Chapter 13

"That must be my brothers" Tracy announced as the door opened and two men, a tall sturdy one and a slimmer black man stepped in. Both were dressed casually in large t-shirts and worn out jeans, the taller one wearing a baseball cap and holding a small paper bag.
"Come on in" Tracy said as she rose and took the bag from them.
"I bought some fruits, I know how you like them" the taller man said as he hugged Tracy.
"Pardon my manners, these are my brothers. Dave and Austin. They just arrived from Connecticut and will be staying for the night" she said as she offered them both the seat on either side of her.
Pete smiled tightly at the men, the knot in his stomach tightening by the second, he wished terribly that he hadn't shoved his handgun in that suitcase yet, it gave him a certain confidence when he was with the steel in hand. Nick too sat straighter on the couch, his eyes trained on the men that now began to chat away with Tracy.
Valeria entered the room at the worse time ever, clutching Moses who was now, well, not Moses but a pretty little girl, with bracelets on his wrists and clothed in a floral designed gown.
"Tracy" she said, the surprise apparent at seeing the strange faces in the living room.
"Sonia"  she responded, raising to greet her with a small hug.
"I wasn't expecting you" Valeria said.
"I wasn't expecting to come. I just came to ask if you'd love to come to the women's chat night later on, just a little get together for the neighborhood women" she offered with an infectious smile.
"I don't know, erhmmm.... we'll be having....some...." Valeria stammered
"We'll have family over later on" Nick provided helpfully.
"Yes, from Southern Carolina, I have to make a massive dinner for everyone and all, but, if I can make it, I promise to try" she said with the widest smile ever.
" Of course" Tracy said and looked at Moses for the first time. She frowned and sent a curious gaze to Valeria at seeing the baby girl in her arms.
"Oh...my grand aunt, her daughter__it's my nephew, my niece I mean, her name is Mary. I will have to take care of her since her mom is not around" she answered her unspoken question.
"I thought you said the family hadn't arrived yet" Tracy asked.
"Yes...I mean, no, but some, they live nearby so they came earlier today. It's been a handful with these ones all morning trust me" Valeria smiled with a dramatic sigh and looked to the strange men.
"Where's Moses?"
"He's asleep, had a little fever last night, didn't asleep that well" she replied, her eyes still on the men.
"Oh, meet my brothers. Dave and Justin" Tracy said and smiled.
"Hi, welcome" Valeria beamed.
"Thank you Ma, you have a lovely home" the black man replied.
"Thank you" Valeria muttered, then looking to Tracy said. "You never mentioned having brothers"
"Step, they're my step brothers actually" Tracy said, moving to sit between the men again.
"Can I get anything? Wine? Juice? Water?" Valeria asked nicely.
"No ma'am, we're fine" the taller man responded with a smile.
"Oh I insist. I have freshly squeezed orange juice, it's cold, lemme get it" she said and without waiting for a response went into the kitchen, her heart pounding in her chest frantically.
In all the short weeks she'd been with Tracy, she could swear she had stated more than once that she came from a family of all girls, she'd even made a joke that she wanted them all to be lesbians when she was younger. It was something that stuck to her memory, seeing the tall men that bore no resemblance to Tracy was enough reason to make her wary.
Pete had already concluded that they were being cornered the moment Tracy called the black man "Justin" after calling him "Austin" minutes ago. In his life, he lived with details, acted with details and paid attention to the tiniest bit of it. First thing that gave them away had been the size of their t-shirt, too large for the 21st century male, the second sign that been the paper bag of 'fruits' too flat and light to contain any fruit at all, unless fruits came in rectangular shapes these days. The third and most convincing hint had been the small almost invisible scar by "Austin/Justin's" neck, it looked suspiciously like a bullet wound and Pete had seen enough bullet wounds in his life to know one. When he thought hard enough, he wondered why the men would knock on his door in the first place, why not wait for Tracy at home? How did they know Tracy would be in the neighbor's house and then the fact that Tracy had infact stared at the door in anticipation even before the doorbell rang, the last hint that cemented his suspicion was when Tracy mixed the name up.
Plus, how the fuck did she get a black brother?!
Decision made, Pete casted a long stare at Nick and with that rose.
"I'll have to pick them up from the airport. I just got a text" he said as he rose.
"The family?" Tracy asked. Pete nodded with what he hoped was still a smile and not a snarl.
"We do have to leave too, we had a long drive here" the back man said and rose too, grabbing the paper bag and retrieving what Pete could swear was a gun. And it was.
"No one has to get hurt. We just want to ask a few questions" the taller man said, his gun now pointed at Pete too.
Pete swore and looked at Tracy who has moved to stand beside Austin/Justin.
"Sit down, both of you, hands where I can see them" Dave said.
Nick raised his hands and remained seated, Pete sat too, his hands raised.
"We're from the San Jose Police Department and we'd like to asked just a few questions"
"Why are you harassing us in our home?' Nick asked first.
"Really?! Brother-in-law? I came in here and saw you and fucking Sonia!" Tracy said.
Nick swore under his breathe and kept mute.
"We've had information that you are harboring a child that isn't yours" the taller man said.
"I don't know what you're saying" Pete replied.

The Gang
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