“Fausto made a friend in the Roman family. Then he got unlucky, was about to do hard time. Went to yer da, a prominent do-right attorney who worked his way up at Levine & Sons Law Firm—the best of the best. But even while working for Levine, yer da took the cases for blue-collared workers. It led to some big money. Pissed off gentrification owners.”
“I remember.” I nod, still too numb to appreciate my father’s legacy.
“When Fausto went to him for legal aid, yer da said he wasn’t a criminal attorney. But even if he were, he wouldn’t touch afeckup like that.”
“Hmmm,” I reply.
“Fausto got off somehow. He was still yer da’s friend.”
“Sure. My father was always someone’s friend,” I mutter, recalling one hand after the other, palm empty but opened wide for the fruits ofDad’slabor.
“Fausto became jealous. He went back to the Romans and made like yer da was speaking to the DA against him.”
I gasp.
“The night they were murdered. Someone else was there.”
“Was it them? Did the Romans . . .” I stutter. “What do we do about them?”
“Them?” He gives a pointed look. “Nothing. Him.We kill him.”
“But he—”
“Chevelle,” Big Brody begins. “Nae Roman was at the house when yer parents were murdered. Additionally, Frank Roman himself said he couldn’t stand Fausto, but the littleshitemarried into the family. Fausto’s a widower. Frank only consented to Fausto’s request the other day out of respect for his departed cousin.”
Fury tightens my chest. “And La—that lady who raised me?”
“Overdosed, sweetheart. It was she and Fausto who planned and executed the entire plan of revenge on yer da. If she were alive, I would have—”
“Then only Fausto.” My words fly out, echoing in my own ears. “What about my dad’s business. He was a good lawyer. He helped people?”
“Aye. Lots of people. He was a good man, Chevelle. That woman lied to you.”
I pull in air and hold it. My every action has been contrary to the bull I’ve preached all my life. I blamed Dad for everything. I placed him in a box, craving any negative thought that could help me hate him more, which was a feat all on its own. I thought the worst of him. I thought the worst of myself, of my DNA.
I stand from the chair, too energized to stay put. “But those fucks shot at mydaughter—your granddaughter—all of your family!”
Big Brody holds up a hand. “Ourfamily, Chevelle. Ye’re a member of this clan whether ye’re feeling up to it today or not. We’d take a bullet for ya, sweetheart.”
Literally. I was their target. If not for Erika, I’d be dead.
“Leith!” Big Brody’s anger resonates in his voice.
“He doesn’t give a damn about me anymore, Big Brody.” I gulp down my pride, look him in the eye. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate this.”But the truth is worse than the lie I’ve lived with my entire life!
Chapter 56
Leith
Eyes closed,I run a hand over my face. I’m anarsehole. Chevelle pushed me to it. She called thatnuggetthe second she stepped out of the room with me. She put Michie over our love, so I stuck a knife into her heart and let the blade sit there a while.
When Chevelle rushes past me to the door, my father curses me.
I twirl the nozzle of the whiskey between my palms, watching the swoosh of the amber liquid.
“Leith!”
Tossing the bottle on the cushion next to me, I regard him in irritation. “Witthefeckshould I do, Da?”