Blood and Fire (McClouds & Friends #8)(89)

The light in Zia Rosa’s eyes faded. She suddenly looked very old. “He couldn’t do nothin’ for her, honey. She broke the bargain, see?”

“What bargain?” he yelled. “You’re not making any f*cking sense!”

“Zitto. Don’t you use that tone with your auntie.” But she patted his cheek as she spoke to soften the scold. “The deal Tony struck was that Magda got her boy back and kept her nose out of it. She and her boy got left alone, Tony hung on to the letter, and everybody played nice. But Magda was too pissed. She wouldn’t stop digging.”

“Digging for what?” His voice cracked. “What was she digging for?”

Zia Rosa shook her head. “All’s I know is that Tony was worried, because Magda kept goin’ after that dirty prick. She wanted to make him pay for what he did to you. And they got her. At least she was smart enough to send you away. Only smart thing that girl ever did, God rest her sweet soul.”

“But I . . . but she . . .” His mouth worked, his mind whirling for a way to avoid conclusions that made his guts churn.

“Tony told her to stop. But she couldn’t. She loved you so much. Not that I blame her for bein’ pissed, after what that testa di cazzo did. She said you wouldn’t talk for months after she got you back.” She sniffed. “Hard to imagine, you not talking, but it’s true. Not a peep, except at night. You screamed the place down. Almost got her evicted.”

“Oh, God,” Lily whispered. “Bruno. Your nightmares.”

Bruno recoiled from that. One thing at a time. “But I was supposed to testify, against Rudy, in the trial. Remember? Rudy killed her. There was evidence, but the dirty cops contaminated it.”

A flip of Zia Rosa’s plump hand dismissed Rudy. “Rudy took the fall, sure. But it wasn’t him who ordered the hit. Rudy was just a dumb-ass scagnozzo. Why do you think she took up with that low-life in the first place, honey? My Magda, who coulda had any man she wanted? You think she was hanging around with that slob for her health?”

No, not her health. He thought of the black eyes, the bruises.

“She did it for you,” Zia said. “She was using Rudy to infiltrate.”

He shook his head. It made him sick, guilty. He held up the letter. “Why didn’t Tony use this? Why didn’t he ras up their asses?”

“He was trying to keep you alive,” she said simply. “If he’d sent it, sure, it woulda messed them up. But they woulda killed him, and probably you, too. He loved that girl, but she was gone, and he had to cover your ass. Don’t blame Tony. He did the best he could.”

“You should have told me,” he said.

“You had enough problems. What point was there in telling you?”

“All these years, I thought the guy who killed my mother was dead,” he said. “That it was over. And it’s not. That’s a problem.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “But what would you have done if you knew?”

He stared down at the letter. “I would’ve hunted down that piece of shit and ground him into paste.”

“Well.” Zia Rosa looked triumphant. “There you go. That’s why we didn’t say nothin’, honey. That’s exactly why.”

He stared at her, uncomprehending. “Huh?”

Zia Rosa made an impatient sound. “Think about it. We didn’t want you caught up in a whole new revenge cycle with those scumbags. You were doin’ good, honey. You got past it. You started that company with Kev, you were making good money, you had a nice place, a good life. Why throw that away? For what? Past is past. What’s done is done.”

“But it’s not done,” he said. “It’s not done at all.” He glanced up, suddenly noticing the rapt attention of all the people in the room.

Many pairs of eyes slid abruptly away from his.

His anger flared afresh. “This is a great way to find out my life is based on a lie. Turn it into a sideshow act to entertain the masses.”

Zia Rosa clucked her tongue. “Don’t be silly. They’re just family.”

“Kev’s family, Zia,” he reminded her. “Not my family.”

Flat silence. Sean spoke up. “You’re walking funny again, buddy.”

“Piss off,” Bruno replied through set teeth.

“Family is whoever you’re left with after everybody else is sick of your bullshit,” Tam said. “We’ll see who hangs around for you, Bruno.”

A rude retort rose up, but Zia Rosa sensed it and cut him off. “Stai zitto, idiota,” she hissed. “Kev would be so embarrassed!”

He subsided, with some difficulty. His face felt hot. His jaw tight.

“Well, I know what to do next,” Zia said briskly. “I gotta have me a talk with don Gaetano and Michael. Since Tony’s not around to do it.”

“No, you don’t,” Bruno said swiftly. “I’ll take care of that, Zia.”

“No way. He won’t talk to you,” she scoffed. “He’ll just have his thugs dump you in the river. I’m the one’s got clout with don Gaetano. He still feels guilty. Can’t look me in the eye, the old pig. Brutto maiale.”

“Because of Mamma?” Bruno asked.

“Nah. Because he was supposed to marry me.”