He taps the side of his head. “I know, but humor me. Sunday dinner wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t try to take a muffin. I already had mine. Thought you could use a break from whatever you’re doing. Although I think you’re pretending to work so you don’t have to cook.”
“Am not. You know I can’t cook like Mom and Amy. I made an amazing salad and fruit punch. What did you do?”
“Oh no one asked me to do anything so I thought I’d just eat and look cute.”
We start laughing and we would almost appear to be the boy and the girl who would do this all the time.
But we aren’t those people anymore. We can never be them no matter how hard we try and it’s saddens me.
As if he’s thinking the same his laughter fades and he hands me the envelope.
“What is this?”
“Something that will mean a lot to you.”
I set the muffin on top of my notebook and open the envelope.
When I pull out the contents inside my heart stills. There’s a picture of me and Dad when I must have been about five, and a name change document that has me listed as Olivia Falcione.
I look at Eric with my lips parted, not knowing what to say or how this was possible.
He’s was right. This is something that means a lot to me. More than anyone would know.
Tears still the back of my eyes for the sentiment.
“How?” I choke out. “How did he do this without us knowing? Don’t you have to go to court and do all sorts of things to have this done?”
“Yeah. I’m sure you do, but Dad could do all sorts. He didn’t have control over many things, but for what he could control he did things like this. He did one for me and one for you. I guess it was something he wanted to do and keep for himself. Something that kept us with him.” Eric sounds so mature. I guess he would considering the last time I saw he was nearly twenty-five. “It was among his things that were delivered to me after he died. They were from Persephone. I’m sure you can imagine she didn’t want it in the house.”
“I can imagine she wouldn’t. That woman hated us so much.”
Just the mention of that woman’s name makes my skin crawl. I always try to remember that I can’t hate her too much because her hatred toward us is understandable and completely warranted, but I can’t help myself.
Aiden told me a few things about her hand in guiding Jude to destroy us, so I think my hatred toward her is understandable too, considering Dad practically disconnected from us because he thought he was protecting us when all the while she was in the background pulling strings.
Eric sighs. “We have to move on Olivia. Move forward. I’m going to make the first step by apologizing for putting us all in danger.” He pulls up the sleeve of his shirt revealing the tattoo that marks him as a member of the Order. “I’m having this removed.”
“Really?”
“Keeping it is dangerous on all fronts and I never should have had it, never should have gone down that path and never should have listened to Jude. I was just so anxious to belong and be more than I was. In my head my father was a man from the Italian mafia and my grandfather from the Bratva. It flows in my blood. It’s who I am and when Jude approached me I was being suppressed from both. I was easy target. Young and dumb, easily fooled for a man who has so much education. All the while I knew he would use me for my talents I pushed it to the back of my mind because I didn’t want to believe it. I kept thinking if Grandfather trusted him then I could too. It wasn’t until they got me chained up in Brazil that I saw the depth of his treachery when Persephone came to visit and practically laughed in my face.”
I suck in a breath. “Jesus.”
“Yeah. they were all evil. Olivia I am sorry for what I did and even though I’m grateful for your bravery I wish I never put you in the position where you had to take such a risk to find me. that’s a guilt I don’t think I’ll forget. It’s me who is supposed to protect you, but I played into their trap.”
I shake my head. “Don’t blame yourself. We all make mistakes. You just got involved with the wrong people. I knew that all along. I’m sorry too. I know there’s so much more you aren’t saying.” Like not talking about Robert. I noticed he hasn’t mentioned him once, means he must truly blame himself. that doesn’t stop me from expressing my condolences. “I’m sorry about Robert.”
His face hardens up and his eyes become just as hard. It’s almost scary and I think I would be scared if he weren’t my brother.
“Don’t be,” he replies in a clipped tone. It’s odd and I’m not sure if he’s angry or in grief, or both.
“What did happen to him, Eric?”
“Story for another time sis. Another time.”
“Okay,” I answer respectfully. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“I will. I just need time. But I promise I’ll tell you. Right now I just need to get my life back on track. Which leads me to the other thing I wanted to tell you.”