Judy Corisi. There was a famous Corisi and his daughter’s name was Judy. The whole world knew who they were.
Teagan looked guilty. “No.”
“Right. Dominic Corisi is our brother and the Queen of England is our aunt.” No one laughed at my joke.
Teagan lifted and dropped a shoulder. “You have that half right. Antonio had two children with his wife, Rosella: Dominic and Nicole. So, yes. Dominic Corisi is your brother. Half brother if you want to be technical.”
“No,” I said with all the disgust that was filling me.
“Yes,” Teagan said gently.
Riley waved a hand around. “That would make Judy our niece. She was there to meet me?”
“And me.” Teagan added, “It’s complicated and not all of it matters right now.”
Riley looked confused. “You said you haven’t known for long, but it sounds like you know an awful lot about them.”
I wanted no part of the conversation, but I wasn’t about to leave Riley alone with this. Teagan continued, “Gian is Judy’s uncle. He and Dominic have the same mother, but different fathers.”
“Who’s Gian?” I asked, only to try to make some sense of this.
“Her boyfriend,” Riley answered slowly.
I’d heard enough. “Yeah, leave me out of that clusterfuck.”
Riley was getting more agitated, though. She looked at Teagan and asked, “Why didn’t you say something when I brought Judy in? There I was thinking I’d landed a potential client for you, excited and going on about it like an idiot when something entirely different was going on.”
“I’d promised Fara—” Teagan began to say, but Riley cut her off.
“I would have told you.”
“I’m sorry.” She should be.
Riley waved her off.
Teagan turned to me. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Not good enough. This wasn’t an innocent spin and spill. Loyalty was huge to me, and she’d just betrayed us. If these were the same people my mother had said she needed to stay hidden from, Teagan might well have put our family in danger. “If my mother asked you not to say anything, she had good reason to. Not that it matters now, I guess. They already know about us.”
“They didn’t for a long time. Judy and Gian thought there might be a chance Antonio had more children and their search led them here.” Teagan looked so apologetic it was hard to remain angry with her. “I am so sorry. I love you both and your mother. You’ve been my family, sometimes even more so than my own. I don’t know if I did any of this the right way, but I tried to do what I thought was best because I love you.”
Riley was easier to win over than I was. She said, “We love you too. I know how you get tangled up in your head sometimes and can’t get out of your own way.” She paused. “Wait, did they know what happened to my mother?”
“They didn’t, but they do now.” Teagan checked her watch. “As of about an hour or so ago. Gian flew down to tell them.”
I had to know if Teagan knew something I didn’t. “Why is Mom afraid of these people?”
Teagan told us about the man who’d come to see our mother when she was in the hospital, the one who’d warned her that hiding was the only way she could protect herself and her children from Antonio. I just about threw up in my mouth. “So someone knew about us all along and did nothing to help our mother. I want nothing to do with these people.”
Teagan didn’t give up there. She said, “You don’t have to make any decisions today. There is more to their story. Why don’t we get something to eat and I’ll tell you what I know?” Over sandwiches and coffee, Teagan mapped out our family, the one she wanted us to consider ours anyway, and then told us about another family—the Romanos. “The story of our family is heavy on the name Gian.”
Teagan blushed. “I learned everything about your family through him.”
“And she’s fucking him,” Riley added with a smile.
Teagan slugged her arm. “No, I’m—”
I arched an eyebrow. She definitely was.
With a grin, she conceded, “I am and it’s fantastic.”
Despite all the emotions raging within me, I chuckled. Maybe life wasn’t supposed to make sense. “Well, okay then.”
Riley clapped. “You should see them together, Kal. Talk about sizzle. I hope I meet someone who makes me feel that way someday.”
“I’m happy for you, Teagan.” I was. I cared about Teagan. “Just be careful. He’s probably nothing like our father—” I made a face and continued, “I hate to even call him that.”
“Just say Antonio,” Riley suggested.
I nodded. “Gian is probably nothing like Antonio was, but people with money aren’t like us. If he crosses a line, if he ever makes you feel uncomfortable—tell me. I’ll handle it.”
Teagan’s eyes teared up. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary, but thanks.” After a pause. “I really like him.”
Riley leaned in. “Like? Or more?”
“More?”
Riley stood up, ran over, and hugged her friend. “I’m so proud of you, Teagan. You’re finally opening up and letting someone in.”
Teagan beamed at that. “I am and it feels pretty damn amazing.”
Flapping a French fry in her hand, Riley said, “If you marry Gian, will that make us related?”
Teagan wrinkled her nose. “Gian is Dominic’s brother through their mother. You’re related to Dominic through your father. The Romanos are actually Gian’s cousins, but he’s adopted so legally they are also his brothers.”
I groaned. “My brain is melting.”
“Let’s just say yes,” Riley said with a smile.
“Yes,” Teagan said with enthusiasm, “but we’re not getting married. We just started dating.”
“Sure you’re not,” Riley said cheerfully. “Oh my God, now I need to find someone. I thought I had more time. Do not have children without me.”
Did Riley really think it was that easy? Wasn’t it that kind of thinking that had led our mother to trust the man who had hurt her? Hadn’t I just seen the same pattern playing out with Jade?
I could have gone off on a reality check rant, but Riley and Teagan both looked so damn happy. I didn’t want to take that from them. People needed to make their own mistakes. God only knows, I’d made enough of my own. If they needed me, I’d be there to pick up the pieces just as I knew they’d do for me.
“I’m pretty sure you have time,” Teagan assured her. “Although I intend to have five. So, you’ll have to keep up.”
Holy crap. That’s a lot of kids. “The two of you are nuts,” I said, but softened my criticism with a smile.
They exchanged a look and, in unison, said, “We know.” Then laughed.
I didn’t stay long after that. Distance was what I needed to sort through what still felt too crazy to be true.
The people my mother had always feared now had names and faces—the Corisis. Rather than returning to my mother’s apartment, I headed off to a café where I spent a few hours reading everything I could about the family.