“I don’t need to explain myself to you, Lo. You aren’t my boyfriend. You have no say in it.”
“If I agree to be your boyfriend, I can make this decision for you?”
He’s staring at his hands, so I can’t tell if he’s being serious right now.
“Fuck no. It’s my decision. If you were my boyfriend, your opinion would hold more weight, but I would still do it anyway. It’s something I feel I need to do.”
“If you do this, there is no going back. You will never have a normal life. No white picket fences, Mia. Can you live with that?”
“I never wanted a white picket fence, Lo. If you would bother to ask me what I want, then I would tell you. This life with the mafia is what I want. I’m already forever tied to it. You think I would ever leave Sofia? Then you have Izzy who is still in love with Giovanni. The two most important people in my life are tied to the mafia. This isn’t going to change anything, but it will give me my purpose back. Well, if I make it out of this meeting with Bash alive.”
“What does that mean?”
I realize my mistake too late. I didn’t mean to reveal anything yet. I wanted to tell Bash first. If he lets Lo sit in, well, then it will just be a bonus. If I make it out of the meeting, I will then need to tell the girls and Matt. I’m hoping for a game night tonight at the house.
“Nothing, Lo.” I climb out of bed and grab my bag. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“This conversation is not over, Mia. Get back here.” He climbs out of bed to follow me, but I rush into the bathroom and lock the door. He tries the handle then pounds on the door. “I will break this fucking door down, Mia! Do not make me. It will only piss me off even more.”
I lean my forehead against the door. “Please, Lo. I made my decision. Respect it, please. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be right out. Give me some time with my thoughts.”
“The last time I gave you time, I got a call at 2:00 a.m. begging me to come get you. Let me help you.”
I sigh. “Please, Lo. I’ll be out in ten minutes.”
It’s silent a minute before he finally responds.
“If you’re not out in ten minutes on the dot, I’m coming in after you.”
“Deal.”
What the fuck did I do?
∞∞∞
I make it out of the shower with one minute to spare. Thankfully, no doors are busted today. After I get dressed, Lo calls and asks Bash when we can come over. Lucky for me, he says right away. I was hoping to be able to enjoy Lo a little bit more before my inevitable death. I just hope he doesn’t do it with Lo there. Or hell, he might order Lo to do it.
Would he even care? Probably not.
Sofia isn’t home, so I don’t need to explain to her why I need to speak with Bash alone. Thankfully he lets Lo sit in. Or maybe it’s a bad thing.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Bash sits at the table across from me, looking every bit of the don that he is.
“I want to take the job, but I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
His eyes darken. I don’t dare look at Lo. I can feel the heat coming off him next to me.
“I’m not who I say I am. My real name is Mariana De Luca. I was born and raised in Chicago. My dad was Cristiano, and my mom was Alessandra. My dad wasn’t a great man. He did things for organizations I knew nothing about. They kept me out of it mostly, but when I was seven, I started helping my mom with the patients my dad would bring her. First, it was handing her things, but then it evolved to fixing them up.”
Bash has not broken eye contact since I started speaking. His jaw is set, the mask firmly in place. I can’t tell if he’s angry or murderous. I take a deep breath and continue.
“My mom went to medical school and used to do things for my dad. She would try a little less if my dad didn’t want the patient to survive. I didn’t realize it at first, but I caught on as I got older.”
I wanted to tell them everything. What my dad made me do. What I did to Fillipo’s son, but I just couldn’t. I would take that sin to the grave.
“My dad went missing one day. We assume he crossed the wrong person and ended up dead. Hell, it could have been the Chicago mafia for all I know. We had a plan in place. My mom took the paperwork and money, and we left Chicago behind, starting our lives over as new people. I don’t know why we ended up in Brooklyn, but we did. My mom gave up her extracurricular activities, and I got the job at Bello Italiano. I know how you feel about liars, and I know how you feel about loyalty. I understand whatever action you need to take.”
I lower my eyes as I let him digest what I revealed. My hands start shaking as I realize what most likely will happen.
