Blame it on the shame Part 2

Tyrone cups his hand over his mouth and yells, "Go home, you're drunk."

When we put Jackson back into bed he whispers, "I think I love her, too." He pounds the pillow with his fist. "But she fucking hurt me."

Tyrone sighs. "Figures, now he wants to talk about his feelings."

Jackson begins to drift off but not before he says, "I don't know how you do it, Ricardo." I open my mouth to ask what he means but then he says, "I'd never be able to handle living right across the hall from Alyssa. Not knowing where she's going...who she's fucking. It would kill me."

I don't answer him because I can't. He has no idea just how much those things kill me...especially because I know where she goes and who she's fucking.

I walk out to the kitchen and take out a bottle of Jack Daniels along with a glass.

I fill it to the brim and slam it down. Tyrone joins me a moment later and takes a seat at the table.

I fill up another glass and slam that one down just as quick as the first.

He eyes the bottle. "It's go

I fill up my glass again and look at him. "I can take care of myself."

Always have...always will.

He tilts his head. "Yeah, I'm aware, brother."

He mumbles something under his breath that I don't catch. "What was that?"

He glares at me. "Nothing. Just wondering when you're go

I open my mouth but he holds up a hand. "You can try and deny it all you want, but deep down inside you know it's the truth." He snatches the whiskey from me and pours his own glass. "You never talk about your family. Your upbringing. How the hell you ended up getting involved with the club or working for DeLuca. Hell, you wouldn't even talk about your relationship with Lou-Lou."

I grip my glass and reach for the bottle. "That's because it wasn't serious."

"Bullshit," he says. "Have you seen that girl in the last 3 months? She's walking around like a damn ghost of her former self. I swear she gets ski

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "And don't even get me started on you."

I down the rest of my glass and raise a brow. "Me?"

"Yeah you," he says while snatching the bottle from me. "You know, I've never brought this up before because I was hoping you'd come to me about it." He laughs. "Although, I should have known better because you don't talk to anyone about anything...but it's awfully strange how that prick, Luke never showed up at the club after that day you beat him to a bloody pulp in the dressing room." He looks me right in the eyes. "For violating Lou-Lou."

Fuck. I forgot Tyrone was there that day.

I swallow hard and reach for the whiskey again. "I had him fired," I quickly say.

He balks and stabs his finger into the counter. "Rumor has it he was DeLuca's right-hand man." He takes another sip of his drink. "I'm not sure how it works in the mob...but I can't imagine anyone having more pull than him." He stares at me curiously and I hope to God that he hasn't figured it out. "Which can only mean one thing."

I set my jaw and meet his stare. "What's that?"

"Either you killed him—or you're not who you say you are."

Or option number 3...both.

Given the two choices...I go with the easiest one to admit. "Fine, Tyrone. You want the truth? I killed him with my bare hands and buried his body where no one will ever find it."

I hand him my cell phone. "You want to turn me in? Go right ahead."

He holds up his hands. "Whoa, Ricardo. Ain't nobody turning anybody in." He makes a face. "We're family, asshole. Remember?"

He snatches the whiskey back from me. "I just wanted you to admit it so you could get it off your chest. You know, trust someone enough to tell them the truth instead of carrying that shit around."

He fills up his glass. "For what it's worth, I'm not judging. Shit, man. That girl already survived hell growing up and he was attempting to drag her back there." He clicks his glass against mine and smiles. "Good riddance, motherfucker."

I return his smile, feeling more relieved than I thought I would. "I enjoyed every second of it," I admit, surprising myself. "Every fucking second of taking his life. When I walked in and saw what he was trying to do to her...I've never felt rage that severe before."

He nods. "I can't blame you. That's what happens when you love someone." I open my mouth to remind him that we weren't serious again, but he sucks in a breath before saying, "What are you go

His expression falls and his eyes open wide. "Shit, Ricardo. He'd kill you over this...if you're lucky. DeLuca's hit list is not something you ever want to be at the top of. The devil himself has more compassion."

I wouldn't doubt it.

When I don't answer him, he slams a hand on the table. "Fuck it, if you're going down me and Jackson are going down with you. We'll go down fighting together."

"Don't be stupid, Tyrone," I say, my stomach knotting. "If worse comes to worse, you follow any and all instructions that I leave you. To the fucking T...understand?"

He scrunches his face. "Instructions? Goddamn, brother. You really have thought about this." He leans forward. "Does he know? Are you in danger?"

"No," I lie. "Don't worry, DeLuca's not trying to kill me."

Not for another 9 months or so, give or take.

"But," I say, my tone dead serious. "In the event that I ever was—promise me you'll do everything I tell you to do."

"Like what?"

"You grab Momma, Jackson, Shelby and Alyssa and you get the fuck away from this place. You run as far away as you can. Someplace he would never think to look for you and you do not under any fucking circumstances try and go after him." I slam the counter. "Promise me, Tyrone."

He nods. "Okay. Damn. I promise."

I exhale sharply and close my eyes. "Thank you."

"Ricardo is there something else going on that I need to know about?"

"No," I say sharply. I down the rest of my glass and head for the front door. "Go check on Jackson. I'll see you tomorrow, I have to take care of something."

"Whoa, Ricardo hold up."

When I turn around he says, "You just slammed like four glasses of whiskey...not to mention all the alcohol you had at the bar." He glances at his watch. "You're go

I brush him off. "I'll be fine."