Fun.
They all turned to look at me.
“Where have you been?” Dad asked sharply.
I looked down at the hardwood floor. “With Valentino.”
“That girl is always with Valentino,” Dad said, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice at the mention of his son’s name. I wondered if Dad had ever loved Valentino. Or me?
Had there ever been a time when he was a decent father to us, at least?
I didn’t think so.
“What are you waiting for? Come on in, girl. You can keep Chiara entertained.”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. Perhaps I should have just stayed in Elio’s house for the entire day, ignoring the risk.
I forced myself to walk forward and took a seat next to Chiara.
Dad and Aldo continued their conversation, which mostly consisted of them reminiscing over the “good old days,” while Chiara and I sat silently beside each other. She turned to me suddenly, and I resisted the urge to pull away.
“Father has a second meeting with Massimo soon to discuss my impending marriage to Elio,” Chiara said.
I frowned before I could help it, and she laughed, the sound grating. There was no doubt that she had a crush on Elio, but the fact that I hadn’t been careful and showed my feelings about him was just the icing on the cake for her.
She had been planning on being the future Mrs. Elio De Luca since we were teenagers.
I didn’t think Elio liked her—no, I knew he didn’t.
He couldn’t.
He could have had her with the crook of his finger, but he had pretty much ignored her for most of her entire existence.
So then, why couldn’t I shake off the heavy pressure I felt building in my chest?
Dad and Aldo turned to us, having heard Chiara’s words.
They exchanged conspiratory smiles with each other. “Yes, don’t you think Chiara and Elio match well together?”
I was going to be sick.
It was apparent why Dad and Aldo wanted this union.
Chiara looked at me and smiled triumphantly. I didn’t say anything to that. There was nothing I could say. And it didn’t help that I wouldn’t see Elio tonight.
He was busy chasing down leads from his police source about the Devil’s Wings MC, so I didn’t know when I would be able to see him again.
The thought that I should have stayed in his house today returned, and I never wished to be in another place more than I did then.
It was going to be a long, long day.
19
ELIO
Our sourcefrom the police department came through, and we were able to track the movement of the black car I had seen at the Gambino house.
We got enough of the owner’s habits to know all the places the fucker liked to visit.
