“I’m fine. Thanks for checking in.”
He nods slightly. “Come on, Dad wants a word.”
“Uh-oh,” Elisa says, waggling her eyebrows. “Fio’s in trouble.”
“Shut it. I’m the one that nearly got killed today, remember? Whatever I did, I’m sure Dad’s in a forgiving mood.”
Raf’s expression gives me nothing, but it rarely ever does. He’s good at keeping his emotions locked down. I always admired that in him. For years, I looked up to our older brother, hoping I could be like him one day, but I’m starting to learn that’ll never happen.
Because I’m just me. Little old Fiorella. Black sheep of the family. Not the perfect, soft, doll-like mafia princess like Elisa, and definitely not the strong and masculine leader like Raf. I’m something in between. Something nobody else wants.
Which is how I like it.
“Seriously, Fio, I’m glad you’re okay.” Raf looks at me sidelong as we head to Dad’s office at the back of the house. “I’m going to find the guys that did this and make sure they suffer for it.”
“Don’t go to all that trouble on my account.”
“You’re my sister.”
“I’m the least important person in this house, and you know it.”
He stops moving. His expression softens the slightest bit, which worries me. What’s got Raf looking like he’s having actual feelings for once?
“Listen, Fio. I just want to warn you—” He glances to the side and leans in closer. “You’re not going to like what Dad has to say, but it’s important, okay? Try not to react, you know, like you usually do.”
I choose to ignore that last dig and focus on the important bit. “What’s he going to say, exactly?”
He shakes his head. “Better if it comes from Dad. Just trust me, okay, Fio? He wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. You know how bad things are right now, right?”
“I’ve heard rumors.”
“Most of them are true.” He turns away, shaking his head. “But I’ll let Dad tell you.”
Nerves jangle in my stomach. Raf seems almost rattled, which isn’t like him. I have a terrible feeling as we reach the French doors that lead into Dad’s corner office.
I’ve tried hard to stay out of family politics and business. It’s not always easy since I’m the daughter of the Don. But Elisa swims in those waters like a fish, and Raf treats the whole crime family thing like he’s a general moving around his troops. Politics never worked for me.
I know how easy it is for this life to rip us to shreds. It nearly happened to us once, a long time ago.You drink it, Elisa. Go ahead, I’m fine. And it nearly happened again earlier today.
Which is why I’ve always fantasized about escape.
“There you are, Fio.” Dad’s sitting behind his desk. He looks gaunt and tired. His eyes are sunken pits, and the skin around his jaws is flabby and soft. His hair’s whiter than it was even a few months ago. At this point, it’s basically bleached to bone. “I hear you had quite the day.”
“It’s been interesting,” I say, shrugging a little.
Dad’s smile eases me a bit. He’s the only person in this whole family that gets me. Even if he doesn’t approve of the way I live, he thinks I’m funny at least.
“Come here and sit down. We have to talk.”
I hesitate and glance at Raf. Once again, his face gives me nothing at all, like the conversation in the hall never happened. I drift to a chair and sink into it with a sigh, leaning back and crossing my legs.
“Are you trying to debrief me? I remember a few faces, but?—”
He waves that away. “Later, little Fio, later. I’ll traumatize you all over again with my questions later.”
Another jangle of nerves. He hasn’t called melittle Fioin a long time. “What’s going on then?”
“It’s about you. And it’s about the family.” He clears his throat. It’s an ugly sound and ends with him hacking until he spits something yellowish-brown into a tissue. He sighs, leaning back, catching his breath.
