“What’s the occasion?”
“Killing our enemies.”
“My favorite.”
Chapter 29
Fiorella
Fairy lights twinkle overhead, and a slight breeze blows the leaves of an old oak tree in the back corner of the yard. For a Philly row home, it’s got a surprisingly decent patch of land in the back: a little concrete slab, some decent furniture, and a garden that’s clearly well maintained. Even though I’ve never seen Luca back here before.
Elisa stretches her legs and takes a long drink of wine. I’m jealous and wish I could have some too. “You’re looking at my glass like you’re about to stab me for it,” she says, grinning, her eyebrows raised.
“You don’t realize how good it is to have a little wine until you can’t have it anymore.”
“Isn’t that the beauty of life? A little bitter makes the sweet that much better?”
“I’d rather just have all sweet.”
“Liar.” Her grin gets bigger. “Doubt your husband’s got anysweetin him.”
“If that’s a reference to my sex life, please stop. You’re gross.”
“Just saying.” She swirls her glass and sighs. “It’s a nice place, though. I really appreciate you letting me come to stay with you guys.”
“The house isn’t safe anymore.” I reach out and touch her hand. “You know you’ll always have a place with me, right?”
“I know that.” Her smile softens, and she puts her glass down. “I just wish I didn’t need it.”
“Elisa—”
“You realize I’m twenty-three, right?”
“Wow, since when were you two years younger than me?”
She ignores my sparkling wit. “I didn’t go to college. I’ve never had a job. My only skills are buying cute outfits online and finding gems in thrift stores. I’m also really good atOverwatch.”
“What’s that?”
“First-person shooter video game.” She sighs and pulls her knees up to her chest. “It’s really sad, isn’t it? Just another rich girl with zero skills and even less of a future.”
I hate seeing her like this. It breaks my heart. Elisa’s always been the optimistic one, even back at our lowest when we were locked in that room together. She was sure we’d get out again while I was mentally praying I died first so I didn’t have to watch her waste away. Selfish and terrible, but true.
Sometimes she’s like this. And it really kills me because she’s incredible. Elisa cares about people in a way I never will. She gives a crap about the family, not just because she has to, but because they’re her people. They’re her tribe. She wantseveryone to be happy, sometimes at her own expense. I’ve benefited from her generosity a thousand times over the years, even while I’ve viciously protected her from the worst of the world as much as I could.
Now it feels like everything’s changing. She doesn’t have Dad’s house to hide inside of. She’s got to go out now, whether she likes it or not, and find herself. It’s terrifying, but if anyone can do it, she can.
“I was like that too, you know,” I say very softly, watching her reaction.
She shakes her head. “You had the cars.”
“I wasobsessedwith the cars, you mean.”
“What’s the difference? At least you could’ve gotten a job as a mechanic or something. We both know you’re really good at it.”
“Maybe, but that was never going to happen, not in a million years. And it was never about the cars.”
Her eyebrows raise as she picks her head up. “It wasn’t? Seriously? You’re finally admitting it out loud?”
