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But there’s no running away anymore.
Papa won’t allow it. I know how bad the situation is within the Famiglia right now. Very few people are aware, only those closest to the inner circle, and Papa wants to keep it that way.
We give what we have.
Well, all I have is a uterus and a last name. What else can I give?
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say and my chest constricts as if someone’s pressing down on my ribcage. I can hardly breathe, hardly move, and my heart’s racing. “I’ll do what I have to.”
“That’s my daughter.” He squeezes my arm again and pulls me toward the waiting car. “Saul’s not a bad man. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of so long as you make sure you don’t do anything else to embarrass me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Papa.”
I understand everything. Smile, do what I’m told, squeeze out babies. Go join a family I despise. Do it all for the Rinaldo Famiglia.
Anyone else, I’d be here with a smile.
Anyone but the Rossis. Anyone but Gian and his siblings.
We give what we have. And I’ve got nothing left.
Chapter 2
Gian
It’s been ten years since I left Philadelphia.
Ten years and nothing’s changed. There are new buildings in the skyline, new soldiers lurking around the house grounds, but it’s all the same old Rossi bullshit still.
Nobody stops me as I drive up the long, winding pathway to the family mansion. It’s tucked away near a national park, surrounded by a high fence, patrolled by armed soldiers, littered with security cameras, and buried by huge, old trees. The house where I grew up, the house I’ve simultaneously hated and missed with all my heart, the place I’ve avoided returning to.
I park, get out, and stretch my legs. I flew out from Vegas when my older brother Carlo got shot, although it turns out he’s fine. I’ve been in the city ever since, but I’ve been avoiding the house, at least until today. There are too many memories, most of them bad.
My abusive bastard of a father, may he rot in hell. My mother’s Alzheimer’s. My brother Renzo’s ascent to control of the Famiglia. Even my little sister Stefania hiding out at school and acting like nothing’s wrong.
Now this fresh nightmare.
Carlo’s waiting for me out front. He knew I was coming and heads down the steps to greet me, limping the whole time, but still grinning fiercely. He’s the most outgoing and chaotic of the brothers, and I’ve always been closest to him.
We bonded over our mutual hate for our father. That and cheesy action movies. When we were kids, we’d stay up late, make popcorn, and watch the goofiest made-for-TV garbage we could find.
“You finally made it out to the house,” he says and hugs me tight. I return it quickly. I’ve never been big on showing affection. Papa tried to beat it out of us when we were young—a real man is stoic, keeps it all inside—but those lessons never took with Carlo for some reason. “Renzo’s been asking when you’d come visit. You can stay in your old room, you know, it’s basically untouched.”
“I like my hotel.”
“I bet you do.”
“How’s it going in there? How’s Mama?”
“She’s alright. It’s not a good day so I wouldn’t go visit with her. Maddie’s with her right now and she’s calm, but I don’t know, man. Might not be great if you crashed the party.”
“Understood.” I glance away toward the trees to hide my grimace. Maddie is Renzo’s new wife. I barely know her, but apparently, she’s really good with Mama, which means she’s on the positive side of the little ledger I keep in my head. Some people are good, some are bad, and I don’t forget any of them. It’s one of my many ugly qualities.
“Come on in.” Carlo leads the way. I follow him into the kitchen. “Renzo’s busy, but Saul’s around here somewhere.”
I grunt in response, trying not to reveal my real reason for showing up today. Hearing Saul’s name is like getting a flaming sword jabbed into my throat. “Where’s the hero at right now?”
The herois our older brother Saul’s nickname—so called because he was always trying to show off and one-up everyone in front of Papa.
