See No Evil (Brotherhood Trilogy #1)(26)

“Out!” I grab the flashlight off my desk and hurl it at him. It clips the edge of his cheek, then thumps to the floor.

Everything goes quiet except for the sound of my rapid breathing.

My chest heaves while I grab the edge of my desk and stare at Riley’s shocked expression.

A red welt has already formed on his cheekbone.

Shit. It’s bleeding.

Brushing the thick locks off his forehead with first-class dignity, he fires me a black look before calling me a fucking moron and storming out of the room.

The door slams shut behind him.

I flinch.

Breathing is still a struggle. My hands are shaking.

Bile surges within me and I grab the trash can at my feet. Holding it like a teddy bear, I drop to my knees and give away my lunch.

The retching makes me cry.

Or maybe it’s the news.

A flashback hits me from behind, making my eyes bulge and my stomach writhe with a sob. Covering my mouth with shaking fingers, I remember…



“Ana? What’s the matter?” My mother catches me as I run into the main entrance of our house.

My eyes are wild, my breathing erratic. “He killed him. Shot him dead.”

Mom swallows, running the tip of her tongue over her lower lip, then biting them together.

I grip her arms as she holds my face. “What are you talking about?”

“Robbie. Robbie’s dead.”

“Who’s Robbie?”

“My friend!”

“From school?”

“No, I met him at the beach a few weeks ago! We’ve been hanging out.”

Mom frowns, getting distracted by the fact she doesn’t know him.

“Robbie Candella!” I scream his name, like it’ll somehow explain everything.

Mom lets go of my face and steps back. “You’ve been seeing a Candella?” she whispers, her voice black and acidic.

“What’s his name got to do with it! He’s dead! Did you hear me?”

Mom’s eyes start to glisten as she crosses her arms. “Who killed him?”

“Uncle Marco.”

The breath whooshes out of her and she blinks a couple of times. “You saw?”

“Yes. I saw.”

“Are you sure it was him?”

“Mother! I know it was him!”

My eyes narrow as I track her gaze. It darts across the floor to the staircase.

I go perfectly still, a cold calm washing over me as I read her expression. “He’s killed before, hasn’t he?”

“There’s no proof,” she mutters. “And your father would never allow it.”

“But you suspect he has.”

Her expression is pained, her silence loud and obvious.

I raise my chin, clenching my jaw as rage surges through me. “He’s not going to get away with it again.”

Her eyes flash back to me, rounding wide with panic. “What are you going to do?”

“Go to the police. Tell them the truth.”

“No! Ana, you mustn’t… Not for that boy.”

I flick her hand off my shoulder as soon as she places it there. Stumbling back, I crash into the wall. “How can you say that? You condone this?”

“Of course not! But Marco is your father’s brother. You would see him go to jail?”

“If he’s guilty of the crime, yes!”

“No.” She points her finger at me. It’s shaking. “You are a Sorrentino. We stick together.”

“By keeping dark secrets?”

Her face flushes with color while my eyes narrow into thin slits.

“I won’t do it.” I shake my head. “I will not turn my back on this.”

“You cannot betray your family.” Mom’s voice shakes. “They are blood.”

“I don’t want them as my blood! He’s a criminal!”

“The risk is too high. The consequences…” Mom’s cheeks pale. “Please,” she whispers. “Please, stay silent.”



“I couldn’t,” I choke into the trash can. “I’m innocent. He’s guilty! It has to end with me, Mom. It has to.”

Tears swarm my vision.

My family has lived in the shadows for too long. I’ve suspected dodgy dealings for years—dirty money, theft, smuggling. Our house is too secure. Our lifestyle too lavish. There are too many meetings behind closed doors, and secret smiles at parties.

I don’t know how my father and uncle provide for us. I’ve never wanted to. It was easy to turn my back on it all…until Robbie died.

My father would never condone murder. He might steal and lie, but he wouldn’t kill. He’s only protecting Marco out of loyalty, trying to clean up my stupid uncle’s mess.

I don’t have that same conviction.

And now I have even more reason to feel this way. I didn’t kill Robbie. And I don’t care what kind of beef is going on between the two families.

All I know is that Robbie and I weren’t doing anything wrong.

Uncle Marco is the devil. He deserves to go to prison.

Slumping back against my desk, I pull my knees to my chest and whimper.

I’ve betrayed my family for justice. To put an end to it.