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“Yeah, I know, and I really shouldn’t be.”
“He can’t do that. He’s not the freaking pope.”
“He’s the Don, it’s even worse.” She speaks too loudly and has to look around to make sure nobody’s listening before leaning forward again. “You know how it is, Allegra. If your dad says something, we’re all supposed to listen. No exceptions.”
“You’re my cousin. I’m his daughter. He can’t just… he can’t erase that.”
“He’s pissed. He’s hurt. He thinks you betrayed him again.”
“I married a stupid Rossi like he wanted.”
“Yeah, but you ran away once, and you defied by him marrying the wrong brother.”
“Why are you defending him?”
“Because I’m kind of pissed too.”
I sit back, surprised at her anger. She’s glaring at me, mouth pressed tight together. Then she looks away and has to take a couple of deep breaths to calm down.
Sophia’s always been the strong one. I don’t remember her ever losing her temper before, and it’s strange, seeing her sitting across from me and seething. I don’t understand it. I’m trying to make this girl fit in with the image I have of her in my head, but there’s a disconnect somewhere.
“Why?” I ask, desperate to understand.
“It’s so easy for you and you don’t even know it. Your dad basically hands two really good matches to you and you reject them both in favor of some other random guy. And I was pretty sure you hated him, by the way.”
“I do, I mean, I thought I did, but?—”
“And I don’t even knowwhyyou hate him so much. You just would always get weird and pissy whenever the Rossi family came up, especially Gian. And whatever, that’s not even my point.” She slams her cup down, the ice rattling against the plastic. “I would love to be you. Don’t you see that? I want to marry a guy like Saul or Renzo. I’d do it in a freaking heartbeat if your dad asked me to. Instead, he keeps on asking you, and you keep on throwing it back in his face, and I just don’t get it. I just don’t get you, Allegra.”
I sit back as sadness washes over me. I knew Sophia believed in the family and would do anything for them, and maybe even wanted to live that lifestyle, but to be jealous of my arranged marriages—that breaks my heart. She’s too far gone, and I don’t know how to bring her back.
There’s hate in her eyes. A real, deep loathing. It stuns me, sucks the breath from my lungs.
“I was just trying to find a way to live with myself,” I say very quietly, afraid that I might start crying if I raise my voice at all.
“Did it work?” she asks. But her lips curl and she doesn’t let me answer. “I can’t be seen with you anymore. I just came here to say goodbye, at least until your dad calms down.”
“Soph—”
“I’m sorry. I love you. And maybe I need some time to get over whatever’s going on with me.”
“Right. Okay.”
She hesitates, frowning at me, and I can tell she wants to say something, but she stands up instead. I stare at her, unable to follow. Her drink stays forgotten on the table. I want to leap up and beg her to stay—or maybe scream in her face—but I’m too exhausted to fight anymore.
Soph turns and leaves. I watch her go, the door swinging shut behind her.
Chapter 24
Gian
Ispend most of the day getting Saul up to speed on my Vegas business while introducing him to the main support staff. I can tell some people out west are a little uncomfortable about how abruptly this happened, but my trusted insiders all knew this was coming. I’d planned it from the start, and although it nearly didn’t work, I can tell Saul’s starting to warm up a bit to the idea of getting filthy fucking rich.
“Rumors say you bought the girl from me.” He walks with me out to my car. I’m parked in front of the Rossi house. I wanted to go visit Mom, but she was having a bad day and I decided I should save it for another time.
“I kind of did.”
“You stole her first then paid me off when I got pissed.”
