Risen by Lauren Barnholdt, Aaron Gorvine Page A

and sets it alight. “No backing out now,” he says, and drops the burning picture onto a plate where it quickly turns to blackened ash.
    “We’re done?” I ask, praying that was the end of it.
    “Come here, brother.” Jay holds out his arms and I stand. He embraces me and kisses both cheeks. “Like they do in the Old Country,” he says, clearly happy.
    “Wow, that was intense,” I say, trying to catch my breath.
    “How do you feel?” he asks.
    “Actually, I feel pretty fucking amazing,” I tell him, and it’s the truth.
    “Good. Now we do the others.”

    ***
    I go out and bring in each of the others in order of rank. Jay has explained to me how this works; I’m the family’s Consigliere, his right hand man, which is why he did my initiation first. Alec is the Underboss, so he’s next. He’s more calm then I was, doesn’t seem to hesitate even the slightest, not even when the gun comes out. Maybe because he knows I’ve already been through it, and anything I can do, surely he can do.
    After Alec comes Nick. He’s going to be a Captain. Nick tries to show some swagger but the gun unnerves him. Still, he gets through the ceremony and is excited to bring Leo in for his initiation. “Oh, Leo doesn’t like seeing his own blood,” Nick laughs.
    “Someone else’s, he don’t mind so much.”
    They bring Leo in. Leo will also be a Captain. His eyes are wide when the gun comes out, but by now he suspects that the others have gone through that part. When Jay holds up the knife, however, Leo starts to beg. “Can’t we just skip this part, bro? You know I hate getting my blood taken and shit. I’ll do anything, man.”
    Jay is merciless. “Leo, either you sit there and finish the ceremony or you get the fuck out of here and never come back.”
    Leo submits. Jay cuts his finger (and is it my imagination or does he cut Leo just a little bit deeper than everyone else?), lets it drip on the picture of the saint. Leo is crying now, actually crying like a baby. Snot bubbles come out of his nose.
    “Have a little self-respect,” Alec mutters with a look of disgust.
    But when it’s done, Leo gets the same hug from everyone in the room. We’re brothers now.
    The only problem is Cody. He’s the last one brought in, and the moment he sits down, it goes wrong.
    “First, I’m going to ask you a few questions,” Jay says, as we all stand behind Cody, watching silently.
    “Fine. Ask away.”
    “Do you want to be part of this family?”
    “I already have a family.”
    Jay’s eyebrows rise. “You didn’t choose that one. This will be of your own choosing.”
    “What am I choosing to be part of, exactly?”
    “To be in this crew. No matter what. That you’ll have our backs and we’ll have yours.”
    “I don’t need to say an oath to do that. We’re already friends, aren’t we?”
    “Stop being such a dick,” Alec hisses.
    Cody turns and looks at us. He doesn’t say anything, just turns and looks back at Jay. Jay smiles, sits down in the chair opposite him. “Dude, you’re being kind of a pisser, here. Everyone else did this already.”
    “Even Richardson,” Nick says. “If he can do it, you can definitely do it.”
    “Thanks,” I say. Nick just shrugs.
    “I just don’t get it,” Cody says. “Seems weird to me.”
    “Well,” Jay leans back, slaps his thighs. “Maybe it’s not for you, then.”
    Cody shrugs. “I don’t think it is.”
    Jay’s face gets cold as he seems to realize Cody isn’t going to be swayed. “You better get the fuck out of here. It isn’t safe for you anymore.”
    Cody stands and looks at us. “Guess I’ll see you around.”
    “Hurry up and go,” Jay says. “You’re lucky I don’t make an example of you, better leave before I change my mind.”
    Cody walks out and nobody says a word. I’m feeling pretty down about it, too, because he was the one guy besides Jay that I actually like.
    Jay comes back to us and folds his arms. “Kind of a bummer about