Chicago War Omnibus by Bethany-Kris

Author:Bethany-Kris [Bethany-Kris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BluA
Publisher: Bethany-Kris
Published: 2016-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

Theo tightened his leather jacket around his frame as he walked through the quiet Wicker Park neighborhood. Wicker Park was known for its artistic feel and for being one of the safer parts of Chicago. He kept his head down low as he strolled through the streets, not wanting to draw attention to himself by someone who might recognize his face.

It wouldn’t be unusual for him to be in Wicker Park. The Outfit was everywhere, not just in Melrose. Everyone had business with someone else. Theo’s reasons for being there could be excused if needed.

Coming up to the playground where children, bundled up warm in the early December air, played and squealed happily, Theo leaned against a bright green metal fence and watched. Theo wished he could remember a time when his childhood wasn’t tainted by one thing or another. His parents’ murders were always forefront, but he’d conceded his feelings on that long ago knowing his father had turned on the Outfit.

The death was justified.

Move on.

Theo preferred being in open spaces and the outside usually gave him the freedom he craved. Outside, he could think of Dino and not be bombarded by his unshakeable guilt at never seeing his brother clearly enough. Or for not giving Dino the confirmation that he cared, that Theo knew what it felt like to keep secrets, and that he was sorry his loyalties had been given to the wrong people.

People like Ben DeLuca and Joel Trentini.

Dino worked hard when he was alive to keep his siblings safe. Sometimes, that included sending Lily away so she didn’t have to experience the things her brothers sometimes did growing up in Ben DeLuca’s home. Thinking about that time, when he was on the cusp of being a teenager growing into a man, was hard for Theo.

Ben had been a cold, hard man. He’d favored locking his nephews, no matter their ages, into small, dark places after they were beaten by a few of his favored men. He’d turned the DeLuca brothers into molds of himself and never batted an eye. His uncle had rarely spoke of his past actions, either.

While Theo could push it out of his mind if he wanted, he knew Dino had often suffered aftereffects of the abuse. Like being anxious in small spaces or needing to work himself to death before he could fall asleep at night, because the darkness would creep into his mind and wouldn’t let go.

Never tell Lily.

That was Dino’s only demand. Theo understood why as he felt the same way. Lily had been protected from that, and when Dino had enough control of his own, he’d started fighting back until Ben backed off. Theo was at a point then where he blamed his older brother, but at the same time, he felt like he owed his uncle something.

Wrong.

So, so foul.

Sighing, Theo watched the children. Silently, a familiar woman bundled up in a bright red jacket saddled up beside Theo. She leaned against the fence like he was, keeping

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