Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“I got your text. Is everything all right?”
“That’s what I would like to know from you. John-John felt I needed to see your last two jobs,” he says and lifts a brow.
“Okay, I got it done.”
“You don’t think you went a little overboard?”
“No.”
He sighs. “I’ve been in your shoes. I know when personal issues start to manifest in our line of work.
“You’ve been drawing into yourself more and more lately. You haven’t been to the house much and I had to hear from your guidance counselor that you have a 4.0 GPA and you’re scheduled to graduate a year early.”
“I started taking twice the course load every semester. In order to have them sign off for me to keep taking twenty-one credits, I have to keep my GPA up,” I reply and shrug. “It’s not like I have much else going on. Last night was nothing.”
“That’s just it. I think you should have more going on. You can get lost in what you do and that wasn’t nothing.”
“I may have needed to blow off some steam. Better I do it on a job than get into trouble in my real life. It’s not like I do jobs all the time. It’s not likely to happen again anytime soon. Besides, the job got done.”
“Yes, well, I need you to do something for me. Your brother is doing well with the bar and the side business. He’s living up to my expectations and then some, but that’s going to draw more and more attention.
“I think it’s time you step into his life. You know, watch his back. It’s a way for you to get to know him as well.”
My heart races. I’ve wanted to be a part of Will’s life for so long. He was once my best friend when we were little. I was so sad when he and his mom stopped coming around and Dad was gone too.
“Can I tell him who I am?”
“No, not yet. You should use your nonna’s maiden name.”
“Amato?”
“Yes, that will throw everyone off. We’ll keep your connection to me to ourselves for as long as we can. All things will be revealed at the right time.”
I want to ask him about my maternal grandfather. The man I met while he was in prison. However, I keep the knowledge I have of my mother’s father to myself, like I was told to.
Growing up in Bridge Lake, you learn to keep your family’s secrets and this family has a ton. Pushing those thoughts to the side, I think of Will. I wonder if he’ll remember me on his own.
We were so young, but those days were some of my best. My mother was gone, and it was just me and my dad. I loved when I got to play with Will and forget the sobbing I’d hear at night.
Now that I’m older, I think my father blamed himself for my mom. I came to that conclusion one night while talking to Alexis. As soon as I think of her name, I shut my thoughts down and frown.
“How should I play this?” I ask my uncle instead of going down that rabbit hole.
“I already told him I’m sending over a new bartender for him to interview. The rest is on you.”
I enjoy bartending. I think that’s why I majored in psychology. I wanted to understand people. Bartending allows me to get to know the people I serve.
A part of me wants to learn how to make people stay—however weird that may be. People come to drink and leave. Yet, I feel like if I learn about them and understand them as they sit and spill their troubles while I attend to them, I’ll understand how to keep the people in my life around. It’s just a theory.
“No problem, I can handle that,” I reply to my uncle.
“Head over there tonight. He’s expecting you.”
“Thanks, Uncle Blake.”
“Stop by the house to see me more often. We have a lot to talk about.”
“I will.” I stand and go to walk out.
“Anthony.”
I turn to look back. “Yeah?”
“I’m proud of you. I know things were hard when I was away. I’ve never had a chance to talk to you about it. Now you seem to never want to talk, but this school thing… I know your father and mother would be just as proud. You’re a smart kid. I only want the best for you.”
“I know, Uncle Blake. I’m all right, I promise.”
If only that were true. I want answers from my wife. I want this pain she left behind to stop. I’ve thrown myself into school to forget about her.
Chapter 8
Ox
Ox
I don’t know what hurts more, not being able to tell Will who I am or him not remembering me. I’m trying to play it cool, but I wish I could pull my brother into a hug.