Part 13 (1/2)

”I'm older. I don't have to do s.h.i.+t.” He smiled, challenging me, like the old days.

There was a time when he had been bigger and badder, but then I'd grown up and gotten more muscles. I could take him without any exertion. He still needed a reminder every once in a while, and it had been ages since I'd seen him.

”I can make you,” I said, raising one eyebrow at him, unable to hide my smile.

”f.u.c.k,” he hissed as he looked me up and down. ”You look like you could even take Mike. b.a.s.t.a.r.d's gone soft since he met Mia. He's turned into a real p.u.s.s.y, but you-you look downright scary,” he said with a chuckle as he stood. Sticking his tongue out at Mike, he gave me a great bro hug, maintaining his manly personality but still showing me the love I knew he was trying hard to hide.

”You're the p.u.s.s.y, Anth,” Mike teased as he entered the room holding two bottles of champagne. He placed them on the side table next to my dad before sitting on the floor beside Mia and holding her leg in his grip.

”Sit down, Tommy. We want to hear all about your time away.” Joe patted the spot next to him on the couch.

”Hey, that's my spot,” Suzy whined as she walked in behind my mother.

”It was his first, sugar. Come sit on my lap.” He grinned at her as he rubbed his leg.

”Okay,” she whispered before padding across the carpet on quick feet, crawling into his lap, and putting her arm around his neck. Joey held her in one arm and rested his hand against her round belly, rubbing it in tiny circles.

Things had changed, yet they were still the same. Coming home after such a long absence was the strangest thing ever. I felt at home but out of place. New people added to the family, and the dynamics of the group had s.h.i.+fted.

Instead of the house being flooded with testosterone, the women had almost outnumbered the men. Anthony and I were the lone holdouts, but that was about to change for me. Soon, Roxy would be here with me.

I sat in my old spot, closing my eyes and reminding myself that she was Angel now and not Roxy. She'd be p.i.s.sed if I slipped in front of my family. There would be a lot of questions if I did that. Gallos were quick and didn't miss a G.o.dd.a.m.n thing.

Opening my eyes, I saw everyone staring at me. No one was chatting or watching the Cubs losing-they just stared. James sat behind Izzy, pulling her back to his front before she sagged against him. He whispered in her ear, slowly stroking her stomach with his hand. She giggled, her face turning red. Even though I was the dumba.s.s who had given the thumbs-up to the situation, I still had an urge to punch him in the face.

”First, when do you have to go back?” Ma asked as she sat in her chair next to my father, fidgeting with her ap.r.o.n.

”I don't.”

Their mouths hung open as I sat there, leaning back and watching their shock.

”What?” I asked.

”What do you mean you don't?” Ma asked. ”I don't think I quite understand.”

”I quit. Plain and simple.”

”h.e.l.l yeah,” Joe said, slapping me on the shoulder. ”You coming to work at the shop with us?”

I turned to him and blinked. I was s.h.i.+t at art. I certainly couldn't poke holes in people's bodies and call that art either. It wasn't my thing.

”Nah, man.” I shook my head and looked at James. ”Did you tell them?” I asked him.

”No, man. I didn't.”

Izzy turned around and looked at him, wondering what I knew and what she had been left the f.u.c.k out on. Whoops.

”James quit too.”

Ma gasped while the rest of the family continued to gawk. ”I feel like I can breathe again,” she said, sighing with relief.

I chuckled at their response. I didn't think I'd ever seen the Gallos at a loss for words, especially Izzy. ”I had enough of their s.h.i.+t. I gave them enough of my life, and they weren't getting another d.a.m.n day.”

”Me either,” James joined in, adjusting as Izzy turned in his arms and hugged him before whispering in his ear.

Had aliens come down and abducted my sister? Izzy and sweet weren't two things that often went together. She was hardcore and could be downright scary sometimes. But with James, she melted in a puddle of goo, and I sure as f.u.c.k didn't want to know why.

”Maybe you two should go into business,” Mike said, still staking his claim by holding on to Mia like someone might s.n.a.t.c.h her.

I nodded, not really having put much thought into what I'd do after leaving the DEA. Then I looked at James, who shot me a look that said maybe it wasn't a bad idea before turning his attention back to Izzy.

”We'll see. One thing at a time, Mike.”

”So what the h.e.l.l happened over there, son? Did you get the bad guys?” Pop asked, reaching out to hold my mother's hand.

Even after all these years, the two were like teenagers. They held hands, kissed, and hugged at every turn. They were whom we'd all gotten our love gene from, and it was something we couldn't shake-even Anthony.

”It's a long story, Pop. Bad s.h.i.+t happened while I was there. More than I'd like to ever discuss or care to remember. So far, they're all behind bars, and I hope they stay that way.” I sighed, wis.h.i.+ng Angel were with me. I wondered what she was doing and if she was okay. I'd left her alone in a strange house.

”Me too. You think you guys have a solid case?” He c.o.c.ked an eyebrow.

”Yeah. James and I worked our a.s.ses off to make sure it would stick. I didn't want it all to be in vain.” I rubbed my temples, trying to block the memories of s.h.i.+t I'd done that I'd never thought I'd do. Murder, disposing of bodies, drugs, and other s.h.i.+t I forced the f.u.c.k out as soon as it started creeping back in.

”Good,” he said, nodding and giving my mother's hand a quick squeeze.

”Who's hungry?” Ma asked, standing from her chair before releasing Pop's hand. ”I didn't make anything special. No one bothered to tell me my son would be home today.” She turned to James and gave him the look of death. I could almost see the tiny daggers shooting out of her eye sockets.

”Uh oh,” Anthony teased. ”Looks like someone isn't the new favorite anymore.” He tossed his head back, laughing and holding his stomach.

”We all know Thomas is the real favorite,” Mike replied, rolling his eyes and making a face at me.

It dawned on me that while I'd been living in h.e.l.l, they'd sat here every Sunday enjoying life and teasing each other relentlessly. I had done the work so families like mine could have these moments of peace and happiness, but knowing all I'd missed still made my heart hurt.

”Let's go, people. Sit down, and the girls and I will grab the food,” Ma said, clapping her hands for us to move it.

Everyone jumped, scrambling to their feet as Ma made her way to the kitchen. Pop put his arm around me, walking next to me with a giant smile.

”It's so good to have you home. Your mother has been a wreck. I've been worried sick about you, and even your brothers and Izzy have been. It's good to finally see with my own eyes that you're okay.”

”I'm alive, if that's what you mean, Pop,” I replied, turning to look at him with a small smile.

”I know you've seen some s.h.i.+t. I can't even begin to imagine, but you're back and that's all that matters.”

Everyone took their spots, and an extra chair was pulled to the table for me. I had lost my table presence, but I hadn't expected it to be left open with the two newest additions to the family.

”I'm so hungry I could eat a darn horse,” Suzy said, placing her napkin across her lap before she picked up a fork.

”You're eating for two, sugar. Have as much as you want,” Joe leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Her face turned red as she mouthed, ”I love you,” to him and they nuzzled. What the f.u.c.k had happened? I chuckled, trying to evoke the memory of my brother from times past. He was a bada.s.s and people were scared of him, but Suzy wasn't. They were the yin to the other's yang.