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These three are the only people who witness this side of me—the one not absorbed in viciousness.
In public, I’m a killer.
A corrupt man who preys on desperation.
Someone you never want to cross.
But with my daughter, I’m the proud father who attends her dance recitals and hangs up painted unicorn pictures on the fridge.
Turning to Clara, I mouth, “Cauliflower pizza.”
Clara laughs and turns into the kitchen. I walk across the marble flooring and through the arched hallway to my bedroom. After showering, I change into fresh clothes without blood on them.
The smell of Clara’s sweet pizza sauce fills the air when I leave my bedroom and return to the living room. Amara is sitting cross-legged on the carpet, watching TV, with stuffed animals circling her. I plop down next to her.
“This might be my favorite episode,” Damien says, stretching his legs and pointing at the TV.
I peer back at him. “You can head out if you want.”
“And miss out on Clara’s infamous pizza?” He shakes his head. “No way.”
Damien crashes here so much that he has his own bedroom. We’ve known each other nearly our entire lives. His father was one of my father’s capos. The night Amara was born, Damien was at the hospital with me when a rival family bombed his family’s home, killing his grandparents, parents, and younger sister. In one night, he and his brother, Julian, lost their entire family.
“Yeah, Daddy!” Amara says, resting her head on my shoulder. “Damien loves Grammy’s pizza … and watching cartoons with me!”
“That’s right,” Damien says. “Amara always knows best.”
Amara grins from ear to ear.
I kiss the top of her head and sit there with her as she watches cartoons. I try to pay attention to Tweety Bird, but it’s a struggle. My thoughts are on Vinny, the family, Gigi.
I’m so fucked … and dead if Cristian finds out I’ve grown an obsession with his daughter.
5
“How’s work at the gallery?” I ask Natalia before shoving a bite of mango gelato in my mouth.
“Good,” she replies. “I wish we were busier so I could make more commission. It’s a small business, though, so hopefully, Bonnie can find more artists to buy from.”
“Sounds like I’ll need to come in and purchase new artwork.”
She smiles. “I think you’ve bought more than enough there.”
“I’ll tell my dad and Benny to get their asses there then.”
Other than my family, I have a total of one friend. Natalia.
She has no affiliation with any Mafia families. We met in high school, where we were the social outcasts at Fenimore Preparatory School. She was the underprivileged principal’s daughter on scholarship, and I was the dangerous Mafia king’s daughter who trusted no one.
Some kids wanted to be my friend because I was considered cool, while other parents didn’t want their child associated with me. On top of that, as someone who deeply distrusts people, I second-guessed everyone.
She was my chemistry partner for a semester, and we clicked. Even after graduating and her attending college, we’ve remained close.
Our focus moves to the entrance when it chimes. Vinny enters the shop with another man as if he owns the place. Since my father protects the business for a fee, I’m aware that isn’t true, but that’s Vinny’s nature. It’s why I’ve always kept my distance from him. He’s too reckless for my liking.
I frown, wishing it were the other Lombardi, and stare at the door to see if that wish comes true. It doesn’t. Bruno slides his chair closer to our table when Vinny approaches us.
Vinny flashes him a harmless smirk, assuring Bruno he’s not feeling like a total sociopath today.
