or cruel, it’s warm.
Is he different?
Or is this a trick?
I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I do know one thing for sure ...
Things just got very fucking complicated.
“TELL ME EVERYTHING you know,” I say, stuffing a hot fry into my mouth.
I barely taste it, even though it’s covered in salt. I’m mindlessly eating, sitting at a large table with my brother sitting across from me, watching me with a certain level of curiosity. One thing is for sure, I sobered up damned quickly. Cohen is sitting to my right, and Alarick is to my left. Everyone else is sort of scattered out across the table, all of them eating.
“As I said earlier, a deal was made with my mother to separate Manny and myself. Your mother found out about the affair, and at first, I am told she didn’t want anything to do with it, but, as you know, our father was an incredibly powerful man. Somehow, he convinced her to take Manny, and raise him as her own. I was left with my mother, and she was paid a lot of money to disappear with me.”
“I don’t understand, why wouldn’t he just keep both of you?”
Romeo gives a bitter laugh. “My mother wasn’t going to just go away without her babies, that was the only way he could get what he wanted. He didn’t want a mistress hanging around, causing chaos for him. She accepted the deal because she had nothing else at the time. She was in love with a man who was using her, pregnant with twins, and she had no money. He had promised her things he simply wasn’t going to deliver on.”
“So, she gave Manny up?” I whisper, horrified at how hard that must have been.
“She knew how powerful our father was, she knew if she didn’t agree he would ... make her disappear in other ways.”
Horrified, I stare at him. “He would have hurt her?”
“Do you believe he wouldn’t have?”
No.
I don’t believe that.
He treated my mother poorly, and he treated me poorly. He didn’t have respect for women, they were simply things he needed to make himself feel good or to make himself look better. It is very logical that he would have made Romeo’s mother disappear if it meant he looked good in the public eye.
That poor woman, to hand over her child must have been the hardest thing in the world for her.
“Did Manny ever know this?”
Romeo shakes his head. “No, he did not.”
“And your mother ... is she still around?”
Romeo nods. “She is.”
“Does she ... does she know about Manny?”
His face tightens. “Yes.”
“How ... how did you find me, and why?”
Romeo leans forward, placing his hands together on the table and meeting my gaze. “It wasn’t hard to find you, Aviana. I have been searching for information on you for quite some time, I thought you were dead but then ...”
“You learned I’m not.”
“Yes.”
“What is it you want? We both know it’s not to sit here and get to know me,” I snap.
He tips his head to the side. “You’d be wrong about that. I do wish to get to know you. You were—you are—my sister. That’s not the only reason I’m here though, you’re right. I am here to offer you a deal.”
“What kind of fuckin’ deal?” Cohen growls, glaring at Romeo.
“You have people after you for the money and assets you’re sitting on. I happen to know who those people are and exactly where to find them. I can make them disappear, I can take that away completely so you’re safe.”
“What’s in it for you?” I say, narrowing my eyes.
“Our father’s business.”
“Like fuck,” Cohen barks. “He’s just after you for fuckin’ money, we’re done here.”
I reach over and take Cohen’s arm, squeezing it. “It’s okay.”
“He’s fuckin’ using you, Aviana. He, like everyone else, is in it for fuckin’ cash.”
“You’re wrong, biker,” Romeo growls. “And you’re really starting to get under my skin. Back off, this has nothing to do with you.”
“Why would you want his business?” I ask, heart racing.
“Because it’s a solid business with a lot of potential. I’m a powerful man, I also have plenty of my own money. That is the only legacy left behind, and I would like it to be