Those little girls were the only part of my old life I missed. My heart ached, desperate to wrap them up in my arms, to tell them that they were loved, and to make sure they grew up with the strength to survive this family. The thought of leaving them behind had almost been enough to make me stay, but self-preservation won out in the end. I was putting on my own oxygen mask so that, someday, I could help them with theirs.
With my heart in my throat, my words came out choked. “Can you give them a hug from Auntie Gemma when you see them next?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.” A normal person might cry, but I’d learned long ago that it was seen as a sign of weakness in my father’s eyes and had broken myself of the habit.
“I’m only trying to keep you safe.” Enzo blew out a breath. More than once, he’d thrown himself in the line of fire for me growing up, and I knew that even when he was hard on me, it was because of his deep-seated need to protect me.
“I know,” I whispered.
“Please let me send you some money.”
“I’m good, Enzo. I wouldn’t want to incur any debts.”
Debts must always be paid. That was our family’s motto. Whether it was money or a life, the Bellinis always found a way to collect on any outstanding balance.
“It wouldn’t be a debt. You’re a member of this family. I’m supposed to be the one taking care of you.”
“And as your older sister, I’ll remind you that I’m a thirty-seven-year-old woman, fully capable of standing on her own two feet. I know it’s not how you’d want to see me living, but I’m happier here than I ever was in Chicago. Let me do this.”
“Fine.” The accompanying huff betrayed what he’d left unsaid—that I was too stubborn for my own good, and he didn’t agree with me but knew better than to continue arguing. “Can you at least promise me to stay out of trouble for a while? At least until the dust settles up here?”
I bit back a retort that I was never actively seeking trouble, yet somehow, it always managed to find me. That wouldn’t help my case in remaining free from the invisible chains and very real armed guards of my former life in Chicago.
“Promise. I’ve gotta get ready for my shift, and you probably have to get back to enjoying the perks of being born with a penis into a patriarchal society, so I’ll let you go.”
He barked out a laugh. “It’s awfully boring around here without you pointing out our male privilege every five minutes.”
“Yeah, yeah. Give the girls my love.”
“I’ll do you one better. Next time I pop over, I’ll snap some pics and send them your way.”
“Thanks, Enzo.”
“You can thank me by keeping your nose clean, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
He grumbled something under his breath, but he hung up before I could make out exactly what it was.
My brother didn’t have to worry. It would be damn near impossible for me to get into trouble when all I did these days was wake up, go to work, then pass out.
And I didn’t see that routine changing anytime soon.
Chapter 5
Gemma
Ding dong.
My hand was poised on the doorknob; I was about to head out to work when the doorbell rang, so I yelped in surprise. Placing a palm over my racing heart, I took a calming breath before opening the door to find myself face-to-face with a bouquet of dark pink roses.
A chipper young man peeked his head around the massive floral arrangement. “I’ve got a delivery for a Gemma Bellini.”
My brows drew down. Who in the world would send me flowers? No one outside of Enzo knew my address, and he wasn’t my biggest fan after our last phone call.
When I remained silent, the delivery man asked, “Is this the right house?”
