14. Family Secrets Revealed
CHAPTER 14
Family Secrets Revealed
THE TRUTH CAN GIVE YOU POWER IF YOU WIELD IT RIGHT
M ichael easily agreed to absolve the agreement my av? had made. I watched the papers burn in the fireplace. Turns out he had kept them safe.
A weight slowly began lifting off my shoulders. There was still so much to learn. I had to learn all about the mafia clans and how they ran. I needed to learn which contacts I could still use. My thoughts drifted to Danny. I hoped he was someone I could still rely on. Most importantly I needed to learn the truth about my family history.
I glanced at Michael and my av? . They clinked their glasses together. Apparently those two had been best friends since they were in their 20s navigating America together. They each brought up their respective clans from the ground up. They were each other’s best man. When my parents were killed in a car accident it was the Costa family that made sure my family was okay.
“I’m so sorry Lucia,” my av? said once the other men had left the room. I nodded quietly.
“Honestly everything makes sense now. The secretive clients and times where I needed to be out of the room, out of the shop,” I said. He nodded along. “So avó was in charge?” I asked tentatively. He gave a whisper of a smile.
“She was. She led with a powerful fist and a soft heart. It was amazing to watch her. She knew when to draw the line and when to draw blood. She kept a balance that was well respected,” he said, lost in the past. I nodded. From my faint memories of her that seemed about right.
“So they were murdered?” I asked. Because I had been so young when everything happened I almost felt detached. I knew my parents loved me. I remember warm hugs and gentle forehead kisses. But that’s where it ended.
“With your parents we believe that it may have been just a simple car accident. But a few weeks later your avó was shot. Sniper. She was meeting the Korean clan about a partnership,” he said. My brows furrowed. A partnership? That was interesting.
“The Koreans weren’t behind it?” I asked. My av? shook his head.
“ Senhora Kim almost lost her life when it happened. She-she tried to keep Anna alive,” my av? said, staring into his whiskey glass. “Instead of looking more into who the sniper was I had us going into hiding. Nothing happened once the Costa’s started patrolling our area and no one questioned it,” he said. I nodded. Given his relationship with Michael that made sense. He was a man grieving the loss of his family.
“They might when they see we’re back,” I said. The Portuguese mafia has remained quiet for the past 23 years. I’m breaking that silence,” I said. He nodded, taking a deep breath.
“It won’t be easy querida . First we have to gather the people. Show that we’re back and that you are in charge. You have to be strong. While this is in your blood you’ve had your eyes closed to it all,” he said. I let out a breath.
I was going to be witnessing things I had only seen in movies and read in books. Those things were going to be a daily reality. It wouldn’t matter how much I mentally prepared, it was going to be a lot.
“That’s why I have you and the Costa’s with me, to support me," I said. My av? smiled.
“It seems like my little coelhinha is becoming a loba ,” he said. I smiled, reaching for a hug.
“She always was, av? .”