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“We’ll find a way to get that back.”
She’s quiet for a second. Then she turns onto her side and looks at me. “What if I don’t want it back?”
I stare at her, keeping my expression blank. “Explain.”
“I love Sophia. I’d do anything for her, no matter what. But she’s so quick to follow my father’s orders. It’s like… our friendship is only acceptable so long as it’s approved from my family. Otherwise, fuck off, Allegra, I’m basically dead to her.”
“I can see why you’d feel that way.”
“Which is so freaking frustrating. I miss her so much, but I also hate her a little bit for going along with this crap. I mean, she could be texting me at the very least, nobody would ever know. She just won’t.”
I’m happy she’s connecting these dots. I’ve been having this exact thought, but I knew I could never point it out to her. “Sophia has her own priorities, just like you do.”
“I just wish I was one of them.”
I say nothing. I can’t begin to imagine how she’s feeling right now. Saul’s angry with me, but he doesn’t hate me. He’s just annoyed that I did something to make him look bad, but like Carlo said, he’ll get over it. He and I are brothers, no matter what, and brothers find a way to move on. That’s what real family does, regardless of who makes what mistakes. Ride or fucking die.
“I have other news that might take your mind off your family,” I say, reaching out to put a hand on her thigh.
“If you’re about to make a sexual advance?—”
“I’m saving that for later.”
“Great, thanks for the heads-up. I’ll make sure I’m asleep before then.”
“Seriously, Maddie invited you over for dinner, if you’re interested.”
She seems surprised. “The Don’s wife? I guess I can’t turn it down.”
“You definitely can. Maddie isn’t exactly…” I trail off, not sure how to phrase it without pissing her off.
“She’s not, what?”
“She’s not from a mafia family. I don’t think she has the same ideas about loyalty and honor that we do.”
Allegra snorts. “Lucky her.”
“If you don’t want to go, just say so. It’ll be fine.”
“Would you like it if I did?”
I hesitate. I hadn’t thought about it. When Maddie made her invitation, I figured she was just being polite.
But dinner with Allegra and my whole family would be nice. Mom wouldn’t be there, but Renzo, Carlo, and Saul would. Maybe even Dante, Renzo’s best friend. He’s basically always around anyway.
“I think it would be good for you,” I say, trying to be careful.
“But do you want me to?” She’s not going to let me off easy.
“Yes. I would.”
“Because you think it would be good for me, or because you want me to?”
“Because I want you to.”
“Okay, then we’ll eat dinner with your family.” She smiles and stretches a bit, stifling a yawn. “I don’t know why you think it’d be good for me though.”
“You miss family. Maybe mine can be like a nicotine patch in the meantime.”
