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“You’ll write each day and call your mother every other day, understood?”
“Yes, Dad,” I said in exasperation. He’d told me the same about a dozen times. Dad pulled back, then took a step back before turning and heading to the waiting car.
I wondered what kind of instructions Dad had given them. Probably all of them about boys. I waved as Dad drove away, then released a deep sigh. I felt relieved to be away from Vegas and my family’s watchful eyes, but at the same time, I was also very nervous. While I was excited about spending time with Isa and my other cousins, I’d miss my talks with Mom and Carlotta. Phone calls just weren’t the same.
“I’d like a word with you, Aurora,” Luca said.
I froze, not having expected that.
“Uhh, sure.”
Aria frowned at her husband, obviously as surprised by this as I was. “I’m sure this can be done right here. Aurora must be tired.”
Luca gave a terse nod before he met my gaze once more. “I don’t care how things are run in Vegas, but in my territory, I won’t allow you to see any boys.”
“I’m not here to see boys,” I said with an embarrassed smile. I was here to run from one. Though calling Nevio a boy seemed awfully wrong. Nothing about him conveyed the necessary innocence to justify that label. Greta’s curious gaze made me even more nervous than Luca.
Luca gave a satisfied nod, but his expression remained stern. “Valerio is going to take over most of your protection and accompany you wherever you go. If he’s not available, your cousin Flavio will take his place.”
I nodded because that was what Luca obviously expected. I wasn’t concerned about any of this. Boys were the last thing on my mind right now.
“I’ll keep a close eye on her,” Valerio said, winking at me. I wasn’t sure if this meant he wouldn’t or if he simply wanted to put me at ease. I gave him a smile. His easygoing nature helped to set me at ease. Amo was more closed off, at least in recent years. I remembered him more relaxed.
“We’ll return home now. There’s plenty of time for Greta and Aurora to spend together in the next few weeks,” Amo said to his father before turning to Greta and holding out his hand. She gave me a tight but reassuring smile, which I returned before they left.
“Come on. I’ll show you your room,” Valerio said and grabbed my suitcase, which Dad had set down beside the door to the coatroom.
When neither Aria nor Luca protested, I followed my cousin upstairs. His blond hair was the same shade as Davide’s, lighter than Dad’s, but according to Mom, his had been that way too when he was a child. Mom always said it was the Scuderi blond.
Valerio opened the second door on the right. “My room is on this floor as well, but my parents have their rooms on the floor above us. The library is on the ground floor. We don’t have a gym room because Mom always goes to Gianna’s gym, and Dad and I go to the Famiglia training complex.”
“I’ll go to Gianna’s gym if I feel like working out,” I said, though I doubted that time would come. I loved skateboarding, skiing, and snowboarding, but every other sport wasn’t for me. Yoga seemed positively sleep-inducing, but I'd do it if Aria or Gianna invited me to join them.
Valerio motioned me to go inside. The room was bright, with a soft gray and mint color palette. The window looked out to the yard. Most townhouses had narrow courtyards without any green, but this was the biggest house on the street, and the yard was accordingly sized, not just a square space of concrete but with actual grass and trees.
“Isa suggested that we’ll have breakfast tomorrow morning,” Valerio said, leaning in the doorway with crossed arms. Through his white tee, I could see the outline of the Famiglia tattoo over his heart. It was strange to think that while I was visiting family, I was in another mob family, which had always and would always make things a little tense, though Valerio certainly wasn’t the reason for it.
I smiled. “Sounds great.”
“I hate getting up early, so I won’t agree to any dates before ten.”
“What do you do when you have Famiglia duties before ten?” I asked, amused.
He grinned. “I drink insane amounts of coffee and am grumpy as fuck.”
“I can’t imagine you ever being grumpy.”
“See, this family bonding time will give you new insights.” He glanced down at his watch. “I have a date. Will you be okay?” His blue eyes showed honest interest.
“Sure. I’m exhausted, so I’ll go to sleep. Have fun with your date.” I wondered what date started at ten o’clock but didn’t voice my thoughts. Valerio turned and closed the door.
One thing was the same in the Camorra and Famiglia. Guys could go on dates as they pleased, but girls could not.
I unpacked my clothes into the wardrobe, then undressed for a shower. After a flight, I always felt a little icky and needed to wash off the day. When I was about to enter the shower stall in my en suite bathroom, my phone beeped. I’d already answered texts from Mom, Carlotta, Kiara, Dad, and even Davide, but this message wasn’t from any of them.
When I saw the name on the screen, my belly plummeted.
Nevio.
