Page 144 of With Us

“Did you kill him?” I asked, my voice shaky. “The senator. Did you kill him?”

Theo had the good sense to not play stupid. “Yes.”

“And the man yesterday?”

“I didn’t pull the trigger, but yes.”

My tone was a sharp accusation. “Who are you?”

“I’m the same man I’ve always been.”

“You’re not. The Theo who was soft and gentle, taking it slow for me wouldn’t kill anyone. Wouldn’t go to prison. He wouldn’t go, leaving me,” my voice caught, “leaving me aloneagain.”

“I am that Theo. I’m just… more.”

“I need to know the more,” I pleaded. “Why? What did he do?”

There has to be a valid reason. A justification.

“He talked to you. He breathed your air, he freaked you out, and he tried to use you to get to me. No one fucks with you. Ever.” His eyes blazed, his fists balled, and his jaw clenched. “That may have been the last straw, but he had this coming to him already. If it hadn’t been you, he’d have done something else to seal his fate.”

“Why? What else was he doing?”

Theo rubbed his jaw, hesitating. “Once this is out there between us, there’s no pulling it back. You can bury your head in the sand after, but you’ll know.”

“Ineedto know because I can’t stand being kept in the dark. I won’t be.”

He must have realized I wasn’t dropping it because he finally began talking. “Larson didn’t want in on Amaric. Not really.”

“Then what did he want?”

“He wanted in on the other side of my business.” When I crossed my arms, waiting for more, he launched in. “Amaric is a legit and legal company, but it’s also a cover for things that aren’t. Things that go back generations and generations.”

Generations?

Italian.

The crest tattoo all the men in his family get.

The fear and respect he receives.

“Are you in the mafia?” I blurted.

“In a manner of speaking.” He shifted as if to approach before stopping himself. “Remember when I told you my family wasn’t stereotypical in most ways, but some we were?”

Stunned silent, all I could do was nod.

“The same is true with… my business. It’s not like on TV or movies. It was at one time, but we’ve had to adapt. It’d be easy for cops to catch on if we were all wearing tracksuits, greasing our hair, and catching things that fell off the back of the truck.” His attempt to lighten the mood fell flat.

“Do you steal?”

“Not in the way you’re thinking.” I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t elaborate.

My frustration and anger boiled over, and I lost it. “Could you just spit it out already? I’m so sick of the half-truths and vague answers! The whole time you were gone, everyone told me to,” I lifted my fingers in air quotes, “‘be patient’ and ‘Theo will tell you soon’. But now you’re here, and I’m getting the same run around.”

“Because I’m not gonna fucking lose you, Dahlia!”

“Then tell me the truth. All of it.” I pointed to the front door. “Otherwise you’re guaranteeing I’m walking out, and you’ll never fucking see me again.”

---