Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Even to save your daughter’s life?” Nico says, lashing out.
“Don’t use that tone with me, Nightmare,” Dad snaps back. “Something’s clearly going on between you and Arria, even if neither of you will admit it. I can see how you look at each other; the brief messages are way too familiar. You caused this mess by taking advantage—”
“Nobody’s taken advantage of anyone,” I cut in.
Dad tilts his head at me. “I thought nothing had happened?”
“Dad, this is about the mob. About your lie. Stop taking it out on Nico.”
“No, this is about Nico forgetting that he’s a married man and letting himself get feelings for his goddamn niece. Even a blind man could see that he has feelings for you. Even a blind man could see that he’s crossed the fucking line. Your niece, Nico? Your wife’s niece? You’re technically family.”
“We’re not blood-related,” I mutter.
Dad glares at me. “Do you have any idea how you sound?”
“Enough,” Mom yells, slicing her hand through the air. “We all know that Nico married my sister to save her life. We all know, I think…” Mom looks at me. “About her other relationship?”
“I know about Giancarlo,” I say. “I know about the sacrifice Nico made… knowing he’d never be able to have a family or a marriage of his own. All to keep a woman he didn’t even really know safe. What a terrible man he is, right, Dad?”
“Enough,” Mom says again.
“Arriana is right,” Nico says. “You may not be happy with me, Rocco—”
“The truth would make me happier.”
Again, Nico glances at me. But I can’t nod at him. I can see how badly he wants to reveal it, but then what? Where do we go from there?
“There’s that look again,” Dad grumbles. He stares at Nico, then at me. “Fine, let’s do this, then. You don’t want to give me the specifics? Then don’t. But let me clarify one thing: even if a blind man could see it, I’m not blind. I see it. Whatever’s happened or is happening between the two of you ends here. It ends now. I’m her father, and I’ve got the right to be disgusted and outraged when an older family member preys on my daughter.”
“Dad, stop phrasing it like that,” I hiss.
“Why would it matter if nothing was happening?” Dad turns to Nico. “Do you understand me, Nico? I left the East Coast because I wanted to get away from the mob life. I could’ve returned and never heard the name Caruso again if you and Arria hadn’t decided to become entangled.”
“My only concern,” Nico growls, “is keeping you all safe. You need to leave.”
“I can’t just leave my job,” Dad snaps. “Why would Dominic target me, anyway?”
“But you’re happy to let him go after your daughter?”
“He won’t do that, though. Even the Carusos know better than to go for civilian women. Don’t forget. I’ve lived in this world. He’d only do that if you slip up, seeing her, texting her when you know you shouldn’t. Even you being here is a risk.”
Nico turns to Mom. “Sandy, I’m telling you right now, you need to get her out of the city. If Rocco won’t listen, you need to. Take her on a trip. Leave for a couple of weeks. Let me try to…” He laughs darkly. “Fuck. I don’t know. But let me try to fix this.”
“It couldn’t hurt to take a brief trip,” Mom murmurs, looking at Dad. “I trust you, Rocco. I know if you thought we were in danger, you’d leave. You wouldn’t put your job before your family.”
Dad clenches his jaw. That sounded almost like a jab to me, like Mom was subtly putting Dad in his place for doing just that—worrying about his career before worrying about us.
“What if I don’t want to leave?” Dad says.
“Arria,” Mom and Nico say in the same urgent tone.
Dad gives me another look. Still want to pretend nothing’s happening? I look down at the table, chipping at the wood with my thumbnail.
“We can take a trip. Perhaps we could visit that lake house in Maine we were always talking about, Arria? In the cold, there will be so many chances for amazing photographs. By the time we come home, everything will have returned to normal.
“Your mother’s right,” Nico says. “It’ll be better if you’re outside the city…”
“And,” Dad goes on. “If only two of you are gone, it looks less suspicious than if I suddenly leave work. If the Carusos get word that I’ve abandoned work, it looks like running. But if a mother and daughter decide to take a trip—especially one that affords a chance for photographs—that’s more believable. It will trigger less panic.”
Nico nods reluctantly. “Yeah, that’s right. Overall, this is the best path forward. We don’t want to spook Dominic.”
“When you get back,” Dad says. “Things will be normal. You can go back to looking for a job, Arria. Maybe you’ll find a nice man at your new job. A man your own age. A man who isn’t married to your aunt.”