Page 51 of A Shared Mind

“I’ve heard some shit over the years, but it’s hard to tell if it’s just family bullshit or if it really happened. How about you guys?”

I glanced at Justin and smiled. Seemed maybe our boy was gonna dish. “Oh, don’t get me started with family bullshit. My family business was bootlegging back during Prohibition. My grandpa was chased by the sheriff’s deputies across three counties. He was arrested several times for running moonshine. That’s how our family farm started growing corn. We still grow it to this day, though we don’t tell anyone that we... Another drink?”

Nico nodded, so Justin filled his glass before he poured fake vodka into our glasses. The three of us toasted and gulped down our drinks before Nico stared at the two of us and asked a question. “So, can I watch you kiss?”

I pulled Justin into my arms and kissed him as I had when we made love. It was no fucking chore to kiss the man. I hoped Nico could see that we were solid.

“Damn, that’s sexy as fuck.”

Justin and I broke apart, and my guy turned to Nico. “Tell us about your family, and we’ll give you a little show if you want.”

It was a surprise he got those words out without getting nervous, but I wouldn’t say no. This trip had a purpose, and we needed to get on with it so we could get back to the part where we were going to plan a life together.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Justin

I refilled the tortilla chips and topped off the salsa because Nico must have been starved. Several times I’d wished the clear liquid we pretended was vodka was actually the real thing. Every time I asked Nico a question, he asked something about us. It was becoming a little tedious.

“So, uh, how did Mr. DeLuca die?” I asked as I dipped a chip in the chunky salsa.

Nico downed his fifth shot. “He got popped a month after Ramon. It was a fucking shit show for a while, let me tell you. Everybody was lookin’ at Mr. DeLuca for Ramon’s death, but Uncle Marco said no way would Don DeLuca take out Ramon. Myself, I kinda think Uncle Marco had a hand in it—not the trigger man, mind you, but he had something to do with it. I think he knew Ramon was in line to be underboss and he didn’t want that to happen so he ordered a hit on the downlow. He’s now the one who runs everything on The Hill.”

I was relieved that the fucker was getting sloshed on tequila to the point he wouldn’t be able to get an erection. We’d have no problems with him thinking anything sexual was going to happen among us—not that I ever thought my guy would let it happen.

“You hear anyone toss out possible suspects for who did the shooting?” I refilled his glass and then mine and Clay’s.

Nico laughed. “What, I want my tongue cut out like Sonny Russo?”

That was a shock. I remembered Sonny Russo had been a member of Ramon’s crew. What did he do that someone cut out his tongue?

“No, I’d assume that wouldn’t be pleasant. So, what else can you tell me about your family? I mean, not to make you say anything you don’t want to say, but your family is shrouded in mystery. Your parents didn’t marry. Was that an issue for you?”

God, I felt like I was asking shit that was none of my business. Actually, it wasn’t, but how could I give Ramon any redemption if I didn’t dig into their family?

Nico blew out a heavy breath. “How would you have felt if your parents hadn’t married?”

I could top that. “My parents died two months apart when I was twenty. It feels fucking awful.”

Nico sighed. “I’m sorry. I mean, my mom’s still alive. I wish my father had married her, but so do all of my half-siblings whose moms Ramon didn’t marry either. Can I use your bathroom?”

Clay led him down the hall to the bathroom before returning to me. “Okay, we gotta dig deeper, darlin’. If we’re gonna find out anything, you’ll need to ask direct questions about the Ramon’s murder and I guess DeLuca’s.”

I shivered at the uncomfortable feeling of what we were doing. It had to be done, but I didn’t have to like it, did I?

“So, what do I have to do to get the two of you naked?” Nico strolled into the kitchen with a lascivious smirk, surprising us both because we hadn’t heard anything.

My pulse ticked up. “I, uh, thought y-you could g-give me some m-more inside information for my book.”

Clay grabbed my hand and pulled me into his chest, wrapping me in his arms to calm me. “He’s writing a book. If you don’t wanna talk about your family, maybe you can put him on the track of somebody else who will talk to us. But then you don’t get any of this.” Clay kissed me passionately, and I nearly forgot where I was and what we were doing.

Nico growled. “Uncle Marco won’t like it, but fine. Ask your questions. I don’t wanna be quoted in this book, you know. It could be dangerous for me and my family.”

I exhaled. “We don’t want anything to happen to you, your sisters, or the rest of your family. Your father said there were eight kids who could call him Dad.”

Nico’s face froze. “My dad said?” He was shocked by my statement, and I hated that I’d misspoken and now had to come up with an explanation for it.

“Uh, your dad did an interview with a, uh, with someone who was questioning him for a, uh—.”