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I hum a response

“I thought…you knoere past this secrecy stuff I get back there, you’re trying to assert your douys, but in here-” she gestured between us in the car “This is a safe space I want us to be honest with each other”

“Okay,” I hesitantly responded I’ “Honestly?”

“Yes,” she flashes me a brief smile “Honestly”

I inhale a long breath before responding “It’s my ma’s birthday”

Her lips form the shape of an O

“So I ht be a little pissy today, I’m sorry about that”

“You don’t have to apologize,” she responds, reaching over to cover ear shift “You’re allowed to have feelings about it Thank you for sharing”

“I miss her,” I add “She was my rock She was always there for us, no matter what, and we sure as hell didn’t ”

“What happened to her?” Annie asks quietly

I let out a low, pained noise “This, us” I inhale “This life, this thing of ours, ya know? She was shot, fucking ht it was him”

Annie gasps, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth “Gio,” her watery blue eyes look at me “That’s…horrible”

“Yeah,” I mutter “It’s broken us Our family”

“It’s okay,” Annie soothed, gripping hter “I’m here for you”

The words leave her mouth and settle over me I’ve always had s close I’s like this As Annie grabs my hand and whispers words of co